| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge, MA |
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 | Trails: |
Harry's Way, Kingfisher Trail, Taylor Way, Winterberry Way, Puffer Pond Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, May 11, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The directions in the guidebook are just a little off/confusing: 1) it's 1.3mi along Hudson Rd from Fairbanks Rd, and 2) though the guidebook only directs you to the entrance at the south gate, the trail descriptions start from about a 1/2mi down this road (Winterberry Rd) which was paved and open at the visitor center. I think there was room for about a dozen cars at the visitor center but there's room elsewhere to park as well. I was the only one there upon my return at 8pm though there was a car or two elsewhere along the road (not that you can't drive through to Rt 27) and there may have just been another one or two when I arrived around 6:15pm. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Some beaver work that looks like it's flooded the trail in a few places. They have bridges over most of it but there's what appears to be a new one along Taylor Way just north of Otter Alley I think. Also a couple of spots of washout/undermined road, one of which has created a new water crossing but it's already been bridged. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The trails are not marked but are easy to follow and are signed at jcts as the guidebook says. I do not recall any blowdowns. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Dogs are not allowed on the refuge. |
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 | Bugs: |
I don't remember but I'd think they were out. I was moving pretty fast though. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
4th hike/3rd MA redline of the day after Whitten Woods in NH, then Walden Pond and Weir Hill in MA. The three trails in the guidebook can be hiked as a loop. I hiked them in a clockwise direction, redlining Harry's Trail first, doing an OAB along the 250ft spur of Kingfisher Trail along the way, then Taylor Way, then coming back along Winterberry Way with a little loop and OAB on Puffer Pond Trail to get all the redlines :) The "trails" were mostly dry roads but with some damage (see water crossing notes above) though clearly quickly addressed by the refuge, but still with some mud. Harry's Trail passes some wetlands but less than the other two which I found more scenic. Harry's Trail passes WWII era bunkers though which were very cool to see, especially because I missed that part of the guidebook description and thus was not expecting it lol! The trails are flat and I only saw a small hanful of others out in the evening. Gaia had me at 5.9mi, 125ft of gain, 1hr42min. |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-05-23 |
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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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