Holden - Holbrook Woods to Cascades (GWLT)
HIKE NAME: Holden - Holbrook Woods to Cascades (GWLT) DISTANCE: 6.1 Miles DIFFICULTY: Moderate
Restrictions: No motorized vehicles
Trailhead: We used the trailhead off Fisher Street in Holden, which is near the Worcester line and off Salisbury Street. There is also parking right after the Worcester line, which is smaller. A path, not shown on the map on the right, connects Salisbury Street to the Holbrook Woods area. https://maps.app.goo.gl/rVonk5MqgyEqRsVcA
Hike Description: This hike goes from south Holden through Holbrook, Kinneywood, Cooks Woods, and Donker Farm, and comes out by Cooks Pond in Worcester. These are all nice trails through the woods. A short walk from there goes to the cascades, a pretty water cascade with many more trails. These trails are part of the Greater Worcester Land Trust (GWLT) Four Town Greenway network.Total elevation is 400 feet.
Links: GWLT Trails and Lands
Hike Details:
From the Fisher Road parking lot head south on the blue-blazed trail and connect to the yellow-blazed trail.This goes through open woods on easy paths.
Near the town line, pass over a power line and follow the blue blazes again through Cook’s Woods, a somewhat rockier trail that leads to the Cooks Brook area, which comes out at Moreland Green Drive.
Cross the road and descend into the Donker Farm area. You will go through a gate and may be joined by a sheep or two before coming out on Tory Fort Lane, near Cooks Pond.
Continue around the south of Cook’s pond, over some pine trails. Cook’s Pond is a scenic area and good picnic spot, and there are also trails back around the east side of the pond that can be explored.
Follow the trail across Olean Road and after a short hike arrive at the Cascades. Take some time to hike up the cascade trails for some good photo opportunities.
Reverse direction and follow the trail back until the yellow-blazed trail is encountered, and proceed clockwise around the yellow trail through the old Camp Kinneywood, which goes past a small pond before connecting back to the parking area.
Other Options to Consider:
The smaller parking area on Salisbury Street is a more direct way to enter the Holbrook conservation area.
There are several other trails in the GWLT property, especially on the Cascade side. A good option is to park at the Cascades and explore the trails in back of the cascades. While the trails are fairly well marked, this is a large area with many trails and so a GPS is useful!
Historical Notes:
Rev 1/24
Princeton Hikers on the GWLT property over by the cascades
Walking with the sheep through Donker Farm