Map 6 - Holy Hill
Rating Comments: Showcase parcel with variety of options, challenging hills, or wide flat former roads. Historic Shaker Dancing grounds preserved on top of drumlin. Some open fields, and a descent to the hemlock forest along Bennett's Brook. Good connectivity to neighborhood, with option of continuing onto Blomfelt or Kaufmann lands. Almost 5 miles of trails. Watch for historic Shaker stone gate posts and culverts. See the historic Maple Lane (discontinued) which served as a road connecting the Shaker Village neighborhoods. Snowmobile club use some trails, grooming them for easy skiing. Moderate.
Trail description from HCT Trail Guide: Following the trail from South Shaker Road, you will come to the worship area where part of the uniquely designed fence was reconstructed after the land was purchased by the Conservation Commission in 1972. There are three other trails leading from the Holy Hill itself. The first trail leads down Maple Lane where adjacent private fields are preserved under an agricultural preservation restriction. Proceeding towards Shaker Village you will pass by a bridge constructed of massive granite blocks, which bears out one of the Shaker precepts: “Do everything as though you were going to live a hundred years”. The second trail continues some distance and eventually runs along Bennetts Brook, which the Shakers made into a small canal, and from there it comes out on Shaker Road. The third trail leads directly to Ann Lee Road. Approximate walking time for primary trail one way: 1.5 hrs.
Suggested Route: 2.75 miles. 364' elevation gain/loss . Total time: 1:10 Click Here for Map.
Trailhead directions:Click here
Nearby Trails: Kaufmann, Blomfelt
Elevation gain: 308' out-and-back along primary trail
Parcel size: ~126 acres
Conservation Land Use Rules: Click Here
Keywords: long walks possible, dog-friendly, parking, hills, geology, historic interest, stream, fields, skiing
History: In 1972 Harvard residents created the Shaker Village Historic District. The Conservation Commission, aided by state and federal funding, saved the Holy Hill of Zion from development by purchasing 103 acres, including the Holy Hill and Maple Lane. The “dancing ground” was cleared and a reproduction fence was built.
Trail description from HCT Trail Guide: Following the trail from South Shaker Road, you will come to the worship area where part of the uniquely designed fence was reconstructed after the land was purchased by the Conservation Commission in 1972. There are three other trails leading from the Holy Hill itself. The first trail leads down Maple Lane where adjacent private fields are preserved under an agricultural preservation restriction. Proceeding towards Shaker Village you will pass by a bridge constructed of massive granite blocks, which bears out one of the Shaker precepts: “Do everything as though you were going to live a hundred years”. The second trail continues some distance and eventually runs along Bennetts Brook, which the Shakers made into a small canal, and from there it comes out on Shaker Road. The third trail leads directly to Ann Lee Road. Approximate walking time for primary trail one way: 1.5 hrs.
Suggested Route: 2.75 miles. 364' elevation gain/loss . Total time: 1:10 Click Here for Map.
Trailhead directions:
Nearby Trails: Kaufmann, Blomfelt
Elevation gain: 308' out-and-back along primary trail
Parcel size: ~126 acres
Conservation Land Use Rules: Click Here
Keywords: long walks possible, dog-friendly, parking, hills, geology, historic interest, stream, fields, skiing
History: In 1972 Harvard residents created the Shaker Village Historic District. The Conservation Commission, aided by state and federal funding, saved the Holy Hill of Zion from development by purchasing 103 acres, including the Holy Hill and Maple Lane. The “dancing ground” was cleared and a reproduction fence was built.
Click here for a printable map.
Holy Hill PDF (350K)
Click Here for a downloadable GPX file to upload into your mobile mapping app.
