| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
High Ledges Wildlife Sanctuary , MA |
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 | Trails: |
Sanctuary Road, Dutch and Mary Barnard Trail, North Trail, Wolves Den Loop |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, May 26, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
There's a mid-sized dirt parking area with room for about a dozen cars basically right at the jct of Patten and Sanctuary roads. There is additional parking about a 1/4mi further down the dirt road that would shorten the road walk some but most seem to just park at the first parking area. Maybe a half dozen or so at the first one with room for more and only one at the second parking area with room for maybe a dozen. Note that, according to their trail map, Patten Rd is closed in winter about a 1/2mi north of Sanctuary Rd so you'd want to come in Patten Rd from the south. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Easily rock hopable |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails leading away from the Sanctuary Rd are marked with blue disks whereas trails marked with yellow disks head back to Sanctuary Rd. I believe the markings were regular if not necessarily frequent but some of the trails, namely North Trail, were rather obscure at certain points. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Dogs are not allowed in the sanctuary. |
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 | Bugs: |
They were out. I used bug spray. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
A nice little solo hike later in the day after a morning hike in the Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary for mom's birthday :) This hike had a bit of everything! The hike down to the ledges is quite easy though beware that you'll be ascending some on your way BACK to the car. Nice views, ledges, and old chimney! North Loop is more rugged and actually has one short pitch that's steep enough that it could actually perhaps be called a scramble. Lots of cool rock formations. Barnard Loop is somewhere in between but features some beautiful shrubbery. For redlining purposes, it's necessary to hike ALL of Sanctuary Rd (the guidebook seems to describe it from the first parking area), Barnard Trai, and North Trail. Wolf's Den Loop I suppose is not needed since it's not given with a distance but I did it anyway. I hiked Sanctuary Rd to the ledge, then Barnard Trail, then a left on North Trail to hike it clockwise, then a counterclockwise "loop and a half" of Wolf's Den Loop (repeating the shorter 0.3mi section), then doing a short OAB on the 0.2mi section of Barnard Trail SW of here, then hiking the rest of Barnard Trail back to Sanctuary Rd and to my car. Trails were mostly dry but I think there was mud and wetness on parts of North Trail an Wolf's Den Loop at least. These trails, especially North Trail, were also much more lightly travelled. The sharp right hand turn by the rock scramble is very easy to miss as a herd path continues ahead. Gaia had me at 4.7mi, 800ft of gain, 1hr47min. |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-05-28 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.massaudubon.org/places-to-explore/wildlife-sanctuaries/high-ledges/trails |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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