Kingdom Woods Conservation Area, Blue Hill

The North Loop of this multi-part trail system is really nice — with a trail that passes through a pitch pine forest and ledgy rock, to an overlook of this surprisingly big, quiet pond (it’s 50 acres). The Nature Loop (the little loop west of North Loop) seems to be far less used, probably because it doesn’t include pond views. I am not sure whether it’s great swimming in Fourth Pond, but I did see a couple of hikers walking with towels strewn over their shoulders!

The Woods Road spur, off of Kingdom Road and just under a half mile before the trailhead to the North Loop, isn’t particularly spectacular, but it is an easier walk — possibly doable for sturdy wheelchairs. I only hiked to the point where the maintained road ends, at a large boulder. You can continue walking or skiing down the overgrown path if you continue straight. The map indicates it extends to some wetlands. If you follow the dirt road where it bends left here, crossing under power lines, you reach posted private land.

Directions: Three of the trailheads can be access off Kingdom Road. The first, for Woods Road, is at a sharp bend in the road, about 1.3 miles in. The second is for North Loop. It’s not plowed in the winter, so you’ll have to park on the side of the dirt road. A third loop trail is .2 mile further along the Kingdom Road — it wasn’t well signed when I visited (the kiosk isn’t visible from the road), so look for a large boulder barrier and open space for parking (that’s also not plowed in the winter). For the South Loop, park at the small pull-off across the Mines Road from the tennis facility.