Jeff Smith Trail - Pepperell, MA to Hollis, NH

Maps, Elevations & Summary

Distance:  7.6 miles
Maximum Elevation: 512 ft.

Elevation gain: 587 ft.

Total Time: 4.5 hrs.

TRAIL REPORT

We decided to talk a long but pretty level excursion today on the Jeff Smith trail which starts on Jewett St. in Pepperell, and heads north to the Beaver Brook Farm Reservation in Brookline, NH.  The hike was really nice, with a mix of all kings of terrain and sights and the weather was in the upper 60's.....just perfect.

We were dropped off at the trailhead which has absolutely no parking space.  After consulting the kiosk, we headed north into some brush and apralleded a muddy brook which was has almost no standing water in our current dry spell.  After a fews hundred feet, the trail crossed over the brook and climbed up a slope below some large granite boulders.  Abby, of course, had to climb up one for a pose.

 

The trail slowly began a modet increase in elevation to the southern edge of Heald Pond.  The ledges over the pond were narrow and wehad to be careful of our footing as the trail descended again to pond level and weaved in and our of rhododendron bushes.  Finally, the trail crossed HEald street and gave us a nice view south at the pond.  A number of mallard ducks were making a racket and finally took off from the surface of the water.

The trail continued north from Heald St.  along Gulf Brook.  Abby discovered some small caves at the base of the granite cliffs that define Blood ravine.  These mark the entrance to some old mines that were worked by Joseph Heald in the 1780's.  Apparently, there was some reason to think that these hills were a potential source of silver, but all that was found was pyrite, "fool's gold", as the story goes.

Much like the celebrated "Don't Tread on ME" flag of NH, Abby managed to tread on a large, and rather annoyed garter snake, Who slithered off into the undergrowth.  We crossed Gulf Brook over the top of a beaver dam, which was the former site of a mill, of which only the remnants of a foundation could be seen.  The trail climbed very steeply to the top of Blood Ravine in a dark, but pretty, hemlock forest and fundulated alone g the top of the ravine.  After a bit, we reached the site of Pepperell Springs.  A small pipe protruded from the hillside, where the spring water cascas=ded down the ravine and into the brook.

We found one of the inspection hatches that accessed the flow of water from the spring.  It supplied the Pepperell Springs Co., founded in 1893 by members of the Blood family as well as Charles Lawrence, founder of the Lawrence Library in Pepperell.  At some point, the company became Belmont Springs, which closed shop in the late 1960's.

Just beyond the springs, the trail crosses Oak Hill St. and we decided it was a good place to take a rest and have some water and a snack.  From Oak Hill St., the trail headed due north, crossing Gulf brook twice moreover about a mile.  One of the crossings was pretty swampy and the only way across was over a fallen tree.

The trail crossed Lawrence street and after about another half a mile, reached a swamp.  Just as I said how it would be nice to stop and watch the birds over the swamp, we found a very nice wood and granite bench by the side of the trail.  It was engraved with the name of Alexander Jeffrey who made and installed the bench as part of a 2015 Eagle Scout Project.  Thanks Jeff!

The trail continued, finally crossing an old rail trail near a sand quarry.  The trail markings end abruptly here, and we spend 15 or 20 minutes trying to find our way.  When the trail reached the rail trail, turn RIGHT, away from the quarry.  In a very short distance , the trail will make a very sharp left and cross a old stone railroad bridge as it parallels the Massacusetts/New Hampshire border.  In about a quarter of a mile, the trail makes a right angles right turn and we found ourselves at the banks of the Nissitissit River.  thankfully, with so little rain, the river was only knee high so after exchanging our socks and boots for water shoes, we crossed over.  The water was ice cold, and it was two happy hikers who sat on the northern bank drying their feet and munching on some cheese and crackers.

The trail continues on a residential street and along Pepperell Rd. in Brookine.  Beware, there is no sidewalk and the car and truck traffic is heavy so be prepared to walk far over the shoulder.  After about 1/4 mile, we came across the southern trailhead of the Beaver Brook reservation.  The trail was very well kept, wide and the grass was cut.  We climbed down an embankment and crossed Rocky Pond swap over a short stretch of boards.  continuing up to Route 130, where our pickup ride was waiting.