Volunteers Hit the Trails at Rocky Woods in Medfield

On Saturday, June, 4, 43 volunteers arrived at The Trustees’ Rocky Woods reservation in Medfield, ready to work hard for a good cause on National Trails Day.

These volunteers, including young children, adults and families, came from Medfield and other local communities to roll up their sleeves and give the trails at Rocky Woods some much needed TLC.

After receiving safety training, volunteers were split into five work groups and dispersed throughout the 491 acres of Rocky Woods. Each group was assigned a section of trails and given a task, including trail blazing, invasive species removal, waterbar cleaning and reconstruction, clearing of debris from trails and covering up trails, which were no longer designated for use. 

Since 1993, the American Hiking Association’s National Trails Day has inspired thousands of individuals and community groups each year to take part in activities that promote healthy living and mental well-being, protect and care for trails and land, educate youth and adults on the importance of trails and open space, and instill excitement for the outdoors.

While the official date for this annual event was June 4th, The Trustees of Reservations, the nation’s oldest statewide land trust, have events planned at multiple locations around the state throughout the month of June.  Events include hikes, guided walks, volunteer workdays, trail steward, design and maintenance training workshops and more.  

All events are designed to invigorate your body and mind while spending some quality time with family and friends enjoying or pitching in at a special place in the Medfield community. Events such as the one at Rocky Woods inspire the public and trail enthusiasts to get outside with friends and family and participate in trail-work projects while providing the essential service of maintaining the quality and safety of trails for the use and enjoyment of the public. 

For a full description of National Trials Day events, broken down by region, click here. Today, with 6.5 miles of trails winding through varied terrain, Rocky Woods is a year-round destination for outdoors lovers of all abilities. The 0.75-mile loop around Chickering Pond, the largest of the reservation’s five man-made ponds, is a family favorite.  Other trails include the Bridle Trail, Loop Trail, Echo Pond Trail and Mine Hill Loop.

Situated with one foot within the Charles River watershed and the other foot within the drainage of the Neponset, the reservation was established in 1942, after the land was donated by Dr. Joel Goldthwait. After purchasing the land in the 1920s, he created riding and walking trails throughout 300 acres. Prior to his ownership of the land, it was common land which the town of Medfield divided into woodlots and parceled out to residents, who made use of the area’s natural resources, including timber and granite.