Groton Town Forest
Groton, MA
Groton Town Forest
Groton Town Forest is a beautiful place to ride, good for one and a half to three hours depending on whether you get lost, decide to explore side trails, etc. The footing is excellent, and on weekdays you may not see another person there.
The main access (the only one that I know of) is off Route 225, via Wharton Road. Wharton Road is a small residential street, marked with a small white sign that says "Turn here for town forest -- but you have to be looking for it. It's maybe half a mile west ? south? of the Nashua River. Hikers and dog walkers have been friendly and horse-savvy in my limited experience there.
Access is via a small bumpy dirt road, but just for a few hundred feet. There is a small parking area (six or seven cars) when you come in, but if you keep going, there are more places to park including a few where you might be able to make a loop instead of having to back your trailer in or out. There are no restrooms, and no water other than the river. I'm sure it's buggy during bug season, as it borders the Nashua river and wetlands.
The loop trail is marked with small white and green trail markers, and I think is about 6 miles. There are also several woods roads that go through the park.
Bring the map with you, because there are no maps at the trailhead and this place is confusing. Caution: if you're following the trail clockwise, watch for the trail around E4 and E6 or maybe it's F5 and F6 -- the trail makes a 90-degree right turn away from the river, and you will be heading up a fairly steep hill. Then trail turns sharp left about 50 feet after you've made this right turn away from the river, but the turn is very poorly marked so you need to be looking for it. You will be just about on top of it before you see it, which is hard if your horse thinks he should be galloping up the steep hill. If you miss the left turn, you'll just end up making a loop and maybe you'll get it right the next time. :-) Then, at B3, there is a ridiculous hill that you probably won't want to ride down unless you are the Man From Snowy River. Instead, turn right onto an informal path just before the trail heads leftish down the hill. You may see a red metal pin in the ground that marks the path you want. Take this path for a few hundred feet and then turn left on the woods road, and then follow the woods road to B7 to reconnect with the trail.
Thank you Sharon A for the information!
