Map 33 - Tripp
Rating Comments: This trail would be a 5-star if not for the occasional road noise from Rte 495 that can noticeable on the first half-mile of the trail, depending on the weather conditions. With the 2022 purchase of the Eastern Greenway, this spot is now worth a special trip (pun intended). It begins at a small opening in the stone wall where 2 to 3 cars can be parked at the side of the road. From there, a wide, gentle path, formerly a cart path, passes beside a small pond, croaking with tree frogs in the spring, then climbs steadily to a high point in a very pretty oak forest. At the crest of the 462' high hill, you can continue straight ahead, or turn left. I prefer to head straight past a a wind-damaged area that took the tops off of several huge oak trees. The debris will be there for years, but there is a path cut through the remains. At this point, you have crossed over onto Eastern Greenway (Harvard Conservation Trust) land. The trail gently descends the hill then comes to a level area where there is evidence of logging activity that took place on the adjacent parcel in 2016. At that point, turn left, and follow the mostly level footpath. Once you come to the stone wall, you have two choices, turn left onto the primary trail to return up the hill, or proceed straight onto the secondary trail. If you proceeds straight, you will pass another vernal pool on the right, then eventually pass up a moderately steep hill, cross a stone wall, then reach another small loop. Stay to the right, descend the hill, follow a stream to the right until you come to another stone wall, at which point the trail takes a 90-degree left turn passing a beautiful gneiss stone ledge. This will quickly rejoin the secondary trail, so turn right to head back. Once you reach the primary trail, turn right to head back through another oak forest and back up the hill onto the Town's Tripp land. NOTE as of June 2022, the secondary loop trail on the Eastern Greenway has been blazed and marked with directional signs, but red flags remain until foot traffic makes them no longer necessary.
Trailhead Directions: Click here
Elevation gain: 155'
Parcel size: 154 acres.
Prefer the classic hand-drawn map? Click Here
Harvard Conservation Trust Land Use Rules: Click Here
Keywords: quiet, pond, peaceful.
Trailhead Directions: Click here
Elevation gain: 155'
Parcel size: 154 acres.
Prefer the classic hand-drawn map? Click Here
Harvard Conservation Trust Land Use Rules: Click Here
Keywords: quiet, pond, peaceful.
Click here for a printable map.
Tripp PDF (282K)
Click Here for a downloadable GPX file to upload into your mobile mapping app.
