Rutland - Barre Falls and Rutland Prison Camp

Barre Falls Map

HIKE NAME: Rutland - Barre Falls and Rutland Prison Camp    DISTANCE: 7.6 Miles     DIFFICULTY: Moderate

Restrictions: No motorized vehicles

Trailhead: From Princeton, take Route 62 west past Route 68 and out to Barre Falls Dam. Turn left on Coldbrook Road and drive down to the dam, over the spillway, to a paved parking area. https://maps.app.goo.gl/SbivLGZH4A94xmq66

Hike Description:  This is a long but pretty walk over the Midstate Trail and gravel DCR roads. The hike visits Barre Falls Dam and also the ruins of the Rutland Prison Camp. On the back end it crosses both the East and West branches of the Ware River. Total elevation is 950 feet, mostly at the start of the hike.

Links:  Midstate Trail, Barre Falls Dam, Rutland Prison Camp

Hike Details: 

From the parking lot, head south on Coldbrook Road on the Midstate Trail. Follow the road for a while and then bear left into the woods following the yellow triangular Midstate blazes, and up Harding Hill through a mixed forest.

The Midstate Trail eventually descends to a road. Leave the Midstate at the road, make a left turn, then bear right onto (gravel) Reuben Walker Road..

Turn right again onto Kitchen Fire Road, another gravel road. Then turn left on the next well-maintained (gravel) DCR Road, which goes through a set of power lines and  leads to the prison camp ruins.

There are two decaying cement ruins on the main road, one of which was a root cellar and the second of which was a confinement cell. There is a larger structure off the road that turns south just before the confinement cell. This is a little off the beaten path (lower yellow star on the map). There are several other points of interest in this area.

After exploring, continue to Brigham Road/Prison Camp Road, and turn left/north to follow the gravel road up over the two branches of the Ware River. There are some trails on the left side of the first crossing that are interesting to explore.

After crossing the second bridge, take a left on the Midstate Trail to return to the Barre Falls Dam area and the parking lot.

A GPS app is recommended as the roads are not always marked.

Other Options to Consider: 

When leaving the Prison Camp area, consider continuing on the DCR road to the east, along the East Branch of the Ware River (toward New Boston on the map). A scenic spot by the river is a nice setting for a rest or a picnic.. 

Just off the gravel road back toward route 62 there is a stone wall with a very large three-town (Barre, Rutland, Hubbardston) border/witness stone.

It is also possible to start or.end off route 62 where Brigham Road enters. This is a small lot that is large enough for 2-3 cars.

Barre Falls Dam also has picnic tables near the parking area, a great place to finish the hike.The Barre Falls area has a disc golf course in addition to other trails..

Historical Notes: 

The Rutland Prison Camp was used in the early 1900s to house minimum security prisoners, who worked the land to raise vegetables and produce dairy products that were sold to the City of Worcester. More information can be found in the links above.

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Barre Falls dam

Walking on the Midstate Trail toward the Barre Falls Dam

Barre Falls People

HIkers posing on top of the Root Cellar