| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Moose Hill, Pierce Hill, MA |
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 | Trails: |
Bay Circuit Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, June 8, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Dropped my car at the powerline swath on High St in Walpole (this is just a tenth or two of a mile east of the Medfield/Walpole townline where Section 14 ends and Section 15 begins according to the AMC guidebook) where there's room for a couple of cars, then got a ride over to Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary where there's a large paved lot. It's $4 for adults, $3 for seniors (65+), and $3 for children (2-12). |
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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: |
I don't recall anything of significance. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The BCT is marked with circular markers with its namesake and occasionally white plastic markers as well. Some large circles around road jcts around Walpole that I hadn't seen before. Markings can be sporadic and are usually lacking in some sections. See the comments section for some places I got confused (but not necessarily were poorly marked). The trail coincides with Warner Trail in and around Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary as well so expect to see some of those markings in there too. In the section between Robbins Rd and High St, there was a mid-sized widowmaker toward the southern end (between Robbins Rd and Leonard Rd) and a mid-sized leaner just a few minutes afterward, then a couple more large widowmakers and a stepover closer to the end |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Dogs are not allowed in Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary. I think they'd be allowed (leashed) everywhere else. Good trails for them. |
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 | Bugs: |
I don't remember the biting ones being present much but I picked up 3-4 ticks around Walpole Park South Rd where the trail goes through a powerline swath. I recommend checking yourself for ticks immediately after going through this section. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None. |
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 | Comments: |
2nd redline of the day after Reservoir Trail in Ashland State Park. It was about a 30min drive from Ashland State Park to the powerline swath where we dropped my car, then another 15min to Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary. From the Sharon town line on Pine St to Moose Hill is part of Section 16, and from the Sharon town line along Pine St to the powerline swath (technically just west to the Walpole town line which I'd already done but no parking here) is Section 15. I traversed from south to north. I didn't plan this out terribly well as the BCT coincides with the Warner Trail through Moose Hill Park so I'd already hiked the first few miles I did this day. Note that there is a small spot here the trail splits into a loop with an easy way and a hard immediately south of Pine Hill. There's BCT markers in both directions here so I'd make sure to go both directions. Where the BCT turns off of Walpole St and onto a drive leading into a distribution center, the trail soon turns right off the drive; it is marked but I missed it and went behind the building. You know you've gone to far if you find yourself going behind the distribution center. This is also the spot where I picked up a few ticks. At the water treatment area just west of Washington St, turn left in front of the brick building to stay on a road; there are trails that it looks the BCT could follow behind the brick building but it doesn't. When it reaches the Carolyn Memorial Playground in a field, the trail turns a sharp right, stays against the back side of the woods and then turns right into the woods. It's shown correctly on Gaia. The section of trail between Robbins Rd and High St is quite nice. Some beautiful woods and nice views toward Mine Brook which it parallels. There's construction at Walpole High School. My suggestion is to go through the construction (there's a path between two blocked off areas) then look for markers as it crosses Lake Ave. So long as you know it continues onto Lake Ave, you should be fine. Some cool old Post Office Letter boxes around here! Some of the ponds the trail passes by were quite nice. Some folks out fishing. Gaia had me at 13.25mi, 450ft of gain, 4hr43min. |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-06-11 |
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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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