Hiking at Ward Reservation, Andover, MA

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Location: Ward Reservation, Andover, MA
Date: August 7, 2012
Distance: .8 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 120 feet
Our Hiking Time: 1.75 hours roundtrip
Trail Blazes: Yellow circles (Bog Trail and Rachel’s Trail) and White Rectangles (Bay Circuit Trail)
Difficulty: Easy[/box]

Kendra’s parents, Boris and Jane, are in town visiting, so we took them on one of our favorite local hikes – Holt Hill in Ward Reservation. We started out trip by walking on the wooden footpath over the quaking bog, which ends at Pine Hole Pond. What is a quaking bog? Rather than resting on land, the bog sits on top of water, so when you walk across it, the bog can ripple like water. Hence the wooden footpath.

At the start of the footpath you can pick up a laminated self-guided tour of the wetland. Boris grabbed one, but it wasn’t really necessary. He and Jane could pass for botanists – they know every plant we every see, the Latin names of each plant, and their native regions. It blows my mind.

As we walked along, they pointed out different plants, and encouraged Addie to feel the texture of each one. She loved the moss – every few seconds she would stop, touch the moss, and say, “more moss!”

Grandmama teaching Addie about plants.

Addie examining a pitcher plant.

After an easy walk, we came to Pine Hole Pond. The platform ends abruptly, opening to a beautiful view. Addie reached down to play in the water while Boris caught dragonflies. We even spied a frog!

Pine Hole Pond in Ward Reservation in Andover, MA.

G-Dad showing Addie a dragonfly.

After we finished exploring the bog, we headed back along the footpath and climbed a long set of wooden stairs to Rachel’s trail, then hung a left and walked across an open field and connected with the Bay Circuit Trail, which we followed to the top of Holt Hill. We left our Deuter kid carrier home for this hike, and Addie hiked most of the trail on her own. She rocked it!

You can see the path across the open field leading to the Bay Circuit Trail in Ward Reservation, Andover, MA.

Addie with Grandmama and G-Dad at the top of Holt Hill in Ward Reservation, Andover, MA.

The top of Holt Hill has a set of solstice stones which mark the points of the compass. As the highest point in Essex county, Holt Hill offers a great view of the Boston skyline in the far distance. We spent some time at the top admiring the view, rehydrating, and exploring the stones.

Addie doing a little bouldering.

I was saddened to see the beauty of the summit marred by several plastic water bottles left behind by other hikers. We took a moment to teach Addie about responsibility and taking care of nature by having her help us collect the water bottles in my backpack. I can’t imagine why someone would litter – it’s just not that hard to carry an empty water bottle.

On the way back down the Bay Circuit Path, Addie found a small boulder and immediately started climbing. She’s getting more curious and bolder each day – she regularly climbs the Japanese maple in our yard now. It’s neat to watch her test her limits and explore her physical capabilities.

Though the hike took a lot longer than if Addie had been in the kid carrier, it was the perfect length and elevation for her little two-year-old legs. Going at her pace also allowed the rest of us to spend more time observing the nature around us – something I sometimes forget to do when I am hiking up a mountain.

Directions to the trailhead:

From I-93: Exit 41, take Rt. 125 North 5 mi. Turn right onto Prospect Rd. and follow for 0.3 mi. to entrance and parking (15 cars) on right.

From Rt. I-495: Exit 42, take Rt. 114 East 1.7 mi. Turn right onto Rt. 125 South and follow for 1.6 mi. Turn left onto Prospect Rd. Continue as above.