This cache is placed with MA Department of Conservation & Recreation permission, by LGVHB – Last Green Valley Hiker Brothers, consisting of CacheDweeb & Kochmedic. We’ve been hiking the Airline Trail, Tri-State Marker, and Southern New England Trunkline Trail for years and decided to bring our fellow geocachers to experience this wonderful area. Great trails to hike or bike.
The Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT) runs approximately 22 miles from the Franklin State Forest on the east, to the Douglas State Forest on the west. It passes through the towns of Douglas, Uxbridge, Millville, Blackstone, Bellingham, and Franklin, and is one of the longest trails in southern Massachusetts. Most of the six towns have clearly marked trail entrances, but a large portion of the trail is unimproved. The trail is currently utilized by bicyclists, cross-country skiers, equestrians, and hikers, but in places, it can be overgrown, wet, and rutted. Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) are not allowed on the SNETT.
The SNETT connects to many existing and proposed state and interstate trails. The SNETT comprises the eastern-most section of the larger Titanic Rail Trail, which will extend from Blackstone to Palmer in the Pioneer Valley. To the southwest, the SNETT in Douglas is the main connection to the inter-state Airline Trail, starting in Thompson, Connecticut. In the towns of Uxbridge, Millville, and Blackstone, the SNETT is concurrent with the Blackstone River Bikeway, which will connect to Worcester in the north and Rhode Island to the south. Within Douglas State Forest, the SNETT intersects the Mid-State Trail, one of the Commonwealth’s long-distance hiking trails.
Despite its name, the trail does not follow any part of the Southern New England Railway, a railroad intended to run from Palmer, Massachusetts to Providence, whose right-of-way was partially constructed but never completed. Rather, this railroad was built as the Norfolk County Railroad, east of the Blackstone station, and the Southbridge and Blackstone Railroad west of the station to the Connecticut state line. Later, the route became part of the New York and New England Railroad, which was absorbed by the New Haven Railroad.
Hunting in MA:
Hunting is not allowed on Sundays. No person shall hunt any wildlife from September 1 through the last day of February without wearing at least a total of 400 square inches of fluorescent orange clothing above the waist visible from all sides. Recommended that walkers stay safe by wearing the same amount of fluorescent orange clothing during hunting season. It is always safe to wear required amount of Blaze Orange during hunting seasons.
DCR Hunting dates general information:
Archery: Mid- October until the first Saturday after Thanksgiving
Shotgun: First Monday after Thanksgiving until the third Saturday in December
Muzzle Loader: Third Monday in December until December 31