Trail Tour

Although this page isn't finished yet, here is a summary overview of the route:

From the Rhode Island border, the route would follow the Midstate Trail (MST) north through central Massachusetts, then the Wapack Trail into southern New Hampshire. Although the NET would primarily follow the MST, the NET route suggests several loops that diverge from the MST route. (Please note that these suggested loops are not intended to suggest re-routes of the MST. The point of these loops is to create a more extensive overall hiking trail system in the region and promote further conservation initiatives).  From South to North, Some of the highlights along this proposed route would include (* indicates side route from the MST):

In Massachusetts:

1. Douglas State Forest  (extensive remote woodland with rugged rock outcrops)

2. Wallum Lake and Cedar Swamp Boardwalk Trail* (a crystal clear glacial lake and a walk through a cedar swamp)

3. Whitin Reservoir and Manchaug Pond (briefly skirts the shores of these these lakes)

4. East Sutton Common (a historic town common surrounded by highly scenic hilltop agricultural lands)

5. Merrit Ponds* (a chain of scenic ponds and marshes in Merritt Ponds WMA)

6. Sacrarrappa Pond

7. French River (a wild and protected part of the river)

8. Hodges Village Dam Recreation Area (extensive wetlands and river banks in an Army Corps recreation area)

9. French River Greenway (a newly conserved property under construction)*

10. Buffumville Lake (the lake is part of an Army Corps reservation, is  undeveloped and highly scenic. The NET trail route would include a long loop around 3/4 of the lake*) 

11. Conservation land near Putnam Pond and Beacon Hill 

12. The Route 20 Cow Tunnel (the historic cow tunnel under route 20 was recently reconstructed following widening of the highway)

13.  The Historic Ryder Tavern (also passes several other historic properties in the tiny hamlet center of Northside)

14. The historic Faye Mountain Farm conservation property (the trail passes through a historic--and currently working--apple orchard and over a high drumlin. 

15. Four Chimney Wildlife Management Area (includes scenic woodland and high drumlin pastures with views)

16. Spencer State Forest South/ Howe Pond* (the NET route would theoretically loop west from the MST, pass over the summits of several high drumlins with extensive views, then turn north into Spencer State Forest to visit Howe Pond. From here, the route would pass through local conservation areas, and rejoin the MST near the Burncoat Pond Audubon Sanctuary)  

17. Burncoat Pond Audubon Sanctuary (scenic wetlands and agricultural fields, rock outcrops and high pastures)

18 Moose Hill and Pond (a high, open drumlin with extensive views; a small pond and backpacker's shelter is located on the north side of the hill).  

19. Spencer State Forest North and Buck Hill* (a high drumlin with backpacker's shelter; rugged woodlands, creeks, beaver pond, marshes)

20. Browning Pond and woodlands (an attractive glacial pond surrounded by woodlands in a Boy Scout Reservation; includes a gigantic glacial erratic known locally as Samson's Pebble.)

21. Rutland State Forest (the eastern edge of one of Massachusetts most extensive wildlife corridors , RSP includes old agricultural fields, ruins of a WW-II POW camp, wetlands, undeveloped lakes, and woodlands. 

22. Barre Falls Dam Recreation Area (Army Corps managed; similar in character to Rutland SP)

23. East Branch of the Ware River 

24 Wachusett Greenways corridors* (the NET would loop north, then south, then east, linking  a series of conservation properties and public lands which would include Brigham Pond, Cunningham Pond, and Moosehorn Pond.   

25 Wachusett Meadows Audubon Sanctuary (old pastures, wetlands, and views from the open, rugged health barrens at the top of Brown Hill) 

26 Wachusett Mountain Reservation (eastern Massachusetts' largest mountain rises 2000 feet, dominating the countryside for miles.)

27 Crow Hills/ Leominster State Forest (the Crow Hills are a local rock climbing Mecca with huge boulders, cliffs, and open ledges)

28 Sawmill Pond, Oak Hill, and Phillips Brook Falls* (theoretically, the NET route would loop east from the MST, passing through the eastern side of Leominster State Forest, skirting Sawmill Pond, ascending the side of Oak Hill in Fitchburg to ledges, descending to cross the North Nashua River, then ascending the side of Phillps brook to a scenic waterfall. From there, the NET route would head west to rejoin the MST before Muddy Pond. 

20 Muddy Pond. (very scenic and remote pond with a backpacker's shelter)

21 Mount Hunger (rugged hiking, views)

22 Mount Watatic (excellent rocky summit and extensive views) From here, the route follows the Wapack Trail into New Hampshire. 

In New Hampshire:

23 New Hampshire Peaks of the Wapack Range (a fantastic scenic ridgeline with open ledges. Peaks include Pratt Mountain, New Ipswitch Mountain, Barrett Mountain, Kidder Mountain, Temple Mountain, and South Pack Mountain. (North Pack Mountain would also be accessible by continuing on the Wapack Trail to its terminus. A intuitive continuation of that ridge route might someday include Lyndeborough Mountain and Crotched Mountain as well, indicating the potential for a loop from there northwest across the Contoocook south of Antrim, then up Bald Mountain ridge, the Bacon Ledges, and back to the NET route on the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway).  

24 The Contoocook River Valley* (the NET route would pass through the valley between South Pack and Grand Monadnock, linking existing conservation properties. Points along the route would probably include Cunningham Pond, Casalis Marsh,  Town Line Brook Gorge, the Contoocook River rail path, Parker Pond, Frost Pond and Frost Pond Greenway,  Blaine Forest, and Thorndike Pond. (Another possible route would descend South Pack to Cranberry Meadow Pond and its brook, following the brook to the Contoocook River and picking up the rail trail there, then continuing on as indicated above). 

25 Mount Monadnock
Mount Monadnock is the most prominent peak of southern New England. At 3,165 feet high, the mountain is nearly 1000 feet higher than anything else within 30 miles. Its rocky, exposed summit offers expansive views in all directions. A number of hiking trails cross the mountain. 

Mount Monadnock is the nexus of the proposed New England Trail; from its summit each of the proposed trail branches--North, West, and East--radiate out. From the summit, the East Branch descends into the Contocook River Valley and ascends the Wapack Range; the north branch traverses a highland ridge to Mount Sunapee via the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway; and the west branch follows the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail south into the highlands of central Massachusetts and the Pioneer Valley.

 Mount Wachusett

Resource list

Government Resources 

Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Douglas State Forest trail map
Ware River area overview map
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffumville Lake map
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hodges Village Dam map
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Barre Falls Dam map
Ware River Watershed map
Mount Wachusett trail map
Leominster State Forest trail map
New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation
Miller State Park Map
Mount Monadnock State Park map

Non-profit Resources

Midstate Trail overview map

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