Calamint Hill North Trails

HIKE NAME: Calamint Hill Trails    DISTANCE:  3.5 Miles     DIFFICULTY: Easy

Restrictions: No motorized vehicles. Bikes, dogs, horses are all permitted.

Trailhead: Princeton. Calamint Hill Conservation Area (CHCA) is located on Calamint Hill Road North off Rt. 62 on the west side of Princeton. There is a parking lot about 0.25 miles up the road on the left. Look for the two kiosks. https://goo.gl/maps/p36SFZDcv7SocjKD9 

Description: 

Between CHCA, Princeton's Boylston Park, and the PLT Appell trails there are approximately 3.5 miles of connected pathways, consisting of three loops. The Appell property, owned by the Princeton Land Trust, lies to the west of CHCA and includes a nice boulder field and a flat walk along an open forest that runs parallel to Calamint Hill North Road. The Boone Trail on the south side of the area provides connectivity to Brooks Station Road. The Elevation gain of this hike is 200 ft.

These are quiet woodland trails with some great viewing areas of a large beaver pond from the east and west sides of the wetland.

  • The East Loop features a pretty walk through a hemlock forest and then down to the viewing area, which is closest to the Heron Rookery.
  • The West Loop also features a viewing area on the shore of the large beaver pond. Both areas have benches for resting and enjoying the views. Trails are rocky in places but not too steep with the exception of the south side of the west loop (along the stone wall).
  • The steep part can be avoided by taking the Appell Loop for an additional 0.7 miles. The Appell Loop is rocky along the south side and through the boulder field, but the north side offers an open forest with few rocks. There is also an exit to Calamint Hill Road near Boylston Park.

There are three other trails in the area that may be helpful when hiking in this area:

  • The Fieldstone Farm Trail provides a connection from the route 62 end of Calamint Hill North road to Wachusett Meadow.
  • The Boone Trail provides connectivity from the southwest end of the Appell trail down to Brooks Station Road near Mathews Lane and Sam Cobb Lane. 
  • The Boylston Trail leads north of Calamint Hill North road down to another beaver pond off South Wachusett Brook, which is very pretty at many times of the year.

Sections of the wetland crossing (East Loop) may be wet in the spring, although bridges span the two significant streams.

Links: CHCA Kiosk

Hike Details:  As you enter the parking area the trailhead is to your left and proceeds down the hill parallel to the road. A few hundred yards down the path, bear left to take the East Loop. This will take you over two bridges and then to the loop junction, bear left to continue around the East Loop. Stop at the viewing area on the way back, where there is a spur out to the pond and a bench.

Upon completing the loop, go left to re-cross the bridges, and at the junction with the West Loop, turn left and follow the loop out to the beaver pond. Again, there is a short spur to the edge of the beaver pond, with a bench and a large rock which has been named 'Princeton Peace Rock.' Return to the loop trail and continue to the stone wall which is the boundary with the PLT Appell Property.

Take the Appell trail around the loop. This threads through some large boulders, and then continues slightly uphill and through an open forest. At the stone wall boundary with the CHCA property, take the West Loop trail straight ahead and continue down through the woods to close the loop, then go straight back to the main trail. Turn left to return to the parking lot.

Other Options to Consider: The trail through Boylston Park is marked with blue blazes and goes about a quarter mile down to South Wachusett Brook which is quite pretty and with lots of wildlife through the different seasons.

There is a connection to the Wachusett Meadow Audubon Sanctuary via the Fieldstone Farm Trail on Hubbardston Road near the beginning of Calamint Hill Road North.

Map

Historical Notes

The Calamint Hill Conservation Area is part of a larger property known as Fieldstone Farm, or locally as the Smith Farm.This property has over 250 acres of fields and forest that provides lovely views along both sides of Route 62 just west of the town center. This preservation in June of 2016 was achieved by the involvement of many organizations, including the town of Princeton, the Princeton Land Trust, the state Division of Conservation and Recreation, Worcester Water, and private residents. Fieldstone Farm had been owned since 1944 by the Smith family, who operated it first as a dairy farm and later raised pigs. In recent years the fields were cut for hay by a local farmer. The farm has been in continuous production since the 18th century and had long been the town's top open space protection priority.

The Princeton Land Trust acquired the 34 acre Appell property in 2019. This property was given in memory of Laura (Reynolds) Appell. It is designated to be left in a natural state, allowing for trails but no other development.

Rev 12/4/2023

Cal Hill Peace Rock

Calamint Hill Viewing Area at Peace Rock

Cal Hill Hikers

Princeton Hikes Group at Calamint Hill East