I've lived in this area all of my life and I've often wondered where the name Neponset came from? With some research I discovered it originates from the Massachusetts tribe, the Algonquians. It has an interpreation meaning to the "Harvest River". However in the Algonquians language, the word, "nepon" translate to "There, where there is the crossing". It is also named after a Chickataubut indigenous tribe, the Neponset band.
When I discovered this trail system, I walked the entired Outer Loop trail as shown in the map below, it is a 2 miles loop with some muddy crossings and single board plank crossings as well. At least there is a shorter loop (about 1/2 miles) is where I placed all of my caches there for you to find by starting at the Inner Loop trail and continue on to the Outer Loop trail to the North, coming back to parking lot on a short loop. Make sure you follow the blue ribbons/flags to stay on trail. Please bring pen to sign the log.
The trail can be muddy in some areas and crosses one 3’ wide 40’ bridge and several planks crossing streams and trenches, and a pair of concrete culverts. The loops are run in a clockwise direction starting with the outer loop shown in red on the map and the inner loop shown in black. Proper footwear and clothing is recommended for potentially wet or muddy terrain. The trail may be flooded after heavy rain and/or with snowmelt in the Spring.
The trails are maintained by the Norwood Trails and the link to the Vanderbilt Ave/Pine Tree Forest Outer & Inner Loops 5K Trail Map. It is only available during the daylight time.
Congratulations to BlackstoneVal for the FTF