Facilities

8 Ponds Pass

The Town of Plymouth, in coordination with Wildlands Trust is proud to have completed a 8.7 mile out-and-back trail (17.4 miles round-trip!) that crosses multiple town conservation areas, preserves, and Wildlands Trust properties. The trail extends from Beaver Dam Conservation Area trailhead on Beaver Dam Road to the Wildlands Trust Halfway Pond Conservation Area trailhead on Mast Road. Walkers can then choose to continue west through Leona's Loop or Gramp's Loop on the Wildland's Halfway Pond property to extend the hike if they choose. There are also 6 wooden benches along the route to take a breather- it's a long walk! There's also a number of map kiosks- small kiosks that will be placed along the trail to help show the way and orient hikers. There's always a possibility these kiosks could be vandalized or broken, so do not depend on them always being available, so know your way for the entire trail before you set out!

We're currently working with the Friends of Myles Standish State Forest and DCR to potentially connect this trail to the MSSF trail system; as of right now, the trail will be limited to Wildlands Trust and Town of Plymouth property. Of the nearly 9 miles of trails that are utilized, only approximately 500 feet of new trail needed to be cut, so existing trails were efficiently connected with a very limited amount of new impact required for completion. 

Trail Blazer System

This trail is unique in that it is marked by yellow 2"x6" paint blazers painted directly on trees or boulders (left). This was chosen as it didn't interfere with current signage used by Wildland's Trust or the Town of Plymouth on other trails. This trail with overlap with exsiting trails marked by the Town and Wildlands Trust- only focus on the yellow paint! Blazers are installed every 70-200 paces depending on need. In areas where there are intersections, they are more frequent to guide you through the junction correctly- there will be a blazer viewable from the intersection down the correct path. Through areas where there are no intersecting trails, the blazers are less frequent.

When exiting the wooded trail onto Clark Road, this road does not have blazers between Clark Road and the parking area off West Long Pond Road. Just follow the road past the Long Pond Road boat ramp, past the rear entrance to Camp Wind in the Pines, and the turn-off is about 1/4 mile down the road from there!

In several locations are two blazers side-by-side or above/below each other (right). These are intended to call the attention of the hiker- they are located in places where the trail takes an abrupt turn off the current trail. When you see these markers, stop and look around for the trial change. You will be able to see another yellow paint blazer located a few feet down the correct trail. Additionally, where there is a road crossing, the crossed trail blazer (below) is present.

Several mid-trail kiosks have been installed along the trail with more detailed trail maps to help you guide along the way if necessary. Please the see the attached .PDF for these locations.

A couple areas to note:

While walking south past Great Island Pond on the now-closed cart path named Hollis Road, you'll approach a red vehicle exclusionary gate. Walk beyond the gate and immediately turn left onto Savery Road, a dirt road. If you continue straight after the red gate and pass a house on your left, you've gone the wrong way. There are two free-standing trail markers along this road with yellow blazers on them, including immediately after the red gate.

While walking east on Savery Road, approximately 1/4 of a mile down Savery Road you'll turn right off the dirt road onto a wooded trail. If you stay on the dirt road and reach a private property gate, you've missed the turn by approximately 600' and have gone too far.

The paved sections of trails do not have blazers on them because you're walking on public roads past private property. Continue on until you reach the wooded trail again where markers will be present.

Parking

Parking is available at the Town of Plymouth's Beaver Dam Conservation Area, Wildlands Trust's Headquarters, Wildlands Trust's Emery East Preserve, and both Wildlands Trust's Halfway Pond Conservation Area's parking areas off Mast Road and W. Long Pond Road. 

Cautions

Walking along roads does occur for short stretches, so please be careful when walking along Savery Road (dirt one lane road), Ship Pond Road (paved two-way traffic), Clark Road (paved two-way traffic) and West Long Pond Road (dirt two-way traffic), and use caution when crossing Old Sandwich Road (dirt two-way traffic) and Long Pond Road (paved two-way traffic).

This trail is long! Please dress appropriately and pack enough supplies for the trek. Because it crosses so many properties, please understand the trail route before you start. There are a number of trails that cross and inter-connect, but this trail is marked with paint the whole way through. If you're not seeing blazers for more than 200 paces, you may have gone off-trail; backtrack and pick it up again! If you have questions, call us during regular business hours so we can help clear up any confusion and you're all set to enjoy the hike.

The 8 Ponds Pass Name

After some brainstorming between Wildlands Trust and the Town of Plymouth, we came up with 8 Ponds Pass because, you guessed it, the trail will pass 8 ponds- but doesn't officially just yet. Once we're able to work out the connection with MSSF, it will! Right now, the trails passes Little Island Pond, Great Island Pond, Long Pond, Little Long Pond, Gallow's Pond, and Halfway Pond. Upon official connection with MSSF, it will also pass Fearing Pond and end at East Head Reservoir.

We have GIS files available upon request.

Trail Route Narrative - From Beaver Dam Conservation Area to Halfway Pond Conservation Area

Beginning at the Town of Plymouth's Beaver Dam Conservation Area, walkers will begin walking the Conservation Area's route that parallels Little Island Pond. This route is a narrow but maintained as part of the Beaver Dam CA trail system, and is going to be blazed with both white diamond placards, and the yellow paint markers of 8 Ponds Pass. At the southern end of the pond, a T junction will direct walkers who wish to stay on the Beaver Dam CA trail to the right via an arrow placard, and 8 Ponds Pass walkers are to stay the left- a yellow blazer is visible down the correct trail. Here the trail widens into a former cart path. Walkers will continue on this wide trail past a large undergrowth opening at the northern end of Great Island Pond that was a former parking area. This cart path, known as Hollis Road will continue on, slowly descending a hill and turning to the south, keeping the pond on your right. As the cart path begins to turn south, you will see a sizable sandy trail junction with an island of trees. Walk between a line of large boulders once used to house an exclusionary gate years ago- the pond will still be on your right. Continue along the same cart path along eastern side of the pond, through the woods; the pond will not be visible from the path for most of the year. There are many trails that cut across Hollis Road, but stay on the main widest portion of the trail. Hollis Road will eventually meet Savery Road; there will be a red exclusionary gate at this junction. Walk around the gate and immediately turn left on Savery Road, a two-way dirt road open to traffic. Walk along Savery Road for approximately 1/4 mile until a junction on the right side of the road marked on a very big white pine tree- here the trail dips back into the woods onto a narrow trail. Continue along this narrow, wooded trail for approximately 1 mile. It will meet and cross Old Sandwich Road, a two-way dirt road open to traffic- be careful! Upon crossing the road and reentering the woods, look for the trail within a few hundred feet to turn left off this main trail onto Wildlands Trust's Emery East Preserve. The trail will walk past Cotton Pond, and up a steep hill with a guide rope as you proceed southwest. The trail will pass several large glacial erratics and open to a small pine barren with little undergrowth. Emery East's trailhead will head left and you'll stay right through the grove. The trail will wind through this small grove and exit onto a wider and well-worn trail in the Town of Plymouth's Talcott Preserve to which you'll turn left onto. Follow this trail, staying on the widest portion. Bear left at the large junction with the kiosk and resting bench. Following this hilly trail, you will exit onto the powerline easement; head for the paved road (Ship Pond Road) nearby to cross the highway (Route 3). For approximately 1/4 mile, stay well to the side on Ship Pond Road as you cross the bridge. Head back into the woods onto the Wildlands Trust Emery West Preserve- a sign indicating the presence of the preserve is located at this entrance. Wind through the well-maintained trails and exit next to Long Pond Road. Please be careful when crossing! You'll walk through the woods on the opposite side for a short stretch, then exit onto Clark Road, a paved public road. You'll walk along this road, bearing left towards Long Pond Road, walk past the Long Pond Road boat ramp, and continue straight where the paved road will turn into a dirt two-way public road, West Long Pond Road, soon after you pass the boat ramp. Continue on this road, past the Camp Wind in the Pines rear entrance on the hairpin curve. Keeping Gallow's Pond on your right, you'll turn into a small parking area with kiosks. Follow this cart path west to the Mast Road Connector trail, to Mast Road, a two-way public dirt road. Carefully cross Mast Road to the end of the trail- the parking area for Wildlands Trusts Halfway Pond Preserve.