Bob Lotz's Favorite Run

Here is a five mile or so trail, mostly traffic-free, mostly woods and fields. It works for a walk, a mountain bike ride, or a trail run. I've done it all three ways, though I haven't run it recently. This route is among my favorites. An extension adds another maybe three miles, also mostly off-road.

Start

Park at Bates Land, GCT - Just NE of intersection of Peabody Street and Old Ayer Road, Groton.

Hillbrook Orchard from Old Ayer Road near Peabody Street

Cross Old Ayer Road and take Peabody Street to the end.

Turn left on Farmers Row, then after 100 yards or so, left again at the Book Recycling sign towards the smokestack.

 

 

 

 

Turn right at smokestack, and go between some Groton School equipment sheds. Take the woods trail from there.

Depending on the season, you may need to traverse over a small beaver dam on this trail, "paved" with boards.

You next pass a large beaver pond on your left, with the rail trail beyond. After a slight rise, fork left and steeply downhill (otherwise you will exit the woods through a gate onto Farmers Row. To recover from this goof, turn left on Farmers Row, left again on Culver.)

You exit the woods nearly opposite Old Moors School House site. (Note the ATT pole, it is best landmark to find this obscure path if you run route in reverse. ) Turn left onto Culver street, and left again onto Smith Street.

Turn Right on Rail Trail, then left after 200 or 400 yards to exit the trail just after a little stagnant pond on your left.

Follow the mowed path until you must turn, then turn left. You are on a Groton Trails Committee Trail. Proceed up the gentle grade to Old Ayer Road, partly running/riding on paved Pacer Way.

Cross Old Ayer Road, bearing left onto the gravel, semi-private Snake Hill Road (unmarked).

Just opposite the first house, bear left into the woods onto Half Moon Road (unmarked).

Stay straight (don't fork right) on this trail. If you find yourself under the powerline, you goofed.

At end of Half Moon Road, turn left onto Indian Hill Road (paved).

Go about a mile, then just past a yellow house with a long stone wall, overlooking a pond, take Blackman Land trail up to the right. For a less steep approach, double back maybe 75 yards to the cleared area, where you will find a faint trail through the grass along the brush. These two trail beginnings merge at a post, and the trail to the hilltop is usually mowed, and somewhat marked with posts.

The hilltop gives views over the orchard and west to Mount Wachusett. Descend with the orchard on your left. This returns you to the parking of the Bates Land.

[For an optional extension, branch right (yellow dashed line) takes you to the Groton Conservation Commission (land acquired with the help of Leon and Kathryn Hurd) and down to Boston Road (119) next to Myette Landscaping - a great downhill ride. From there you can access the Groton Country Club, a back road to Lawrence Academy and return via Old Ayer Road, to lengthen the ride/run.]