Massachusetts Trails » bogofree

Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT)

bogofree — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:06:55 +0000

This is a 21+ mile trail system that is an old railroad line. The trail begins in Franklin, MA on the edge of Franklin State Park and progresses through several towns and eventually ends in Douglas, MA. The Franklin entrance is available by taking exit 16 on I-495 and going towards Bellingham. After about 3 miles you take a right onto Grove Street and the entrance is about ¼ mile on the left. This section of the trail is quite rough for several miles but for a biker it is no real problem.

The second area they list for parking is in Douglas and is almost at the other end of the system. Take route 16W off Route 146 and drive about 5 miles until you get to route 96 and take a left. Entrance is about ¼ mile on the right. This section of the trail is in excellent shape in both directions for several miles.

Now I have listed two areas on entrance but the reality is this trail crosses numerous roads and at each there are gates at which you can park so you can do – as I have – and run this trail in sections. As you do each section you can explore as there are trails that break off in many places so if you are a runner this could be an adventure for a week or two.

If you wish to get this trail mapped here is a great site called traillink.com that will give you all the details you want.

Blackstone Valley State Park

bogofree — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:36:21 +0000

This is a place I have always wanted to go for a run and managed to do it today (10/29).

The Visitor Center contains a graphic for trails and so does the linked site below along with a link for the Blackstone Corridor. This is a great scenic area as you have one trail system that goes along the river and another system that is used for a tow trail for the barges.

There is also another park in the area that I will explore after hunting season (10/15-01/31/10) and that is the West Hill Dam only about a mile away.

http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/blst.htm

http://www.nps.gov/blac/index.htm

Moose Hill – Sharon, MA

bogofree — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:12:40 +0000

This is an easy one since I need no pictures or fancy stuff like Mark does so just go to the link for Moose Hill. http://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Moose_Hill/index.php and take a look.

I will say this place is a personal favorite and is a 2,000 acre system with 25 miles of marked trails and probably another 15 miles of unmarked trails. The area also is connected to another 1,000 or so acres that are not part of Moose Hill yet still have many trails. These you just have to explore.

This is an Audubon facility so there are restrictions and their web site lists them. There is a Audubon center on site with a parking lot and all the trail maps you’d want. Classes are constantly being conducted on a variety of nature related topics and special events are a constant. This is a top of the line facility. There is also a small fee but it is the honor system so if you have no honor don’t pay. I’m a member so I have privileges.

I went for a jog today at Moose Hill and saw several wild birds especially wild turkeys (not the stuff Mark drinks) but the real ones. Saw a fox but she was with her husband – no…just kidding…a real one with the kind of tail that would be quite decorative on my car antenna.

Moose Hill is right off I-95 just take the Main St. Sharon exit and follow the signs.