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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Moon Hill (Topsfield), MA
Trails
Trails: Bay Circuit Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, October 6, 2024
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: $20 for a friggin' day pass for a non-MA resident. Can only pay if you've got a smart phone too... 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: None or nothing that is not bridged.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: I don't recall any blowdowns. Trailsare well taken care of. Not blazed or marked but there are numbered trail jcts and the usual Bay Circuit Trail markers.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Sure. Many seen. I imagine having them off leash would be frowned in this sort of an area.  
Bugs
Bugs: None 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: None 
 
Comments
Comments: A nice little MA redline for dad's birthday today. Trails were dry. You're going to want to map this out on Gaia first, download their map (not that it's the best), and pay very close attention at the trail jcts and the guidebook directions to be sure you're following the loop as described in the guidebook. Kind of a pain. Happy to send along my track if it's helpful. Oddest of all was on the southern edge of the field near the summit of Moon Hill, the Bay Circuit Trail turns left and runs along the edge of the woods; there is no discernible foot trail here but there are the Bay Circuit Trail markers, it's shown on Gaia and their maps, etc. Watch out for horses and bikers on these trails. We had a scary moment when we saw a woman bucked from a horse, topple over the horses neck, then get kicked in the head by it. Luckily she was A-okay but yikes. Thank goodness for helmets! I also hiked a short distance across Ipswich Rd to connect with the portion of Bay Circuit Trail that I don't think we needed but missed a turn on so did part of before turning around two weeks ago (report coming soon!). Also note that your actual hike will be a bit longer than the guidebook distance because it doesn't connect where you end on the entrance road to where you parked. Add 0.3mi for that and more for all the OABs you'll end up doing because you realized you missed something. My stats were 4mi 300ft of gain.  
Name
Name: Liam Cooney 
E-Mail
E-Mail: liamcooney96@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2024-10-06 
Link
Link: https:// 
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