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The Old Connecticut Path crossed Webster. While much of the area has been developed over the centuries, areas remain where you can get out to walk and connect with the heritage of the Path.
1. Mine Brook Wildlife Management Area
2. Memorial Beach on Webster Lake
3. Perryville Trace
See the sections below for more information on walks along the Old Connecticut Path in Webster.
1. MINE BROOK WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
Mine Brook Wildlife Management Area in Webster, MA is a hidden treasure and gateway from Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor to The Last Green Valley. Mine Brook provides a gateway to the longest wilderness section of the Old Connecticut Path in Massachusetts across the Douglas Woods located in Douglas and Webster, Massachusetts. The Path penetrates deep wilderness on its 4 mile route from Northwest Main Street in Douglas to Rawson Road in Webster.The Douglas Woods contains 1,000 acres of Mine Brook Wildlife Management Area, 5,000 acres of Douglas State Forest, and hundreds of additional acres of town and private lands. With the addition of Rhode Island’s 2,000-acre Buck Hill Management Area, an 8,000-acre block of conservation land awaits exploration. Long distance trails cross the area: Midstate Trail across central Massachusetts joined with the North-South Trail across Rhode Island (north-south), and the Southern New England Trunk Line across Massachusetts joining with the Air Line Trail into Connecticut (east-west).
Beaver ponds, vernal pools, chasms and streams are part of a diverse environment that supports wildlife species such as white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, fisher, gray fox, and various salamanders. In addition, the large, unfragmented, forested block is important for neotropical migrant birds such as scarlet tanagers, rose-breasted grosbeaks and broad-winged hawks. Resident birds such as pileated and red-bellied woodpeckers, white-breasted nuthatch, brown creeper and barred owl live within the vast green woodland.The 6,000+ acres of woodland in Douglas State Forest and Mine Brook serve as wilderness retreat and a time capsule for the Old Connecticut Path. Stone bridges, box culverts, stepping stones placed to improve the path serve as reminders of the importance of the Path for early colonial travel. Field stone chimneys stand as silent reminders of the early settlers who came along the Path to claim their place in the wilderness.
Official map of Mine Brook Wildlife Management Area at MA DFW Mine Brook topo map
Mine Brook offers access to miles of trails. Most are unmarked providing opportunity to explore an area that is little known and less traveled.Before setting out for a hike along the Old Connecticut Path as it passes through Mine Brook, take a video tour: "Old Connecticut Path: Hiking the Path Along Mine Brook - Webster & Douglas, MA" on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epVGnfoTAGYMore information about the Old Connecticut Path across the Douglas Woods and related videos can be found at 2.05 Across the Douglas Woods
ACCESS
As you face the dragon, the access trail to Mine Brook will be on the left following the extreme left side of the lawn, next to the woods. The cart road enters the woods approximately 200 feet from Rawson Road. See the map (right) for aerial view of the public access to Mine Brook.
CAUTION: Hunting is permitted in Mine Brook Wildlife Management Area and Douglas State Forest. Be aware of the dates for hunting season when hiking in this area. Hunting is not allowed on Sundays. When hiking during hunting season, BE VISIBLE by wearing fluorescent clothing!
Suggested Mine Brook walking/hiking routes:
Mine Brook circuit loop #1 : Old Connecticut Path along Mine Brook
The Dragon guards the entrance to Mine Brook Wildlife Management Area. Find the dragon on Rawson Road to begin your journey into the Mine Brook/Douglas Forest wilderness.The entrance to Mine Brook is located on Rawson Road in Webster, MA. Roadside parking is limited. Park on the downhill side of Rawson Road next to the woods.
Follow the old cart path from the entrance on Rawson Road uphill along Mine Brook. The old road has numerous stone bridges along the way as evidence of an ancient travel and the water that flows into Mine Brook. The walk returns downhill along an old cart path passing ledges with rock shelters.The circuit walk is 2.6 miles over old roads. Allow 1.5-2.0 hours for an easy walking pace. Terrain is uneven due to erosion. Water may overrun the old roads after storms and spring melt. The circuit is shown on the map (right) with a suggested counter-clockwise circuit. As there are no trail markers and there are branching trails, it is recommended that a copy of the map (right) be used while hiking this area. The GPS data is provided via the link below. This can be used with most GPS devices to provide additional guidance when walking at Mine Brook.Download GPX file at the link for Mine Brook Wildlife Management Area Circuit Walk #1 GPX
Mine Brook circuit #2: Chasm & Cabin Circuit
This side trip off the Old Connecticut Path leaves the path along Mine Brook to explore a chasm deep within the Douglas Woods and the site of the best preserved remnants of a early colonial settler's cabin high on the ridge. Return along the Old Connecticut Path crossing more than 9 stone bridges along Mine Brook. This walk can be combined with the Mine Brook walk (circuit 1 above). The circuit walk is 5.0 miles over old roads and paths. Allow 2.5-3.5 hours for an easy walking pace.
Access is from Rawson Road in Webster, MA. See directions for access above. As there are no trail markers and there are branching trails, it is recommended that a copy of the map (right) be used while hiking this area. The GPS data is provided via the link below. This can be used with most GPS devices to provide additional guidance when walking at Mine Brook and the "Chasm & Cabin" circuit.Download GPX file at the link for Mine Brook WMA Circuit Walk #2 GPX
"Exploring the Douglas Woods from the Old Connecticut Path Webster & Douglas, MA" provides a video tour of the "Chasm & Cabin" loop leading from the Old Connecticut Path deeper into the Douglas Woods to visit a chasm and early pioneer cabin site, click on the picture (left) or link below.http://youtu.be/s1kBTbhu46g
2. Memorial Beach on Webster Lake
(under development)
3. Perryville Trace
(under development)
RETURN TO: OCP: Massachusetts Walks
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