My take on the 119 Trustees Reservations

I had a lot of fun visiting all of the Trustees of the Reservations properties (and some locations which are managed by the Trustees but not meant for running or hiking).  I knew it would be an interesting project and that it would be different from the last time I visited all of the properties.  Two years ago, I only stepped onto a property to count it as a visit.  This time I covered every step of every trail (except where specifically not allowed).  I found that some places I’d visited had much nicer trails than the ones I’d been on before.  I also found some of the worst trails out there.  Most places had great trail markings, but others were poorly marked, and some very few were also poorly maintained.  For the most part it was a blast not only running all over the place but planning the trips was half the fun!  Notes on my Trustees of the Reservations red lining project to follow.

Probably the most fun I had was running 27 miles with training partner Dave Lapierre as we legged it to ALL 54 of the Boston Community Gardens.  I was shocked at how nice Boston can be when seen on foot.  There were so many little gems along the way and Dave, and I had so much fun doing this.  I’m sure there has to be someone out there who has visited them all, but D-la and I would have the speed record getting to all of them in 4:10.

Some of the top spots:

• Crowninshield & Gerry Islands – small but unique, can be visited at low tide
• Mt Ann – Although listed as “no access” runners and bikers go here all the time
• Fruitlands – Beautiful trails and some really cool ruins
• Copicut – Huge surprise with fantastic trails and ruins, maybe my favorite run
• Goose Pond – Had been trailless now a great 2.2 mile trail, fantastic
• McClennan – Excellent little loop with interesting terrain, trees, ponds, stonewalls
• Brooks Woodland – Great trails and cellar holes
• Notchview – The most trails of any Reservation (30.2 miles to get them all), some of the nicest
• Field Farm – Fantastic views on the grass trails, also a big apple tree at the parking lot

Unusual stuff:

• Crane beach – some of the toughest trails with very loose sand
• Coskata – I thought Crane was tough?  This had some of the softest sand AND it really could only be done in one attempt as most of it was an out & back (16+ miles!!)
• Pine & Hemlock – went at 4am in the pouring rain, lost the trail for a little bit and was worried I’d get stuck in the swamp as it was really hard to tell what was land and what was swamp
• Choate Island – did not plan the tide correctly, left from Island road and could not go back that way, ended up at the Crane Beach dock and had to run 5 miles back to the car
• World’s End – Did this at “sunrise” on the first day of summer with Petey and D-la.  The police at the park and ride (at 4:00am) could quite understand what I was doing. They asked why I was there so late at night and I replied that it was “early in the morning”.  It poured the entire run, but we had fun.
• Moose Hill Farm – I could not pass up the fire tower (which I climbed)

Missing trails (or trails that could not be run, I didn’t miss much as I went to either side of any obstruction) listing the Reservation and the cause:

• Noanet – Construction
• Noanet – Beavers
• Bryant – Unmowed section of field
• Grass Rides – Beavers
• Far and Near – Beavers
• Chestnut hill – Construction
• Leatherbee – Bridge out

Additional trails:

There were many but I ran anything that was out there unless it was posted.

Worst trail:

Notchview – By far the worst trail I saw in any Reservation had to be the Steep Bank Trail.  I probably would not have been able to follow it at any other time of the year (I visited in late fall).  It was extremely slow going as the terrain, lack of trail maintenance, and lack of trail markings made it very difficult to follow.  There were times I had to guess where the trail went and usually, I’d be able to spot another trail marker soon after.  I have no idea how (or why) anyone could ski that in the winter.