Location

Montague RD, Wendell, MA
413 659 3797

Difficulty--

Easy:20%, Moderate:50%, Difficult:19%, Caution:1%

Description

 

Located south of the Millers River and Route 2, this vast (7566-acre) state forest has long offered mountain

biking opportunities to regional riders. But, in recent years, NEMBA has built 3 biking oriented trails here.

 Wendell State Forest covers over 7,500 acres of rolling forested hills, streams, ponds, and trails. Purchased by the Commonwealth in the 1920s the area was heavily burned during the early 1900s. Some of the park development and most of the road systems, such as they are, are attributed to Civilian Conservation Corps activities in the 1930s.

Without the involvement of NEMBA, beginning in the fall of 2004, the park would be pretty much unchanged from that time. BUT! Beginning in the fall of 2004 a new initiative to rejuvenate this gem of the Pioneer Valley came about. With the active encouragement and mentoring of Park Ranger and Trails Supervisor Bryant Stewart NEMBA and other mountain biking enthusiasts have created some of the best multi-use singletrack anywhere in New England.

Beginning with the recovered MapleLeaf Trail, part of the old Ross Stage Racing Circuit, and extending deep into the lower reaches of the park, via the Nipmuck and Hannah Swartons' Remove trails, the Pioneer Valley Trail Crew has built or recovered 10 miles of challenging, sweeping, rocky sweetness. Future trail work will connect these two thrusts with single track, rather than the existing connections which are on old CCC roads. We are also beginning to develop trail access to more areas of the park.

Riding at the park accommodates most abilities with fire road and accessible trails for novices to challenging technical and steep single track on the inner reaches of the park.

These trails should appear on this year's iteration of the official Wendell SF map available online and at the Park Headquarters upon entering the forest.

Your options are endless, but I'm going to give you a route that showcases the recent singletrack additions to the forest. Make sure to grab a map as the road names I'll use are on the map.

From Ruggles Pond parking area-head left on Wickett Pond Rd, this paved road quickly turns to gravel and dirt. Go through the intersection with Jerusalem Hill road to the next dirt road intersection. This is the intersection of Damon Camp RD and Wickett Pond Rd. At this intersection look for the singletrack trail head on the far left side - get on it. This short, rocky trail is the first leg of the Maple Leaf Trail (the old racecourse for those of you who remember when..)

This will drop you out by a pond/bog on Wickett Pond rd again, go left on the rd and make a quick left again back into the woods on the other-side of the pond/bog. Stay on this trail-it will intersect with another trail along the way-but continue straight until it drop you out on a road again. This is still Wickett Pond Road.

Go left on the road and look for another bermed-sand singletrack trailhead on your left. Drop back into the woods when you find it. Continue up this trail (through some challenging laurel stands until you find another trailhead on your left (if you find yourself on a gravel road again-turn around-you missed the intersection by about 200 yards).

This new trail on Your left is the NIPMUCK trail-get on it and enjoy the ride. With a few jumps and bumps, this mostly down hill trail will twist and turn you through the woods for 1.3 miles. The trail ends at the Bottom of Baker Rd - a rutted, rocky, old jeep road. Your task, go left and climb it (remember - climbing builds character--about half way up this mantra will become more important!).

At the top of baker rd (about 100 yards before it intersects with Damon Camp Rd-check your map) you'll see two singletrack trail heads on your left and right. You're going to go left.

This is the LOWER HANNAH SWARTON Trail. Follow this trail down the switchbacks, through the laurel to the next trail intersection...Look Familiar? It should you've been here before.

This time your going to turn right and retrace your steps back to the Pond/Bog on Wicket Pond Rd. And then immediately back into the woods on your right (yes you rode this trail already as well) and stay on the trail until it ends at the intersection of DAMON Camp Rd and Wickett Pond Rd.

Now, you're going to turn right and ride up Damon Camp Rd until you reach the intersection with Baker RD, go right onto to Baker Rd and at the intersection with two single track trail heads go LEFT onto the Upper Hannah Swarton Trail. This 3 mile long trail is very technical in sections and requires some focus and fortitude...have fun!

Eventually you'll get dumped out on an old jeep trail -Davis RD (part of the M&M Trail). Go left, up a short hill to the intersection of Damon Camp Rd and Davis Rd. There's lot's of options here but I'd recommend going left up Damon Camp all the way back to Baker Rd and look for the trailhead on your right. This will take you to the Trail to the lookout-you can then go up to the lookouts (highly recommended) or back down to Ruggles Pond where you parked (also recommended).

Also, there is the option to climb the M&M to the lookouts-a great ride, but a very strenuous climb - you're warned. At any rate, no matter how you get to the lookouts, head down the blue blazed "Trail to the Lookouts" (there's a short gravel road section between the two trail segments, use the park map and pay attention) back to Ruggles Pond.

Have fun and keep exploring the park. There's plenty more out there - this is just a sampler.

           Mass DCR page for Wendell State Forest

Directions

Take Rte. 2 to Rte. 63 south through Miller Falls, Wendell Rd. over R.R. bridge, take Montague Rd. and follow signs.

 

 

 

Before May 31 you can park right at the Park Headquarters on Montague (Wendell) rd. After that, you'll have to      enter and park at Ruggles Pond. (The state now sells a $35 season parking pass good at all State Parks and Forests or $5 day passes.)

Cautions

Watch out for hunters during hunting season. (There's no hunting in Massachusetts on Sundays.)  Expect to find lots of kids and dogs running around near Ruggles Pond.