The Vaughn Hills conservation area is a 100-acre parcel owned by
the town of Bolton. The hills form one of the highest land areas
between Wachusett Mountain and Boston, rewarding hikers with
sweeping views, particularly in winter months. Hiking paths
encircle the northern peak in deep forest, from which additional
paths run to the summit. (The southern peak is on privately-owned
land.)
The cache is in a standard ammo box on the northern hill. The trail
to follow is marked with yellow blazes; unfortunately, so are all
of the other trails. The cache is less than 30 feet off of one of
these yellow trails.
There is also a letterbox in this area ("Don't Plummet Off The
Summit").
There are several possible access points:
(1) From Woodside Drive (off of Vaughn Hill Road): park in the
cul-de-sac at N 42° 27.761 W 71° 37.347. Look for a cart
path leading into the woods, next to the driveway for #33 Woodside
Dr. There's a sign for the Vaughn Hills Conservation area at the
trailhead that’s not quite visible from the road, due to
overhanging branches. This path is probably the best one to take if
it has been raining heavily.
(2) From Green Road: the trailhead is at N 42° 27.177 W 71°
37.146. For this one we parked at the end of Nourse Road and
walked across the street to the trail. This trail crosses a small
bridge by a dam and skirts a swamp; it can get very muddy at
times.
(3) There are at least three trails into the area starting on Bare
Hill Road; however, there is no parking on that road. We have not
tried any of those trails, but the Bolton Trail Guide
advises that "more ambitious hikers can reach the area by parking
at Bower Springs and passing through the Held land and trails."
(Parking for the Bower Springs conservation area is on Flanagan
Road.)
From either the Woodside Drive or Green Road entrances, it's
about a one-mile round trip to the cache and back. Click here for a topo/trail map.