The Jeep trail is an old un-improved dirt road, which runs parallel
to the Rail-Trail. It is show on topographical maps, dating back to
the 1940's, and railroad valuation maps from 1915. View 1944 topo map. The
road ran between Boston Turnpike in Bolton and Valley Falls road in
Vernon. Today, the trail runs through the Vernon Greenways'
Rambling Ridge Park and is part of a vast trail system on Box Hill
between Bolton Notch, Risley's Reservoir and Valley Falls Park.
Expect to hike 3 to 4 miles round trip, depending where you start
from, hence the 3.5 terrain rating. Be sure to read this through to
find the safest routes. It's a pretty easy hike though, and you'll
see lots of Mountain Laurel and a few Pine stands. There are also
some other caches in the area along the way, so you could make a
sweep and hit those too.
From Valley Falls Park: Parking at N41°49.418'
W72°26.610'. Unfortunately, the Jeep trail has been cut off where
it crosses posted property near Echo Drive in Vernon. The Jeep
trail crosses the Rail-Trail near Valley Falls Park at
N41°49.281'W72°26.739', but that end of it is is cut off before the
cache, so you can't get to it from there.
Instead, follow the Rail-Trail towards Bolton Notch. You'll get to
a point where your GPS tells you the cache is about 250' feet away
to your right. The cache is not in the cliffs that you can
see from the Rail-Trail. It is beyond them even further up the hill
and the terrain is very steep, and it gets steeper the further up
you go. Don't try bushwhacking unless you are very capable.
Besides, this is the Box Hill Jeep Trail cache and it just wouldn't
be right not to take the Jeep trail. So, I recommend that you
continue along the Rail-Trail towards Bolton Notch another 1/2 mile
to a trail on the right at N41° 48.104' W72°26.949'. The first few
feet is loose dirt on an embankment, but it's pretty easy beyond
that. It will take you up the hill and it will run into the Jeep
trail. You'll do some back tracking this way, but it is much easier
and safer. Expect to cover about 4 miles round trip.
From Bolton Notch: Park at the Bolton Notch
Rail-Trail/Boat Launch parking area off of Rt. 44 westbound.
Coordinates are: N41° 47.378' W72° 27.005'. Have your turn signal
on early because the entrance comes up quickly and isn't clearly
marked. Walk the Rail-Trail a short distance and go over the wooden
footbridge around N41° 47.588' W72° 27.158' into Freja Park. There
are quite a few trails there, but if you get to these coordinates:
N41° 47.619' W72° 27.196', you are on the Jeep trail. Expect cover
about 3 miles round trip.
From Risley’s Reservoir: You'll hike over Box Hill and in
some areas the trails are steep, but they are well defined and
safe. Parking at N41 48.131 W72 28.231. There are numerous trails
from Risley's Reservoir over Box Hill to Valley Falls and Bolton
Notch, but this route is probably the quickest: From the parking
area, follow the trail to N41 48.157 W72 28.035, and bear left.
Follow this trail to N41 47.991 W72 27.416. Bear right and follow
to N41 47.836 W72 27.441. Bear left and follow to N41 47.847 W72
27.373. Bear right and follow to N41 47.788 W72 27.387. Bear hard
left and follow this trail. There is a nice scenic area to stop for
a break along this leg at N41 47.891 W72 27.229. Continue to N41
47.988 W72 27.190 and bear right. Follow this trail back down the
hill to N41 47.981 W72 27.083. At that point you are on the Jeep
Trail so continue to the Cache coordinates. Expect to hike about 2
1/2 hours round trip using this route.
The cache is an ammo box and it is located at the base of a long
rocky formation where ground is reasonably level. There is no need
to climb up, down or around anything hazardous. As you approach the
location on the Jeep trail, look on the north end of the mound for
a dim trail around it. Follow it down the hill to where the ground
levels out. The terrain in the area you need to be searching is
fairly flat and safe.
Cache contains a camera, so take a photo of yourself or your
group and mark down the number in your log entry.
If you're interested in the railroad that once operated on what
is now the Rail-Trail through Vernon and Bolton Notch, visit my
website at www.vernondepot.com.