Fifty Acre Wood

From the parking off Pond Factory Road the trailhead starts in a small washout teeming with poison ivy.  A well built sign shows the parks dedication and trail map.  The access trail to the loop is easy to follow skirting around the back of private property to meet and old farm lane.  I took a right at the fork heading steadily downhill as the trail started to get a bit more overgrown and passed over a stretch that get flooded often given the number of stepping stone logs.

I think the homes adjacent to the loop use the trail the most since the clearest parts of the trail are from a private path to houses just off in the trees.  Otherwise this trail might fully become an overgrown mess. As you near Leavitt Road there are the rusty remains of a couple cars between stone walls.

The trail finally loops turning from the road to curve along Beaver Pond.  There isn’t a singular good view of the open water but a couple stretches waded through thick ferns with obstructed views of the pond.  On the return loop you briefly see the part of the loop you were just on before diving into thick forest.  A woodpecker followed me on this stretch, flitting out in front again and again keeping an eye on me.

Unfortunately in this stretch two massive pines have fallen right next to each other requiring you to climb up and over twice.  It is possible, but likely challenging for some.  Once across there are a couple muddy sections as you ascend back to meet the old farm lane and complete the loop.