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, North County Land Trust, 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 Front Entrance of the Lodge: 9:00 AM – 11:00 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 to try.
Learn about the impacts of climate change and ways to help with guests from the DCR Fire Crew, iNaturalist, and more.
Skyride Open:
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
(Last chair at 2:40 PM)
$15 per adult, $10 per child under 9 years old
Food Trucks:
• The Toasted Roasters
• Rock N Roll N
• Sabrosa Venezuela
Music:
• 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
“The Westminster and Sterling Stummers“.
• 1:15 PM – 1:45 PM
“Dave and Friend”
• 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
“Abbey and Fran”
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
“Sounds Legit”
Guided Hikes
Click on the links below for more detailed information on registration, duration, length, and topics.
| 7:30 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 after your hike to share a meal with your new friends. |
| 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. |
| 8:30 AM – PuzzleQuest 2024 (Moderate) | Led By: Robert Gonzlez A challenge for clever hikers – face coded clues and brain-twisting puzzles to find your next steps. |
| 9:00 AM – Forest Bathing, Meditation & Yoga Hike (Moderate) | Led By: Ben West & Dawn Geoffroy Slow down and connect with the forest on this calming, low-elevation hike, joined by a local Yoga instructor. |
| 9:00 AM – Family Hike with iNaturalist (Moderate) | Led By: Tim Hawley & MJ Henry Suitable for Ages 10+, explore the shores of a beaver pond and search for hawks on the wing on this hike paced for families. |
| 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 – Map & Compass Training Hike (Moderate) | Led By: Joe Ciras & Walt Lazars Knowing how to use a map and compass could save your life! This hike includes a classroom training portion at the DCR John Hitchcock Visitor Center before putting your skills to the test. |
| 10:00 AM – Conservation Hike (Easy) | Led By: Eric Harris & Jake Scoggin Learn the seven principals of ‘Leave No Trace’ and how to protect our trails on this short hike paced for families. |
| 10:00 AM – Lucy Keyes Historical Loop (Easy) | No Registration Necessary Led By: Marie Auger 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! |
| 11:00 AM – DCR Forest Ecology Hike (Moderate) | No Registration Necessary Location: Ski Lodge Entrance. Gather at 10:45 AM. Led By: Nick Wisniewski (DCR Wachusett Mountain Park Interpreter) Families and hikers of all skill-levels are welcome to learn more about the unique Old Growth Forest still found at Wachusett from one of it’s most knowledgeable resources. Covering a 2-mile roundtrip, estimated 1.5 hours. Questions about this hike? Contact Wachusett Mountain State Park! Phone: (978) 464-2987 |
| 11:30 AM – Children’s Hike (Easy) | No Registration Necessary Location: Balance Rock Trail Head. Gather at 11:15 AM. Led By: Jahna Vaughan Designed for our youngest visitors, this short hike gives families and children the chance to discover the critters hiding on the Balance Rock Trail and explore the forest floor. Suggested for ages 12 & under, covering less than a mile roundtrip, estimated 1 hour. |
Want to Become Part of the Efforts?
With the threat of climate change, protecting and maintaining our trails is more important now than ever.
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.
Interested in hosting your own hike or activity? Reach out to us at <[email protected]>