Posted on September 17, 2019 and last updated on September 17, 2019

Ice Pond Preserve, Hancock

QUICK TRAIL FACTS

  • Preserve Size: 42 acres
  • Trail Mileage: ~1.7 miles in network
  • Pets: yes
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Sights: pond, meadows, woods, wetlands

In those fun days before refrigeration changed everything, local people used to cut blocks of ice from the small pond on this 42-acre preserve. The pond today may not provide ice, but it could provide solace — it’s such a peaceful and charming spot! When we visited, two Adirondack chairs had been set up at the pond’s edge. Elsewhere on the preserve, the trails pass through mossy forests and small meadows.

The preserve seems to be lovingly tended. The meadow paths were recently mown and all the trails were well marked. Each intersection is posted, so when you’re squinting your eyes at what may be a trail, don’t turn down it unless it has an obvious trail sign. Also, one of the marked trails on the map ends up at Ironbound, which we, not being from the area, thought possibly could be an interesting natural feature. It’s not—it’s an inn and restaurant, so you could pop in for a snack!

Directions: There is no room for cars to park at the trailhead, so the land trust asks that walkers park .3 miles away, at the parking lot for the Old Pond Railway Trail, which is on Point Road across from the town hall. The trailhead is up the road and on the left, marked with a sign at the forest edge.

Let me know if you have any trail updates or corrections!