QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: 40 acres
- Trail Mileage: 1.5 miles
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: easy (with one steep section)
- Sights: wildflowers, woods, fields, old chimney stand
If you come at the right time of the year, you’ll see a rare patch of wild ginger flowers at this Native Plant Trust preserve. Because I visited in August, I didn’t see the flowers, although I do believe I found the plant (on the smaller of the two loops, past the spur to Mt. Tom and the chimney). I looked up the flowers online — they’re beautiful! Well worth coming back to try to see them in blossom.
The trust also tells you to look out for bloodroot, trout lily, wood anemone, white baneberry, and red trillium.
When I visited, the trail was easy to follow, but didn’t seem well trafficked. A short trail spur goes to a forested little knoll called Mt. Tom with a stone chimney and bench.
Directions: If you are headed north on Rt. 201, go approximately 4.1 miles and turn left onto Cushnoc Road. The sanctuary is 1.5 miles down Cushnoc Road on the left. The sign is rather small and the paint was flaking off when I visited. Park at the side of the road, and walk on the right side of the trees along the meadow to the trail down to the riverside preserve.
