Moose Brook EQLT Preserve - Hardwick, MA

The Moose Brook Preserve is part of the East Quabbin Land Trust properties. A trail map and description is available at https://eqlt.org/?page_id=71

The trail system of the East Quabbin Land Trust’s Moose Brook Preserve winds through the rich forest and steep hillsides on the western ridges of the Moose Brook Valley. From the landing the trail is blazed Yellow. This is a ¼ mile spur that runs south and meets with the main body of the forest loop at a double yellow blaze. At this intersection you may continue south, or turn west, upslope. Either way will work as this is a one-mile loop, though, for this overview, the trial will be described by continuing south. Follow the yellow blazes, soon crossing the footbridges above the drainage of a vernal pool, then along the base of a steep forested boulder field strewn with glacial erratics, and ultimately to the intersection of an old logging road. The trail turns west here, upslope, paralleling a beautiful intermittent stream before ascending sharply up the logging road. This stretch brings you at near eyelevel with the canopy below you as the steep slopes continue to reach above you. As the grade begins to level off you’ll come to a stone step in the trail and a small segment of stonewall. Future plans are for a long southern spur trail at this point that connects with the Mandel Hill trails, but for now, continue along the yellow blazes that wind through the open forest of the plateau, over a raised log footbridge above a seep, and to the intersection with the green –blazed trail. To finish the yellow loop, simply continue with the yellow blazes down the steep slope through an open oak forest and met up with the double yellow blaze of the landing area spur.

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