60 Westledge Road

ACREAGE: 22 • YEAR ACQUIRED: 2000

Location

Trailhead is on the north side of Westledge Road (Route 309) across from Pasture Lane or to the north from the Cathles property.

Distance

About 1 mile total, a 0.5 mile loop using red and yellow blazed trails. This can be a good starting point for a much longer hike (up to 5 miles) on the West Mountain Trails.

Terrain

Mostly flat and easy. The drop in elevation down from the parking area is handled by two stone stairways.

Features

The 60 Westledge Trails can be approached as a short, separate loop trail or as the southern starting point for the West Mountain Trails system. Descend down the stone stairs along the red trail to Hop Brook where you will see the remnant of an old stone and earthen mill dam. The trail follows the pretty brook amid lush beds of ferns. The forest is mostly secondgrowth with some very large oaks and hemlocks and little undergrowth. The trail continues northward to West Mountain across a wooden bridge. This is a good place to stop and enjoy the stream. To complete the loop follow the brook on the yellow trail which will turn and take you up a second set of steps back to the parking area. Nearby is an open grassy area with a picnic bench.