Indian Lands Conservation Lands, Dennis MA.

    
    One trail I had heard a lot about but hadn’t tried was Indian Lands in Dennis. Located at the northeast end of The Dennis Town Office Parking lot it is easy to find. No one ever told me that it lead around Bass River. I found out by reading about the trail in one of those small tourist magazines.
The Bass River comes pretty close to cutting the Cape in half. From Nantucket Sound it winds its way north for 6.0 miles into ponds and creeks that reach within 0.5 mile of tidal waters emptying into Cape Cod Bay.
     You start by walking down a sandy power line trail with  unused railroad tracks on your right. A ½ mile down on the left is where The Indian Lands Conservation Lands trail starts. There are two trails to choose from - Lady Slipper trail heads left and Nickerson Point right. I chose Lady Slipper and went towards the river on a narrow pine needle covered path. When I got to the river I thought I would have to turn around but the path kept going all the way around the small peninsular. There were a few places to sit and enjoy the great views of Bass River. I kept thinking I would have to turn and go back, but I was wrong again The trail kept going until I saw a connecting path ahead. When I got closer I realized it was The Nickerson Point trail and I was back to the beginning of the trail. Nickerson Point followed another small peninsular on the river and headed back to the power line trail. Going away from the parking lot I saw another small trail heading into the woods with a small board across a small creek. This trail was on the opposite side of the 2nd peninsula led up a hill and followed the river back to the end of the power line trail. The end of the trail was where the old railroad bridge had been and not far from the bridge where Rte 6 crosses over Bass River. I walked the power line trail back to the parking lot. Turned out to be almost 3 1/2 miles. Since I was a kid I always loved Bass River and I can’t wait to kayak it this summer.

Ratings 1- the cellar  2- shoddy  3- tolerable  4- worthy  5- wicked good

Accessibility - 5 At the end of the Dennis Town Office Parking lot
Parking -  5  - More than enough
Length-  4 - Good but can only add more by doing it again, confined by Bass River
Degree of Difficulty- 4 - easy with some hills
Extras-  2 - Not far from beaches, but nothing right there
Trail Markings-  4 - Easy to follow w/o markings
Trail Maintenance-   5 -
Variation - 4 -  3 trails and utility path
Scenic  - 4 -  Always loved Bass River
Worth Returning - 4 -  For sure
Beach -   no
Facilities - no
What I like -  I love the different views of Bass River
What I don’t like-  Can’t think of anything

Overall Rating-    41 out of 50

Historical Society of Old Yarmouth (HSOY), Yarmouth Port, MA.

    After discovering letterboxing, I thought I would search the website to find another near me. I found one listed on a no name trail I had passed many times on a shortcut I take if I am heading east to 6A. I arrived there at the same time as a guy who was walking his two dogs. I didn’t want to start at the same time so I went to a trail, not far away, I had been meaning to walk for a while. The Historical Society of Old Yarmouth(HSOY) Nature Trails, located behind The Yarmouth Port Post Office. Kelly’s Chapel, The Captain Bangs Hallett Museum and weeping willow tree also share this area. It wasn’t until after I hiked here that I found another clue leading to a letterbox that was hidden on the trail.
     A .50 cent donation for adults and .25 cent for children can be dropped in the mail slot at The Tufts Gate House. There is also a map and interpretive guide offered. The main trail goes up a hill and loops past the Miller Pond and Woodside Cemetery back to Kelly Chapel. There is also a pond trail that loops back the opposite way around the pond. The main trail is marked by white paint on trees along the path and also has numbered markers on the ground . The pond trail has yellow markings and no numbered ones. There are also unmarked trails that cut off the main trail from one side to the other. The pond trail has a railroad track next to it for awhile and has a trail that crosses it. The trail on the other side was parallel to the tracks. I headed back towards the cemetery and ended up at Dennis Pond Beach.
   From the HSOY go east to Strawberry lane and take a right, this becomes White Rock Road. Not far on the right is a parking area for about 4 or 5 cars. This is where the unmarked trail is. I tried the next day and the same guy and dogs where there. The third try I timed it right. There was a sign a short way down the trail. HSOY Nature Trails. This trail was marked by blue paint spots on the trees. It was a wide trail and I followed the directions on the letterbox clue. Haha it led me to The pond trail with the yellow markings. The clue brought me a all the way around the pond past the cemetery and almost to where I had turned into the pond trail. I FOUND IT !! Right where it was supposed to be. I don’t have a stamp yet so I couldn’t stamp it. But it was cool to find it anyway.
    I followed the blue trail to see where it led. It crossed the railroad tracks and led to another pond and then up a steep hill to a campsite. Probably  Camp Grenough a boy scout camp that is on Pine Street off of White Rock Road. I saw red markings next and followed that trail back towards the railroad tracks and looped back to the blue trail and the campsite. Both the blue and red trails went further but I will have to find where else they lead another day.

Ratings 1- the cellar  2- shoddy  3- tolerable  4- worthy  5- wicked good

Accessibility - 5 Right behind Yarmouth Port Post Office on Rte 6A
Parking -  3  - a few spots behind Post office next to bookstore and some at White Rock Rd
Length-  5 - Main Trail, Pond Trail, Guido Perera foot path, Railroad Trail  and Boy Scout Trail
Degree of Difficulty- 4  a lot of hills on side trails
Extras-  5 - Museum, Kelly’s Chapel, Weeping Willow
Trail Markings-  5 - Interpretive map at Tufts Gate House, white paint on main trail - orange on pond trail
Trail Maintenance-   5  -  well kept
Variation - 5- Plenty with white, yellow, blue and red trails pus a few that are unmarked
Scenic  - 3 - Historically scenic - not so much view on the trail
Worth Returning - 4 - I have to find the letterbox
Beach -   no
Facilities - maybe at  museum

Rating 44 out of 50

Breakwater Beach, Brewster MA.

    
    Sunny, low 50’s, a little windy. I wanted something different and close to the beach. I checked the tide chart and saw that it would be close to low tide on the north side. Usually I would go to one of the Dennis beaches, Corporation, Mayflower or Chapin. Deciding to try a new one I picked Breakwater in Brewster. Easy to find off of Rte 6A, take Breakwater Rd to the can’t miss parking lot. I arrived almost 2 hours after low tide. I knew the tide was coming in, but figured I had plenty of time for an hour plus walk. I headed straight out as far as I could go, passing a boat that was sitting almost sideways in the sand. There were some deep tidal pools that I avoided since It is still to cold to be walking in the water, plus It is still jeans, sweatshirt and hiking boots weather. I thought of going towards the west and against the wind when I reached the water but I saw a dog running around without its owner anywhere near. I decided to go east, staying as far away from shore as possible. When the tide is at its lowest the water is almost a mile away from where it is at high tide. I walked as far as I could, over 2 miles, according to my pedometer, and was about ½ mile away from the shore when I had to turn around.
     I know that the tide comes in fast, but didn’t think it would come in that fast!!
OH OH !!! I turned around and realized I was on a sandbar, surrounded by water. Of course I had my phone, camera, mp3 player, pedometer and money in my pocket. At first I thought I could go back the way I came and there would still be some sand to walk on. NOPE !! Actually my 1st thought was “I AM AN IDIOT” !! My boots are waterproof - but not when the water is up to my thighs. Luckily the water wasn’t as cold as I thought it would be. I’m  very happy its April and not January. I felt like I had 15 lb weights on my feet. When I got to shore I was at a private beach and about a mile away from the parking lot of Breakwater Beach. Luckily there was no one around to laugh at me. When I got back the boat that was on its side was now floating upright and by now probably over my head if I tried to walk to it.
     The 1st thing I did when I got back was call my friend knowing she would need a good laugh. She did --- A LOT !!
  

Spruce Hill, Brewster MA.

      
        I was searching online for a new trail, and came across one I hadn’t tried in Brewster off of rte 6A. Spruce Hill is located behind The Brewster Historical Museum not far from Nickerson State Park. The trail is wide and is only about a ½ mile to the water. Of course any trail that ends at a beach can be as long a walk as you want. Normally I wouldn’t have gone to such a short trail but I discovered a clue for a hidden letterbox that was on the trail. I had no idea that letterboxing is an outdoor hobby that combines elements of orienteering, art and puzzle solving. Letterboxers hide small weatherproof boxes in publicly accessible places and distribute clues on websites. The boxes contain a notebook and a rubber stamp. Finders make an imprint of the stamp on a personal notebook and leave their own personal stamp on the notebook in the box as proof of finding the letterbox and letting others know who has visited.
       Cool ! First I start walking to lose weight. Next I decide to hike trails so it doesn’t seem like a chore. Then I try other trails so I don’t get bored doing the same ones again and again. Now I find a treasure hunting game. Awesome !
        I went down the trail to the boardwalk and followed the directions to where the letterbox was supposed to be. The clues were easy to follow, but I couldn’t find it. The clue was dated 2003 so maybe its not there anymore or I’m an idiot. Could be either. Lol . I walked the beach, it was high tide so I walked east about 1 ½ miles, turned around and walked past the broken stairs to the trail as far as I could about another mile. On the way back I looked for the letterbox again. Still no luck. I might not have found the letterbox but I did find letterboxing. So I’m a happy guy.

Ratings 1- the cellar  2- shoddy  3- tolerable  4- worthy  5- wicked good

Accessibility - 4 Behind museum that looks like a house.
Parking -  4  - Small but serviceable
Length-  3 - Only because it leads to beach
Degree of Difficulty- 5 - very easy
Extras-  3 - small museum, not far from Nickerson State Park
Trail Markings-  5 - Can’t mess this one up
Trail Maintenance-   2 - Broken stairway to beach , you can walk down hill in sand.
Variation - 2 - There are 2 side trails but they don’t go anywhere
Scenic  - 4 - Great view of Wellfleet across the Bay
Worth Returning - 3 - On a nice beach day
Beach -   yes
Facilities - not sure if museum has them
What I like -  If not for this trail I might not have found out about letterboxing, The beach
What I don’t like-  No variation, too short

Overall Rating-    35 out of 50

Crocker Neck Conservation Area, Barnstable MA

    
    The threat of rain one day and torrential downpours the next brought me back to Callery Darling. The 1st day was cloudy and I saw some signs of a spring that seems like it will never arrive accept for 2 out of every 7 days. GREEN grass and bushes, but only in a few spots. It is coming. The rainy day the trail was a creek. I like walking in the water once in a while but not like this. It was raining so hard that when I was about done I thought it had stopped but then I realized it was only pouring.
The next day I was going with my friend to see her week old grand daughter ( so beautiful). It was supposed to be a nice day, couldn’t venture far so  I walked the . bog down the street . NOPE Cold and damp. It was beautiful in Salem and we walked around  historic  neighborhoods and a nice park. So even if you have no trails WALK !!  Somewhere!!
      I finally had a chance to try a new trail and picked Crocker Neck Conservation Area. Most of the trails I had been walking were o the north side of The Cape along Rte 6A. Crocker Neck is in Cotuit, a village in Barnstable on the south side, and ends up at Poponessett Bay. Easy to get there, Rte 28 to Cotuit Center, west on School Street and left on Crocker Neck Road. The road ends without a stop sign and becomes Santuit Road. There is a small parking area on the left marked Crocker Neck InterpretiveTrail. I took a map but forgot the trail stop interpretive guide. The trail was wide and headed to a marsh, there looked to be a trail up a small hill to the south, but there was another trail that went to the north. The map had shown 3 parking areas, I thought I was at the 1st  but wasn’t positive, so I  went north. The narrow trail went through the marsh and up to some houses, then back towards the road I came in on, ending at in an  unfamiliar  neighborhood. I went back to the small hill and followed that trail through the woods with Pinquickset Cove to the east. There are a couple of  scenic areas with a great view. There is a viewing deck where you can sit and observe life in thr tide pool. It was being worked on that day, I would have stopped to take a picture but the guy had a chain saw and headphones on. I didn’t want to take a chance on startling him. The tail loops up to The Bay and there is a time were the two trails almost touch. There is a small beach area with parking for maybe 10 cars. The trail that leads out is the dirt road the cars use to get to the beach. I  can’t see how two cars can pass each other it is so narrow. The road leads out to the main road where there is another small parking area. I walked the road back to my car.
    I’m glad I went but I thought the view would be seen throughout the trail. It might have been better if I had brought the guide. There is a town way to water across the street from the parking area which could be used for boating, canoeing or kayaking.

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Ratings 1- the cellar  2- shoddy  3- tolerable  4- worthy  5- wicked good

Accessibility - 4 Pretty easy but the street names change w/o ending
Parking -  3 - Only a few cars but 3 areas
Length-   3 - Not too bad if you add the trail that connects to main trail.
Degree of Difficulty- 5   easy
Extras-  4 - A couple of places to sit and enjoy the view - town way to water great kayaking or canoeing
Trail Markings-  4 - if you bring map and the guide that tells what each marker means
Trail Maintenance-   5  -  well kept, being worked on that day
Variation - 2 - Pretty much up and around, but you can change it up a bit
Scenic  - 3 - Not as good as expected
Worth Returning - 5 - Yes for a hike and kayak
Beach -   yes but small
Facilities - no
What I like -  A trail that leads to water on south side
What I don’t like-  not as good a view as it could be

Overall Rating-    38 out of 50

Bud Carter Conservation Area, Yarmouth MA.

 
  The past few days I have only hiked one new trail. The weather is getting better on Cape Cod so a I walked two Dennis Beaches of off 6A, Chapins, one day and Corporation, another. At low tide Chapins is .75 miles to the water. Going to the east will bring you just across from Gray’s Beach and the boardwalk that is located in Yarmouth Port and is the home of The Callery-Darling Conservation Trail. Heading west takes you to Mayflower beach and when the tide is low you can walk through to Corporation. It can be an 8 to 9 mile round trip.
    Another day I was headed over to the beach the back way and changed my mind, deciding to do Bud Carter Conservation Area instead. This is another trail that if you aren’t looking for it you wouldn’t know it was there. From exit 8 on Rte 6 head south to the 1st set of lights. Take a right on White’s Path, at end of street take left on North Dennis Rd. When you see Reservoir Pond on the left you will also see a small area that can park two cars. There is a sign at the beginning of the trail. Just down the street is Crab Creek, a great place for crabbing, canoeing and kayaking, which leads out to Bass River.
    Bud Carter according to my ratings is not that good. No scenery, hard to find, no parking, not well marked. The main reason I started walking was to lose weight. I started hiking to be outside and so I wouldn’t get bored by doing different trails. Bud Carter trail is Just What the Doctor Ordered. The length is good and the hills are frequent and strenuous. The main trail from North Dennis Rd. leads to a sand pit on Great Western Rd. There are a lot of side trails, some that loop around to the main trail and others that don’t. I have done this trail 3 times and have been confused at least once each time. The side trails are narrow and have very steep hills. There is a lot of huffing and puffing as the area boasts the highest point in the town of Yarmouth. This is not a trail I would do in inclement weather. Even though I usually look for the answer to most questions, I have no desire to find out which would be worse, trying to get up the hill or get down it. I highly recommend bringing the map with you to hike this trail. If you really want to test yourself go to the bottom of the sand pit and walk up the sand hill. My guess is it’s 3 stories high. I didn’t look back down until I was 3 steps in from the top. I’m glad this wasn’t my first trail when I began but I’m also glad I found it.
  

  

Ratings 1- the cellar  2- shoddy  3- tolerable  4- worthy  5- wicked good

Accessibility - 2- You have to know exactly where it is
Parking -  2 - Only room for two or three cars
Length-   5 -  The main trail roundtrip is 2 miles and the side trails can add another 3 to 5.
Degree of Difficulty-  2   Fantastic if you want a good workout
Extras-  2- Crab Creek down the street
Trail Markings-  2 - A few but could be much better
Trail Maintenance-   5  -  well kept
Variation - 5 - The sub trails not only add a good workout they add variety
Scenic  - 3 - One overlook to a bog and one at the summit where on a nice day you can see all the way to Manomet Point in Plymouth
Worth Returning - 5 - Yes for the workout
Beach -   no
Facilities - no
What I like -  Huffing and puffing
What I don’t like-  Pretty confusing

Overall Rating-    33 out of 50

John Wing Trail, Brewster MA.

  
    A rainy day brought me back to Callery-Darling. I parked at the opposite end of the trail to make it seem a little different. I saw two Red Winged Blackbirds, a sure sign of spring, according to my mother because I had no clue what kind they were. Then I saw two small purple flowers, finally the color is coming back after a long black and white winter.
    The next day looked like rain again so I went back to Sandy Pond. I wanted some woods to block a little of the rain that never came. I’m glad I did because I found another trail by the cemetery that goes out and around it adding a mile and a half to the walk.
    I friend suggested I hike The John Wing Trail at Cape Cod Museum of Natural History a few weeks ago. It was a beautiful day and I wanted to walk the beach but the tide was too high. A perfect day for a trail with a beach There are two trails at the Museum, which is on Rte 6A in Brewster, John Wing starts at the museum and across the street is The South Trail. The Wildflower Garden is the beginning of John Wing that heads to a wooden plank bridge that leads across the marsh to John Wing Island. The trail heads through the woods  with a pasture that overlooks Quivet Creek to the east and Paines Creek to the west and the beach straight ahead to the north. There are plenty of signs along the way explaining everything from the salt marsh, ‘you are here’ maps to the different species of birds, trees and vegetation. There is even a Native American Sachemus Field Solar Calendar.
   Instead of going to the beach through the woods I followed the pasture trail. This has to be one of the most spectacular views on The Cape. The view can’t be that much different than it was when Thoreau was writing his book "Cape Cod". At low tide you can walk across Quivet Creek to Crow's Pasture, time it right though the tide comes in fast. Walking the beach north brings you to Paines Creek. Halfway between the creeks is another path that lead to stairs that lead back into the woods and back to the Museum.
   The South trail begins by walking on crushed seashells and a series of wooden bridges over the marsh to a more challenging area. The narrow trail brings you up and around a steep hill with plenty of roots to use as steps.
The trail splits but either way you go leads back to where you started.
I enjoyed these trails so much I went two days in a row. If I had more time I would have brought my Kindle and read Cape Cod on one of the benches in the pasture. Oh well some other day.

  
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Ratings 1- the cellar  2- shoddy  3- tolerable  4- worthy  5- wicked good

Accessibility - 5 - On 6A in Brewster
Parking -  5 - Plenty on both sides of 6A
Length-   5 -  Two trails and the beach
Degree of Difficulty-  4- John Wing (easy) South Trail (difficult).
Extras-  4- Museum of Natural History and beach
Trail Markings-  5 - Great with signs showing where you are and others explaining the history,
Trail Maintenance-   5
Variation - 5 - John Wing has different trails throughout, the beach with the changing tides and the South Trail is challenging
Scenic  - 5 - Great
Worth Returning - 5 - no doubt
Beach -   yes
Facilities - In museum, or Dunkin Donuts on the other side of marsh
What I like -  The view on John Wing is almost the same as when
What I don’t like-  Nothing yet

Overall Rating-    48 out of 50

Coy's Woodland - Baldwin Woodlands - DeFulvio Boardwalk, Harwich MA

  
   I had a meeting off Cape the day I was going back to finish Bell’s Neck. My friend I was going with told me she should be ready to go about 12:30. Looking at the map I could tell that the north trail wouldn’t be as long as I wanted to walk. I could do the south side again but I might not have had enough time. Looking at the trail map of Harwich I saw their were smaller trails very close to Bell’s Neck.
    If you didn’t know there was a north trail at Bell’s neck you would walk right by it. The trail is narrow and goes up and down hills, some very steep. The steepest ones have an alternative path that leads around them. I always take the hills since my main reason for doing this is losing weight. The trail heads down to the water and up to the power lines and the Rail Trail. The trail loops back and can be made longer by going down the dirt road that cuts the main trail in half. Just about 2.5 miles.
   Going back out to Great Western Road I took a right and headed for Lothrop Ave. and Coy's Brook Woodland. It was easy to find the parking area just past the big blue water tower. There are two trails at Coy’s Brook. The outer one is a mile hike that leads down to the opposite side of the Bell’s Neck marsh and around through the woods, past the water tower and  back to the parking area. The second trail is a shorter loop that also loops back to the outer trail.
    Further down Lothrop Ave is Lee Baldwin Memorial Woodlands which has a short boardwalk and sitting area and a 800 ft trail. The trail goes into the woods where there is a fenced in grave site with two headstones, one broken, with fresh flowers. I could read 1832 on it but not much more. Still time for one more.
  To get to DeFulvio Sanctuary Boardwalk I had to keep going down Lothrop on to Rte 28.  There was a sign on the north side in between two buildings. I thought it was a driveway because it brought you by a house and a business, but more signs led to the boardwalk.  !37 ft and wheelchair accessible to a great view of the other side of herring river and marsh. I saw a couple of trails leading into the woods from the small parking area. No time though. I had time to get a coffee on the way back home take a shower and pick up my friend by 12:30. I was pretty proud of myself. Then a text from her at 11:45. OH OH !! She would be ready at Noon. No coffee, quick shower and just a little late. Phew!!
    Four Conservation Areas in Harwich in one morning. I rated Bell’s Neck in my last post. The rating below is for the other three.
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Ratings 1- the cellar  2- shoddy  3- tolerable  4- worthy  5- wicked good

Accessibility - 5 - International hiking signs.

Parking - 4 - Coy’s Neck and Lee Balwin have plenty. I think The Balwin on is bigger than the trail. The DeFulvio is small.

Length-   2 -  All 3 don’t add up to my minimum 3 mile jaunt.

Degree of Difficulty-  3 - Easy when the paths are wide and tough hills on the narrow paths. 

Extras-  1- Nothing extra

Trail Markings-  4  Not too necessary

Trail Maintenance-   5  

Variation - 2  see length

Scenic  - 4 - Great at DeFulvio - Ok at Coy’s Neck - Not real good at Baldwin

Worth Returning - 3  Maybe

Beach -   no

Facilities - no

What I like -  Good for days when time is a problem, nice views at DeFulvio

What I don’t like-  Just too short  

Overall Rating-    33  out of 50 

Bell's Neck Conservation Land

  

    The threat of a Nor'easter sent me to my home trail last Friday. Luckily it was just a threat and I walked in cloudy chilly weather. The two days before that I walked the cranberry bog on West Yarmouth Road by the back entrance to Horse Pond. The Cape is an awesome place to walk, there are so many choices. Beaches, trails and bogs, each is so different, you can never get bored.
     Sun in the sky, still a chill in the air, but nice especially if it was January . High tide at the time I was going to walk. New trail, which one? Since there was a chill I decided on an area that was away from the beaches and picked a new town to try also. I picked Harwich and Bell's Neck Conservation Land.  There are eight trails on the list that are taken care of by The  Harwich conservation Trust . The day before I was driving on Great Western Road in Harwich and I passed an international hiking sign next to Bell’s Neck Road so I decided I would try it first.
      There is a parking area with a kiosk on the left just past the Cape Cod Rail Trail. I saw a trail connected to the parking area and followed that thinking it was the trail. Nope. Just a short trail that heads up the hill and to different paths connecting to the Rail Trail. Looking at the map I brought I started walking down Bell’s Neck away from the Rail Trail and with the west reservoir on my right and the east reservoir on my left. There was a trail on the right just past the water. I ended up making the right choice (go figure) and hiked along a narrow hilly path that ended up at the herring river on the other side of the west reservoir. This is also a great place to come to watch the herring run. The path widens again as it loops around with some trail arrows on a couple of trees about half way through this side of the trail. I had just heard on TV that the weather conditions on Cape Cod were perfect for forest fires. I was walking up a hill and could smell fire. The trees and ground on both sides of the trail were black and smoldering. Scary !! Not sure when the fire occurred but glad I wasn't caught in it. On the way back another trail leads back to Bell’s Neck Rd. with another path on the other side. This trail leads to a walking bridge that connects with North Rd. I went over the bridge and turned around when I got to the houses heading back the same way I had come to the parking area.
     From the Parking area walk towards the Rail Trail and there is the north trail on the west side of the street. I didn’t see it on the way in. Since I had done about 5 miles I decided to come back the next day and finish up. I think that so far Bell’s Neck is the most scenic of the inland trails. The views of the reservoir, the marsh and the herring river can only get better in the summer.

Ratings 1- the cellar  2- shoddy  3- tolerable  4- worthy  5- wicked good

Accessibility - 5 - International Hiking sign at Bell’s Neck Road. Can’t miss it.
Parking - 5 - Small area on Bell’s Neck,(the eastside) but plenty of room on side of road. The west side has by the herring river has even more.
Length-   5 -  Has trails on both sides of the west reservoir, the north st. bridge trail and the rail trail
Degree of Difficulty-  3 - Easy when the paths are wide and tough hills on the narrow paths.
Dog Friendly-  4 - some narrow paths --saw signs of Horses too
Trail Markings-  2- all the markers are in one area. You have to find them. They do have a map box but probably only fill them in season
Trail Maintenance-   5
Variation - 5  see length
Scenic  - 4 - The reservoirs - herring river and marshes - nice
Worth Returning - 5 - Yes
Beach -   no
Facilities - no
What I like -  The hills, the views, the variety
What I don’t like-  Easy to find with the hiking signs but needs signs for the trails, there are a few times you have choices with no clue where to go.

Overall Rating-    43  out of 50

  

Old Jail Lane, Barnstable MA.

  


    Still chilly so I stayed away from the beach and headed to another trail I hadn’t tried yet. Since I had a good hike the day before in Barnstable off of Rte 6A, I headed that way again. This time a little closer - Old Jail Lane Conservation Area - just past Barnstable Village on 6A.  Once you find the road of the same name, which  is a little hard to find because it looks like a driveway, the small parking lot on the west side of the street is easy to find.
    The trail starts as a dirt road heading past a row of houses into the woods. Once you get there a kiosk with a map shows that there is a blue trail, Old Jail Lane, and a red trail that connects to Cape Cod Community College to the west and Barnstable Village to the east. I was there for Old Jail Lane so I followed the blue arrows on the trees, going straight up rolling hills. Another kiosk with a map and a ‘you are here’ arrow. There were two more of these - how great is that !! They probably haven’t done that in Yarmouth off the Horse Pond trail because they couldn't figure out where they were to do it. The trail becomes narrow with some steep hills and tops off at Lookout Rock. From there you can see Sandy Neck Beach. The trail then leads down to a pasture that also has hills, but not as steep. I saw a street and some houses. When I got to the street I found out it was 6A and another parking area named Seabury Farms Conservation Area. Turning around and heading back thru the pasture I stayed following the blue triangles. The map on the kiosk showed that the blue trail went into the red trail and would bring me back to the parking lot where my car was.
     It was about 5.5 miles total up and down some steep hills and I thought I might go the next day and do the red trail. Bridge Creek on Rte 149 has a trail that connects to 4 C’s from the east. Old Jail Lane connects to 4 C’s from the west. I haven’t made it back yet - the next day was real nice and I wanted to walk a beach so I went back to Crow’s Pasture, this time the tide was going out so I had more beach to walk.
      The next day was even better but I was helping my friend off Cape. I got up early and walked the cranberry bog that is at the end of The Horse Pond Trail on West Yarmouth Road. The bog is decent size about a mile and a half around the outside path with many connecting paths and a few trails at the back. I only had time for a couple of laps. We were helping her son finish moving in Salem, the last time we were up that way I saw a Sonic. A Sonic !!! I had seen a million commercials but never one in person. The only way I knew it really did exist was a couple of friends had said they had seen one. One even ate at one. My reward for helping was getting to eat at Sonic. You pull up to park, order when you are ready like you would if you were driving thru and it gets delivered to you by a server on roller skates. AWESOME !!!

    
Ratings 1- the cellar  2- shoddy  3- tolerable  4- worthy  5- wicked good

Accessibility - 4 From 6A it’s tough because Old Jail Lane looks like a driveway. Easier to find from Phinneys Lane off Rte
Parking - 4-  Decent size one on Old Jail Lane and another on 6A (Seabury Farms Conservation Area)
Length-   5 -  Blue trail can be 5 miles with red trail leading west to Cape Cod Community College (4 C’s) and east toward Barnstable Village.
Degree of Difficulty-  3 - Easy when the paths are wide and tough hills on the narrow paths
Dog Friendly-  4 - some narrow paths
Trail Markings-  5- red trail and blue trail markers on some trees - Maps with you are here markers are great !!
Trail Maintenance-   5
Variation - 5  with outer loops, woods and pasture, connecting trail or main trail
Scenic  - 2 - can see the skyline and water from -Lookout Rock
Worth Returning - 5 - want to do the red trail
Beach -   no
Facilities - no
What I like -  hills, pasture and woods a nice mixture.  The maps, the changing path width
What I don’t like-  not too scenic

Overall Rating-    42  out of 50

Sonic Rating 50 out of 50

Bridge Creek, Barnstable MA.

       It’s funny 34 degrees, sunny, not much wind at the end of March feels a lot warmer than it did a month ago. It was nice enough to hike a different Cape Cod trail so I  decided to try my second one in  Barnstable. I picked  Bridge Creek Conservation Area which “has an  informal network of trails leading past old stone walls, abandoned fields and cranberry bogs encircled by a wooded upland landscape“. The map showed two parking areas. One on Rte 149,  behind the West Barnstable Fire Station, in between Rte 6 and 6A. The other on Church Street. I parked on Church Street and used the entrance labeled The Jenkins Wildlife Sanctuary. I brought a map with me, I’m not taking any chances after getting lost last week off the Horse Pond Trail in the woods only 2 miles from my house LOL.
        The trail heads north into the woods along side a stone wall. It starts out wide with a lot of roots sticking out of the ground. Usually the roots are big by the base of the trees but there were some areas that the trees weren’t even close. I noticed that there were blue makers on the trees. There weren’t as many as Punkhorn Parklands, but it was better than most of the trails. Crossing over boardwalks and bridges leads to the marsh and ends at the railroad tracks, with  a few benches along the way and then loops back towards the beginning.
        On the way back I saw a lady and her dog, Jack, they were looking for the red trail. I knew there was a trail that went towards the fire station to the west and figured I past it when I saw a trail that followed another set of stonewalls earlier. As I was showing her the map Jack ran off with her following, I hope the map helped them get back. I took the trail by the stonewall and headed west. A short way down the trail I saw  red marker and followed them over 2 x 4 planks, many that were broken, to the fire station. There were a lot of roots on this side too. I must have tripped 10 times. Still not as bad as the last trail that had piles of Horse (you no what) all through the trails. At least there was so much I couldn’t miss it. I can’t believe didn’t slip and fall into the s##@ and fall down one of those steep hills. Haha!!  Maybe I’m luckier than I thought !!

More Pictures at facebook

Ratings 1- the cellar  2- shoddy  3- tolerable  4- worthy  5- wicked good

Accessibility - 5  easy to find  between Rte 6 and 6A on Rte 149
Parking - 3-  Two areas with room for 3 cars, on Rte 149 behind the fire station and on Church St 7/10 mile from 149
Length-   5 -  about 6 miles but can be more there is another trail that heads east towards Rte 132 and Cape Cod Community College (4 C’s)
Degree of Difficulty-  4 -easy but look out for the roots
Dog Friendly-  4 - some narrow paths
Trail Markings-  4- red trail and blue trail markers on some trees - need more
Trail Maintenance-   3 good on blue side - red side could use some work
Variation - 5  loops and 2 separate sides plus another that heads east
Scenic  - 2 - the blue side looks over a marsh
Worth Returning - 4 - just not on a gorgeous day
Beach -   no
Facilities - no
What I like -  The length , I always liked stone walls
What I don’t like-  planks, mud

Overall Rating-    39  out of 50