Princeton Land Trust Russell Corner Trails

NAME OF HIKE: Russell Corner Loop           DISTANCE: 2 Miles          DIFFICULTY: Easy

Restrictions: No Motorized Vehicles

Trail Head: From the center of town, take Route 62 east just past Merriam Road. The parking area is on the right (south side of the road) by the Princeton Land Trust sign. https://goo.gl/maps/CAV2Z9MgVMA7N9T29

Trail Description: 

A well-used trail through a new growth forest and down to a beaver pond (Jones Meadow), looping back up and around a pine forest. A spur trail at the pond leads over to the beaver dam.

Hike Details: 

From the parking lot, follow the blue blazes on the Peabody-Metcalf Loop out through the woods to a new growth wooded area, and then back into the woods. The trail splits, but stay to the left (you will return on the trail to the right).

The trail proceeds down the hill and curves to the right to a stone wall.

Turn left at the stone wall to follow a trail down to the edge of the beaver pond. This path can be followed (a little wet in places) over to the beaver dam. Turn around and return to the main trail.

Continue on the west side of the property up a wide path, following the blue blazes. Turn right to follow the main trail and head up the hill.

The trail proceeds past the Poor Family memorial rock and then joins the original trail. Turn left to return to the parking lot. The 2-mile distance includes the walk to the beaver dam.

Other Trails in the Russell Corner Area:

The hike can be extended by following two additional trails:

• The Poor Family Trail loops from the bottom of the hill around to the dedication stone to meet the main loop.

• The Hall Field Trail goes out to the Hall Field property, with a pretty view of Princeton Center. It makes a nice out and back from the Peabody Loop.

The ‘Central Princeton Loop’ is a five mile trail that visits all three of the Princeton Land Trust properties in the area using the connections to PLT Gregory-Alexander and PLT Bullock-McElroy.

Historical Notes: 

This hiking area encompasses three Princeton Land Trust Properties:

• Peabody - Metcalf: Donated by descendants of the John and Mary Peabody Family
• Hall Field: Donated by the Bice Family and previously owned by the Charles and Jane Hall Family.
• Poor: Donated by the family of Hustace and Katheryn Poor

Stone walls are a feature of this property. The large walls on the east side of Jones Meadow are very impressive, and local legend suggests that they may have been built by captured enemy soldiers working in the area after the Battle of Ticonderoga in the Revolutionary war. The prisoners also are purported to have built a drainage channel that follows the Peabody-Metcalf Loop on the way down the hill toward the beaver pond.

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