New Trail Opens at Calamint Hill Conservation Area

New Trail Opens at Calamint Hill Conservation Area
Trail Head off Calamint Hill Rd North
Trail Head off Calamint Hill Rd north

The first of three new hiking trails at Calamint Hill Conservation Area (CHCA) is officially open to the public. This trail supports all non-motorized use only Dogs and horses are welcome.

Known as the CHCA West Trail, this loop was completed through the efforts of local volunteers and members of the Princeton Trail Stewards. Twenty-two workers recently spent a spring Saturday clearing brush and woodland debris along the pathway and created an open space viewing area down by a large beaver pond. The trail is about one mile in length and is mostly in the woods on the east side of Calamint Hill Road North.

Easy access to the trail is available from a small parking lot about a quarter mile up Calamint Hill Road North from Route 62. A new sign indicates the start of the trail, which is identified along the route by blue markers.

“In the past few weeks as many as fourteen heron nests have been spotted on the back side of the pond, which is visible from both viewing areas,” noted Rick Gardner, chairman of Princeton Hikes! and coordinator of the Trail Stewards. In addition to the herons, Gardner reports that the CHCA property is rich with other forms of wildlife, including a newly born fawn that was spotted during a recent group hike.

Plans are being made for the second portion of the trails project, which is a passage through the wetlands. This will involve construction of several small bridges. Once the wetland passage is completed, work will be done to open up a second mile of trail on the East side of the wetlands. This second mile will also include a viewing area.

A volunteer team from Massachusetts Audubon’s Wachusett Meadow is also constructing a one-mile trail on the north side of Route 62, just east of Calamint Hill Road North, traveling from Route 62 to the sanctuary property on Goodnow Road. This trail is open to pedestrians only, and pets are not permitted.

For more information on Princeton Hikes! and access to nearly 40 trail maps, visit the town’s new website at www.town.princeton.ma.us. Any interested in joining the Trail Stewards program may contact Rick Gardner at 978-660-8664