| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Cutler Park, MA |
|
 | Trails: |
Blue Heron Trail, side paths |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I parked at the northern entrance by the office park on Kendrick Park. The lot on Needham St is smaller but less crowded and is wooded (there was nowhere to use the bathroom at the northern entrance and all the offices are locked!) so may be preferable. I wouldn't be surprised if it fills up though. |
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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: |
None |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The Blue Heron Trail has occasional blue heron markers; it could use more around the tunnel and powerlines and where it re-enters the woods. Beyond that, trails are not marked in any way and trail jcts are not signed. I never saw a map either. Mid-sized stepover on part of the Powell's Island Loop. Small trivial stepover around here as well. Some of the boards on the boardwalk need to be replaced. Some are missing which imagine makes things especailly dangerous for the bikers if they aren't paying attention and some are weak. I made a small chip or two myself on them. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Dogs are allowed but must be leashed. |
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 | Bugs: |
Mosquitos were absolutely awful if you stopped. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
Another nice post-work hike. Though you may not anticipate this at first glance from the guidebook, this is a longer hike, as it's 3mi (the longest distance in the guidebook given) to the Needham St straight from Kendrick St. When you add the loop around the island, the 0.5mi side path along an esker, the hike back from Needham St, and a couple of necessary OABs, the hike is going to be more than double that. Starting from Kendrick St, I hiked the loop clockwise, also completing the Powell's Island Loop clockwise, and doing an OAB on the short middle section, then doing an OAB on the Blue Heron Trail to Needham St and back to where the main pond loop turns north. There are multiple paths branching left, where the esker path diverges, but if you know what an esker is (like a miniature ridge but not leading up a mountain; just raised land with a dropoff on both sides) it's not too hard to determine which is the correct one (I believe it was the one furthest right). There are several more paths interweaving, but just stick to the main one that seems to stay on the esker. I did some other exploring here as well, partly just to convince myself that I was on the correct trail (which I was).
Several things to note: the main loop around Kendrick Pond is very busy but trails off the main one (such as the trail that follows the esker) are much less so. South of the main pond loop, the trails are also much less travelled though you'll likely start to see more close to Needham St which is another access point. Mountain bikers use this section of trail south of Kendrick Pond so keep an eye out for them. Blue Heron Trail continues east from Needham St and goes on for a ways until it ends where Rt 109 crosses Charles River but this section isn't needed for redlining. The trail isn't marked around the tunnel and powerlines and where it re-enters the woods, so just follow the guidebook's directions or use a GPS though it's not hard to see. There's an old stone building by the Needham St entrance that was cool. Lastly, some of the boards along the boardwalk need to be replaced.
The trails were mostly dry, with just a few deeper mud pits. Gaia had me at 8.8mi, 125ft of gain, 3hr4min. |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
|
 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2025-06-06 |
|
 | Link: |
 https://www.mass.gov/doc/cutler-park-reservation-trail-map/download |
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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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