QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: 344 acres
- Trail Mileage: ~4-mile loop
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
- Sights: woods, a view?
This more than 300-acre forested park is named after the apatite that was once mined here. Some amateur rock hounds still find bits of apatite here, as well as tourmaline, feldspar, and quartz. There are two sets of trails, one marked with blue blazes, the other with red. They’re not the best marked trails in the world, but the city has a good map.
Note: Near the National Guard base, there are a number of “Do Not Trespass” signs in the surrounding forest. While hikers are allowed to trudge along the main road to the mine, you might try to avoid the side paths. There do appear to be a couple of well-used mountain bike paths that possibly violate these signs, so take care.
Directions: Going west on Minot Ave (Route 121) take a right onto Hatch Road. Continue about 1.5 miles on Hatch Road until you see Small Road. Take a right on Small Rd and the main entrance is at the end of Small Road where you will see the Andy Valley Sno Gypsies Clubhouse. You can also access the park from the baseball fields off Garfield Road. If you park by the field, pedestrians are allowed to walk through the national guard base.
