| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Rocky Woods Reservation, MA |
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 | Trails: |
Loop Trail, Echo Pond Trail, Harwood Notch Trail, Ridge Trail, Chickering Pond Trail, Bridle Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking on Hartford St. $6 for a day pass for non-members. Make sure to take the first left into parking. You can't turn left again and going straight will lead you to the athletic fields. There's a digital pay station that takes cards. Large gravel lot with room for at least a few dozen cars. Only a half dozen or so when I arrived around 7:15-7:30pm. I don't think there were any when I returned an hour later. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
They took out the bridge (well, part of it anyhow) across Echo Lake so if you wanted to follow the true Yellow Trail, you'd be swimming across the pond with the fishies. Beyond that, I don't think there's any crossings. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
While the individual trails are not blazed, the colored loops described in the guidebook (and another on their maps that is not described in the guidebook) are blazed in their respective colors. Blazing is not frequent but the trails are not hard to follow. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Dogs are allowed. There are both off-leash and on-leash areas on this reservation. |
|
 | Bugs: |
I think they were out but not as bad as at Broadmoor. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
3rd and final post-work redline of the day after nearby Elm Bank Reservation and Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary. I followed the Yellow Loop as described in the guidebook with one notable exception: The bride over the western end of Echo Lake has been taken down (in part) so I had to continue along Echo Lake Trail, then turn right onto Harwood Notch Trail instead. I did an OAB from Harwood Notch Trail to the water. It seems like beavers have begun flooding the area too. I'll also note that there seemed to be some BIG fish in that lake as I heard many large splashes in the water. I never got a good look at one but I thought it was quite impressive! As far as I recall, the trails were dry. Wide, easy to follow, and easy-moderate grades at most. Whale Rock was aptly named. Make sure you follow the correct trail at the end of the loop (if going clockwise) as there's some non-intuitive turns here as you near the athletic field. Gaia had me at 2.9mi, 175ft of gain, 54min. |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
|
 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-06-12 |
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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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