Kendall Brook Forest

Map does not include Platinum Road (in the north) or a few side logging roads.

You can go for a long walk, run, ski, or bike ride in this 3,800-acre forested parcel spanning Bethel and Greenwood, since it has about ten miles of trails — all of them woods roads or gravel roads. Because of this, I think the area is most suited for trail running, skiing, or mountain biking. (Bikers should note that while overall the trails are in good shape, you might encounter sandy, muddy or wet areas. Not too many, but some!)

Despite the prevalence of multi-use paths and woods roads here, walkers should not completely spurn the area! Some of the older roads are narrow, worn and pleasant, with trees growing in on either side providing shade. Even the wider, more maintained gravel roads — like Rabbit Lane — aren’t terrible to walk. But it’s perhaps best if you head out on a coolish or overcast day to avoid too much sun exposure.

None of the trails are blazed, but there are signs at intersections for the Community Access Trail, which will one day again link downtown Bethel with the Mt. Abram ski area, when the last section is rebuilt. To give you a sense of the area’s size: from the Pine Ridge Road trailhead, the distance on the Community Access Trail to Bethel (the theoretical distance to Bethel that is, when the fundraising is complete) is 5.2 miles.

While the northern part of the parcel is quite flat, Howe Hill in the southern part of the forest makes for a fairly long, steep hill, especially if you start from the Cemetery Road entrance. A series of switchbacks have been created to make this path do-able for bicyclists (they also offer relief to hikers).

Note about my map: There are, as you can see, several walkable trails that are not included on the official trail map. While this might mean they’re not maintained, I found them enjoyable to hike. I’ve added the ones that I think are worthwhile, narrowing the line on my map to indicate rougher conditions. One of these rough ones I completely lost midway, so there’s a gap.

Directions: There are two official parking areas in Greenwood; one at the end of Cemetery Road and the other at the end of Pine Ridge Road, both of these are dead-end roads. The road to the Cemetery trailhead can be quite rough and hard on a low-clearance car. I parked below the trailhead on the side of the road and walked in. You can also park on the shoulder of Rabbit Lane, close to it entrance off Vernon Road. High-clearance cars might also be able to drive Rabbit Lane.