| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, MA |
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 | Trails: |
Indian Brook Trail, Glacial Hill Trail, Boundary Trail, Marsh Trail, Mill Pond Trail, Boardwalk Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Though I couldn't find this stated anywhere in the parking area or kiosk (visitor center was closed), it was $6 for adults, $4 for seniors (65+), and $4 for children (2-12). Large gravel lot with room for a few dozen cars at least. Only a half dozen to a dozen at 5:30pm. Less than a half dozen around 7pm when I finished. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Somewhere along Glacial Hill Trail (western section before the loop I think) there's either a little stream or some flooding due to beavers that you've got to cross. I was barely able to do it with dry feet in trail runners. I don't think there was anything else that wasn't bridged. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A couple small stepovers at the end of a small boardwalk/bridge on the section of Glacial Hill Trail between Indian Brook Trail and the loop jct. The guidebook says that the trails are blazed in blue leading away from the entrance and yellow returning, but I don't actually recall much blazing but the trails were easy to follow. Trail jcts were well signed. See comments section below for confusing spots. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Dogs are not allowed. |
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 | Bugs: |
Interestingly, though I didn't notice them at all just a few minutes down the road at Elm Bank, the mosquitos were bad here! |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
2nd post-work hike of the day after nearby Elm Bank. The entrances to these two hikes are only 2mi away (though it'll take you 10-15min with traffic this time of day...) so this is a good pair to do together. Much like Elm Bank, the guidebook description for the Indian Brook Trail (which, while a stand alone trail in the sanctuary, the guidebook describes as a loop with two other trails) confused me. It describes a 3mi loop, but the way I had it mapped at it significantly less than that. What I eventually figured (though the guidebook in no way specifies this) is that at the jct of Indian Brook Trail and Glacial Hill Trail, the guidebook first wants you to go right toward the lollipop loop at the western end of Glacial Hill Trail, THEN go east to complete the more obvious loop with Glacial Hill and Marsh Trails. Other things to note are that if you follow Glacial Hill Trail all the way to its end, you'll wind up at Boundary Trail, not Marsh Trail, Marsh Trail seems to go two different directions at its end, and though Gaia shows a trail going over Mill Pond, there isn't one. In fact, while they're downloadable map doesn't show a trail here either, there satellite one digital one still does. I went all the way to the end of Glacial Hill Trail (which does not follow the trail as shown on Gaia too closely at its end), I believe then followed a short portion of Boundary Trail to where it turns north, then followed a short section of Marsh Trail on the north side of Mill Pond (which again doesn't connect with the Marsh Trail on the south side of the pond since there's no (longer?) a bridge over it, then maybe part of Mill Pond Trail, then retraced my steps to the jct of Boundary and Galcial Hill trails, then headed west along what was either Marsh Trail or Mill Pond Trail (eventually became Marsh Trail in any case) to the Boardwalk Trail which is what the guidebook calls the All Persons Trail and made a little loop here to redline the trails. As you can see from my convoluted writing, the trails around Mill Pond were a bit confusing.
Anyway, Mill Pond was gorgeous. Great spot to have lunch or a snack! The trails were quite easy, sometimes gravel, well trodden, and easy to follow. The Glacial Hill Trail on the west side where it loops would be the one exception to this. Not hard to follow but definitely not wide and as heavily trafficked as the others. I don't recall any mud and I only saw a few others out, mostly returning to the entrance as I was leaving. Gaia had me at 4.3mi, 100ft of gain, 1hr17min. |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-06-12 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.massaudubon.org/places-to-explore/wildlife-sanctuaries/broadmoor/trails |
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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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