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SUGGESTED
WALKS
Download the Noble View
trail map
Pitcher Brook -
Laurel Lane Circuit
1½ hours at
a moderate pace
On the Noble View entrance road, a short distance
from the farmhouse, at the west end of the large gravel parking lot, is
a sign
indicating the beginning of the Pitcher Brook Trail.
Pitcher Brook Trail passes through pleasant woods with laurel and
blueberries in season, crosses Ann’s Trail, then the Border Trail and
descends to the gorge of Pitcher Brook with its swift water, deep pools
and two waterfalls called “Big Pitcher” and “Little Pitcher”. In spots
the going is a little rough, but not difficult except when icy in
winter.
Leaving the brook, the trail climbs mildly to a
junction with Laurel
Lane Trail which can be followed back to the farmhouse, passing on the
right Charcoal Kiln Trail, County Road Trail, Border
Trail and Dam Brook Trail, in that order.
Laurel Lane is wide and runs through mature forest. The footing in
places is sometimes muddy, Be alert for the “Dry Trail”, which is west
of and parallel to Laurel Lane between the Loop Trail and the entry
road.
For those who are interested in the history
of days long gone, this
hike offers an opportunity to view two old cellar holes. On the left
(northwest) of Laurel Lane, before reaching Charcoal Kiln Trail, you
will pass
a site known as the Pendleton-Snow Place. An atlas of Hampden County
shows buildings standing at this site in 1912. There are two wells to
search for, one near the house site and one on the opposite side of
Laurel Lane where presumably the old barn stood.
Continuing north on Laurel Lane back toward the farmhouse, shortly
after passing County Road Trail on the right, and before reaching the
Border Trail, there is a large and very old foundation and well on the
left (west) of Laurel Lane. The names of the occupants of the house
which stood here have not been definitely determined, but the place is
supposed to have been the homestead of a family named Ashley.
Water Hole Circuit
½ hour at a
moderate pace
From the farmhouse go down Laurel Lane Trail to the beginning of the
Dam Brook Trail on the left (east). The Dam Brook Trail
leads to a pond from which ice was formerly harvested. The dam is
unsafe to cross--cross the brook below the dam on the Dam Brook
Trail, and then immediately turn left (north) on the trail which leads
upward moderately to connect with Link Trail. Turn left (north) here
and
follow the Link Trail past the Woodland Trail and the Loop Trail (on
your right) until you reach Saunders Corner fireplace, and the field
that is south of the double cottage and east of the farmhouse.
Spring
Trail--Woodland Trail Circuit
1 hour at a
moderate pace
The Spring Trail begins at a sign at the southeast corner of the field
in front (east) of the double cottage. As you walk downhill on the
south
edge of the field to reach the Spring Trail, you’ll see trees growing
around and in an old cellar hole known as the Gowdy Place, which was
purchased by Albert Noble (for whom Noble View is named) in 1835.
From the southeast corner of the field, at a junction with the Circuit
Loop, the Spring Trail goes downhill to end at the Border Trail,
passing on the way a huge birch tree about six feet in circumference.
To the left (east), near the start of the trail, you can visit
the
covered spring that used to supply water, using a pump, to the sinks at
the cottages.
Turn right (south) on the Border Trail and follow its ups and downs
along
the side of the hill to the junction with the Woodland Trail. Turn
right (west) on the Woodland Trail and climb moderately through
interesting forest. You will eventually come out on the Link Trail.
Turn right (north) on the Link Trail and pass the Ski Trail and
Saunders
Corner fireplace on your way back to the buildings at Noble View.
Malcolm B. Ross
Forest Memorial Forest Circuit
An easy 50 minute
walk
From the Gantt Memorial Fireplace (note the engraved inscription on the
granite block) north of the double cottage, follow the white-blazed
trail along the left (west) edge of the cleared area north down the
hill a
short distance to the Border Trail. Turn left (west) here and stay on
the
Border Trail until it reaches the Entrance Road near South Quarter Road.
Walk up the Noble View Entrance Road to the gate, pass through and turn
left on the Mac Ross Trail (sign). Stay on the Mac Ross Trail until you
return to the cottages. You will pass on the right (south) the Outpost
Campground, developed primarily for youngsters
by a devoted Chapter member, Frank A. Mann, now deceased. Just beyond
the campground on the left (noth) of the Mac Ross Trail a spring will
be seen, and shortly before reaching the
cottages you will pass on the left (north) the unique Malcolm B. Ross
Memorial with bronze plaque.
Malcolm B. Ross was an active member of Berkshire Chapter for nearly 25
years. He served as Chapter Chairman and twice as Noble View Chairman,
and also served as Chairman of the AMC Chapters Committee. The land
that constitutes the Malcolm B. Ross Memorial Forest was purchased and
added to Noble View in 1958. It measures roughly 600 ft. by 2700
ft. and contains over 30 acres.
Dam Brook Trail
About 2½
hours at a moderate pace
This somewhat rugged trail follows Dam Brook downhill through mature
forest and past mossy glens until it reaches Little River, the outlet
of Cobble Mountain Reservoir.
From the farmhouse, go down Laurel Lane Trail, passing Ann's Trail on
the right, until you come to a sign on the left (east) for the turn-off
on
the Dam Brook Trail. In a short
distance the Dam Brook Trail reaches what remains of the pond that
furnished ice when Noble View was worked as a farm. The dam creating
the pond now leaks badly and is unsafe to cross, but the spot is
interesting because of its association with the past.
Below the dam the trail makes the first of several crossings of Dam
Brook and connects with a short trail on the left (north) which leads
to
the Link Trail and back to Noble View. The Dam Brook Trail continues
south along the brook, crossing Border Trail and later County Road
Trail (where there was a small pond created for fire protection
purposes that may be concealed by brush and undergrowth) to the
Charcoal Kiln Trail.
Look for the old brick kiln which was used for making charcoal many
years ago. It is on the Charcoal Kiln Trail immediately at the right
(west) of Dam Brook Trail.
Dam Brook Trail crosses Charcoal Kiln Trail
and wends its downward way
to boulder-strewn Little River. Having enjoyed the view of the river
and perhaps eaten lunch here, retrace your steps to
Charcoal Kiln Trail.
Turn right (east) on Charcoal Kiln Trail and walk until you reach its
junction with County Road Trail. Turn right, continuing on County Road
Trail until its intersection with the River Glen Trail, where you'll
turn left (northwest). Turn left (west) on the River Trail and
climb the steep hill. Pass the Circuit Trail and turn right (north) on
the Link Trail on your way back to the buildings at Noble View.
Charcoal Kiln Trail
to Lookout and The Ledges
About 2½-4
hours at a moderate pace
From the farmhouse, go down (south) on Laurel Lane Trail, pass Ann's
Trail
on right (W) and Dam Brook Trail on left (east), cross Border Trail,
pass
County Road Trail on left (east) and then turn left (east) on Charcoal
Kiln
Trail.
Some distance along the Charcoal Kiln Trail there is a sign on
the right marking a side trail to the Lookout. This is a rocky
outcropping with a view high above Little River Gorge. The large
standpipe in the western view is the surge tank for the hydro-electric
plant operated by water released from Cobble Mountain Reservoir.
After admiring the view, retrace your steps to Charcoal Kiln Trail and
turn right (east) and continue to the junction with Dry Ridge Trail on
the
right (south). The Ledges are another rocky outcropping above Little
River
Gorge, with good views including a view of "980", the steep hill on the
other side of the river. Your walk to this point probably took about 40
minutes, and it will take about the same time to return to Noble View
by the same route.
From the Ledges you may continue downhill on Charcoal Kiln Trail to the
old brick
kiln used to make charcoal many years ago and return to Noble View by
the steep Dam Brook Trail; or you may stay on Charcoal Kiln Trail until
it reaches County Road Trail and then return to Noble View by the River
Trail. Any of these alternate routes will, of course, require
additional time.
Other Suggestions
With the aid of the Noble
View trail map and
the appropriate USGS topographic map, you can figure out a number of
interesting and challenging hikes from Noble View, in addition to those
described here.
For example, you might make the complete circuit of the Border Trail in
either direction. It's rough and strenuous in some sections,
especially ascending west from of Sodom Brook, along the north border
of the Noble View property. You will note that this section of the
trail is not shown on the Noble View Trails map.
Recommended hikes in the area include the Keystone Arches Bridges Trail, Sanderson
Brook Falls, and Chesterfield
Gorge.
In planning any hikes at Noble View, remember that the farther you get
from the Double Cottage, the more climbing you are likely to have to do
to get
back.
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