UPPER CHARLES TRAIL LETTERBOX:
MILFORD, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Planted: July 29, 2006
Length: Milford section; 2.4 miles
Milford commuter lot to Letterbox; 2 miles
Louisa Lake to Letterbox; 1 mile
Difficulty: Easy. Flat, paved trail.
Directions:
To start from Milford commuter lot: Take exit 20 off of I-495 and travel south down Route 85 to Route 16 (Main Street). Turn right on Main Street and take to the intersection of Beach Street. The commuter lot will be on the right side of Main Street.
To start from Louisa Lake; Take exit 20 off of I-495 and travel south down Route 85. Look for Dilla Street on the right and follow it to Louisa Lake which is also on the right.
The Upper Charles Trail is a proposed 27 mile long trail that will run from the downtown Framingham commuter rail station, through Sherborn, Holliston, Milford, Hopkinton and Ashland and back to Framingham. For more information visit; UPPER CHARLES TRAIL .
Starting from the Milford commuter lot; The trail begins near the back of the lot. If you go to the east side of the lot, you'll see where the Upper Charles River is diverted underground through the town. The river travels along the right side of the trail and ball fields are located along the left side. After only 0.2 miles you come to an intersection. Right takes you over a spillway for Cedar Swamp Pond and out to a side street, so you turn left and travel past a swimming pool located at Fino Field. There is also more parking located here. At the next intersection, left takes you a 1/4 mile back to Main Street (and a Dunkin Donuts) so head right on the trail. Cedar Swamp Pond is now to your right separated by a wide swath of reeds. You'll cross over Dilla Street at 1 mile and come to Louisa Lake. Here another spillway is located to your left and the parking lot is on your right. There are picnic tables here as well. Be sure to check out the black iron gate that leads into the parking lot with the bike design. You travel up the eastern side of the lake for a bit and then the trail turns right into a more wooded environment. A spur trail at 1 1/2 miles connects to an apartment complex. The area here is full of rocks and boulders, with some benches made of rocks. After passing a small pond to the right, you'll spot a large stone block wall on the left at the 2 mile mark. Just past this wall, as the trail starts a slight downgrade, there will be a dirt road on the left. From the trail, take 31 paces (2 steps = 1 pace) down the road until you come to a dead tree and stump off the right side of the road. There are also, two small trees right next to the dirt road here. Look to the left side of road and spot a stone wall in the woods. Go to the section of stone wall that lies between two small hardwood trees close together on the left and two small trees (1 hardwood tree and 1 conifer tree) close together on the right. There should be a marble type rock on top of the stone wall here. Go to the backside of the wall and remove only one flat rock that is leaning against the wall. Behind this rock is the Upper Charles Trail Letterbox. Please replace the rock that lies on top of the box as it helps to protect the box. Continuing down the trail alongside the wooden fencing you pass by an open field where the trail then veers left. You come to another spur trail off the right side of the trail that leads down an old road to a parking lot behind Plaza 85 and a Wendy's restaurant. Both are located alongside Route 85. The trail then crosses the off-ramp for I-495 southbound at 2.4 miles and takes you underneath I-495, across the on-ramp and then left away from Route 85 and back to the trail. After passing underneath some transmission lines the trail currently ends at 2.8 miles. Dirt trials continue to Wildcat Pond. Construction of the next phase north from Wildcat Pond to the Hopkinton town line and a spur trail from Main St south to the Senior Center is scheduled to start Fall 2009 and finish in 2011.
HH
LETTERBOX LAST VERIFIED ON
JULY 10, 2008
TO EMAIL A VERIFICATION
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT LETTERBOXING