The area is composed of 1,625 acres of open land for public use; made up mainly of swampy lands, old cranberry bogs and cedar forest. (The bog complex used to be the biggest in the world).
The site is no longer commercially farmed, and is managed by the MA Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife. Click this link for a detailed map.
|
The area is a wildlife bonanza. There are deer, coyotes, fox, raccoon, and muscrat. The bird people tell me it has the largest population of wading wetland birds in New England. I once counted 34 heron & egrets in one of the bogs last summer. Swans nest there as well. It is a popular resting spot for migrating ducks & geese. There's something to see in any season.
The trails in the open areas are wide dirt roads atop the bog dikes. The trails in the cedar forest are narrower, but are also above the wetlands, following dikes and dams that are part of the water management system set up by the cranberry industry decades ago.
|
 |
The area has a parking lot on the north end. The round trip to the cache from the north lot is 4.6 miles. There used to be a south lot, but a property dispute has prevented the public from using it for parking. You can still use it for access on foot. The round trip from the south lot is 2.7 miles. Recommend a bike if coming from the north. Even skinny tires can handle the trails.
First stage is a 8oz. juice bottle. Cache is a 4x6 lock-n-lock.
The area is huge and relatively unknown, so muggles shouldn't be a problem. Dirt bikes and ATVs are forbidden, but the locals manage to sneak them in anyway. Keep an eye out.