QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: Not sure
- Trail Mileage: ~3-mile loop
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: easy
- Sights: Sandy Stream, old mill, silver maple-bur oak floodplain
The remains of the old mill are close to the start of the trailhead, and close to the mill are some flattish rocks that might make a good base for a dip in the shallow river on a hot day.
The trail in total is a bit more than three miles if you do the whole thing, but you can make a shorter 0.6-mile loop if you prefer, or if you visit in the winter and don’t want to hazard a stream crossing. When we visited in May, the gangway to cross the little, but deep!, Bacon Brook tributary to access the longer loop was dismantled, so we precariously minced our way across a fallen tree. The land trust explains that a seasonal bridge is only in place from spring to fall, to protect it from ice and flood damage during the winter.
Much of the trail follows the wide, slow river. It’s possible you’ll see kayakers and belted kingfishers. It’s obvious that most people use the trail along the river rather than the inner wooded trails, because the inner leg of the big loop was a bit overgrown when we visited. The land trust asks that people not pick fiddleheads along the trail.
Directions: Follow Main Street (Route 202) south to the intersection of Quaker Hill Road, which is the access road to Unity College. The parking area and trailhead kiosk will be on your right soon after.
