TrailsFest
June 1st, 2024
Discover the Great Outdoors in Your Own Backyard
This Event is Free to Attend!
TrailsFest is your opportunity to hike with some of the most knowledgeable naturalists in New England
Wachusett Mountain is joined by members of the Appalachian Mountain Club and other local nature-loving organizations to celebrate all things outdoors
Gear up for a double-summit challenge, or brush up your plant-identification skills with a wildflower botany walk. Just starting your hiking journey? Join a casual group on the Midstate Trail Loop to learn about the lost farmlands and settlers that once made Wachusett their homes. All hikes are fully guided and led by experienced outdoor enthusiasts.
Visit the schedule below to find the best hike for you.
Wachusett Mountain Cleanup Day
This year we’re combining our Spring Cleaning with TrailsFest! Help keep the mountain clean for hikers and skiers alike, and we’ll reward you for your good deeds.
Collect One Full Bag of Trash and Receive One Early Season Single Session Lift Ticket Voucher (per person)*.
Clean-Up Zone will be assigned at check-in; zones listed below and map provided day-of.
Check-In at the Customer Service Desk starting at 9:00 AM (No Pre-Registration Needed)
Trash bags & gloves will be provided.
Redeem your reward by turning in your full trash bags at Customer Service!
It’s Not a Festival Without the Basics
Of course we’re still going to make it a party!
Starting at 12:30 PM we’ll heat things up with food trucks, live music, and cold beer. (Don’t worry, the coffee will be here early!)
Explore our Partners Tent, with demonstrations on hiking gear, best safety practices, and some fun demos and activities for you to try.
Learn with guests from the DCR Fire Crew, iNaturalist, and more!
Food Trucks:
• The Toasted Roasters
• Sabrosa Venezuela
• Rock N Roll N
Guided Hikes
Click on the links below for more detailed information on registration, duration, length, and topics.
| 8:00 AM – Double Summit Hike (Advanced) | Led By: Sue Smith & Donald Davies A summit so nice you’ll want to see it twice — This is a unique opportunity to explore Wachusett with an experienced pair of hikers, and views of the Pine Hill crew performing vital trail maintenance. |
| 9:00 AM – Pine Hill to Old Indian Trail (Moderate) | Led By: Jim Walsh Join this hike for a tour of the Mountain with a loop of the summit, including the Pine Hill Trail, Old Indian Trail, and Balance Rock. |
| 9:00 AM – Wachusett Mountain Summit Hike (Moderate) | Led By: Will Desrosiers Challenge yourself a little with this longer loop to the summit, including some rockier and steeper terrain. Your reward is the morning view! |
| 9:00 AM – 20’s & 30’s Hike (Moderate) | Led By: Luke Chapdelaine & Jason E. Porter Meet hike-minded outdoor enthusiasts and make some new friends on this four-mile hike to the summit. |
| 9:00 AM – LGBTQIA2S+ Affinity Group Hike (Moderate) | Led By: Seda Salar, Wendy Dziemian & Ouda Senethavy This hike includes an optional get-together at a local bakery to chat over breakfast before your group mounts the summit. |
| 10:00 AM – Lucy Keyes Historical Loop (Easy) | No Registration Necessary This hike gives you a real who’s who of the historic figures in Wachusett’s past, including captive Mary Rowlandson, lost little Lucy Keyes, and the Roper Farm site made famous by poet John Greenleaf Whittier. |
| 10:00 AM – Botany Hike (Easy) | Led By: George LoCascio & Emily Merlino Learn to identify and observe some of Wachusett’s beautiful botanical wonders using ‘Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide’, bring a copy if you have one! |
Want to Become Part of the Efforts?
Join Restoration Volunteer Project Coordinator Steve Crowe and REGISTER NOW for a unique opportunity for training and instruction from WR Chapter Trail Crew leaders during an on-trail cleanup.
The Worcester Chapter Trail Crew performs rock work, debris cleanup, and other tasks as part of a multi-year Reconstruction Project on the Pine Hill Trail. Originally constructed in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Crew, this historic trail has been rebuilt through the efforts of dedicated local leaders and volunteers.
With the threat of climate change, protecting and maintaining our trails is more important now than ever.
Interested in hosting your own hike or activity? Reach out to us at <[email protected]>