| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Fawn Lake, MA |
|
 | Trails: |
Bay Circuit Trail, unnamed trails |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, December 19, 2024 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
No parking directly at the start on Orchard Rd so we parked in Lot A for Middlesex Community College. No signs said we couldn't and our car was still there several hours later so I think this is the ideal place to park on the northern end. No parking area for the southern end on Monument St but it looked like you could pull off and there's be room for a couple cars (with snow on the ground, maybe not). A Lyft back to the car cost nearly $30... |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Usual circular BCT markers, then the more intermittent white rectangular markers tacked to trees. One large blowdown about 1mi south of Orchard Rd. Easy to go around. Maybe some more I'm forgetting about. As always along the BCT, there are some places where markings are sparse or additional signage would be helpful. One place I can remember this being the case is where the trail crosses Springs Rd. If heading south, the entrance on (more or less) the opposite side of the road is rather obscure. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Good trails for dogs but there are likely many restrictions about them in the various conservation areas (leashed, some places they may not be allowed). |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
Section 6 of the BCT with Lil Young. We traversed north to south and did the 0.5mi loop around Fawn Lake mentioned in the guidebook. Since it doesn't describe a particular trail around the lake, and there are several, I wouldn't worry about what exactly you're on so long as you make it around. There were some very nice spots around it. We missed the left onto the Narrow Gauge Rail Trail at first as there's a marker on the opposite side of it that looks similar to the BCT markings so we briefly followed that before noting our mistake. Note a major reroute that is updated on the BCT website but not in the 11th Ed of the guidebook: the trail no longer turns off of Narrow Gauge Rail Trail to go through the center of Bedford and the high school but instead stays straight on Narrow Gauge until, according to Gaia, it ends on Loomis St, becomes Railroad Ave as it heads west, then where Railroad Ave bends right (again, if heading south), continue straight ahead in the woods on the Reformatory Branch Trail. Some mud and ice around Fawn Lake but absolutely no need for spikes yet. From here, it's a long straightaway to Monument St. With a stop to play soccer by the elementary school and one other longer break Gaia had us at 9.7mi, 100ft of gain, and 4hr39min. |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney and Lil Young |
|
 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2024-12-25 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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