This four-stage multi will take you through the highs and lows of some of the most beautiful and varied conservation land in Concord. October Farm and its riverfront were owned by William Brewster, the first president of the Massachusetts Audubon Society and avid birder who used this property as a getaway from his residence in Cambridge. As you visit Ball's Hill, be sure to travel the path along the base, where you can see the arched brick canoe house built by Brewster in 1910 and the foundations from small cabins where he and friends overnighted during birding expeditions.
If you explore the property in late spring, watch for Pink Lady's Slipper orchids, which grow in several places along the trails. Snapping turtles nest in the oddest places. There are vernal pools that must be undisturbed by people and dogs.
Some trails are quite steep and could be especially challenging in winter. Mosquitoes the size of helicopters eagerly await your visit. The first three stages are winter-friendly tags, each containing the coordinates to the next stage. The final is a smallish container in a spot that is not particularly winter-friendly but is fairly ordinary in terms of geosense. There's not a lot of room for swag, but I did fit a handmade FTF present and a trackable in there for starters.
I hope you enjoy exploring what has become one of my favorite conservation lands!