| The directions
below will allow you to do either a short
loop with great vistas, or a longer trip
around the reservation; in both cases, the
map will come in quite handy, though trail
markers make orientation relatively easy. |
 |
Your workout in Rocky Woods
begins on the Loop Trail, with a trail head
next to the ranger station at the entrance
and at the far end of the parking lot |
|
Take Loop Trail to Echo Pond
Trail, at the trail intersection marked
"1" |
|
Follow Echo Pond Trail to
the East and West Trail, past intersection
17, leaving the pond on your right, and
past marker 16. |
 |
| At this point,
decide between a shorter ski with the opportunity
for fantastic views, or a longer ski through
more of the property. |
|
| For the shorter
trip with great views: |
|
Turn right at intersection
16 onto Hardwood Notch Trail; after a short
while you'll pass Echo Pond on the right |
|
At intersection 6, cross
over Quarry Trail and continue climbing |
|
Just as Notch Pond appears
on your left, look for a short looping trail
to your right: this unnamed spur takes a
short climb to a scenic vista |
|
Continue on this short trail
back to Hardwood Notch Trail. You'll see
a large glacial erratic (a boulder carried
from far away by ice movement) known as
Whale Rock |
|
Shortly after this, the trail
will intersect with Ridge Trail at marker
7. Turn right onto Ridge Trail, and again
take the spur on the right to a scenic vista |
|
This spur is a one-way track,
so do an about-face after you've had a rest
and enjoyed the view |
|
After a few minutes back
on Ridge Trail, you'll see a left trail
climbing up toward a hemlock knoll. The
steep climb is rewarded with a fun downhill
that takes you back to Ridge Trail |
|
Ridge Trail will take you
down to Chickering Pond, and there are trails
that ring the pond on either side |
|
At the far end of the pond
is the visitor center, and just beyond the
visitor center is a trail leading back to
the parking lot. |
|
| If you opt for
a longer ski loop: |
|
At intersection 16, keep
going on East and West Trail (ahead) |
|
Stay to the left at intersection
15. The East and West Trail ends at the
intersection with Cheney Pond Trail (marker
14). Turn right onto Cheney Pond Trail to
intersection 13 |
|
At marker 13, you have the
option of continuing on level Cheney Pond
Trail to the longer Wilson Swamp Trail,
or taking the steeper Ridge Trail over Mine
Hill. Either choice will take you to the
northern portion of the reservation |
|
Eventually you will hit trail
marker 8, then 7 |
|
At marker 7, go north on
Ridge Trail, and take the spur on the right
to a scenic vista; this spur is a one-way
track, so do an about-face after you've
had a rest and enjoyed the view |
|
After a few minutes back
on Ridge Trail, you'll see a left trail
climbing up toward a hemlock knoll. The
steep climb is rewarded with a fun downhill
that takes you back to Ridge Trail |
|
Ridge Trail will take you
down to Chickering Pond, and there are trails
that ring the pond on either side |
|
At the far end of the pond
is the visitor center, and just beyond the
visitor center is a trail leading back to
the parking lot. |
