Westwoods Loop 10 – The Granite Loop

Distance: 3.25 miles

Allow: 90 minutes

Difficulty: Hands down the most challenging loop trail in our oeuvre. A sweaty, heart pumping, difficult hike made for those that are physically fit, sure footed and daring. Still reading?? This loop is riddled with steep climbs and descents where you may find yourself relying on tree roots or rocks as hand or foot holds. Did we mention the cave crawls? Oh yes, you will be crawling on your hands and knees through a low cave and in many other places you’ll be slipping sideways (you won’t fit frontways!) through narrow cracks of rock. This is doable, know your limits, and wear hiking boots with good traction.

General Description: Granite Loop 10 is challenging. It takes you on part of the White Circle trail, which is the backbone trail of Westwoods running from Peddler’s Road to Sam Hill Road. It includes the 660 foot long Plank Walk through the swamp that is an experience all by itself. The Plank Walk is narrow (about 20” wide) and can be slippery. From the valley it climbs to some impressive granite hilltops along Westwoods’ most difficult trail, the Yellow Circle. This loop isn’t for everybody.

Hiking Narrative: Park at the larger Peddler’s Road parking area. The trail now begins on the White Circle trail located behind the kiosk. (The original trail has been rerouted to avoid the poorly paved road, occasionally used by the town.) Note that the town property you will skirt around at the very beginning is NOT pretty, but it is a very short portion of the loop and the scenery on the rest of the loop more than makes up for this area.

  • Stay on White Circle as it goes left and White Square goes right.
  • White Circle crosses gravel road back into woods.
  • White Circle makes left and rejoins old trail.
  • Continue on White Circle as it turns left with White Square going straight.
  • Continue on White Circle onto the 660 foot long Plank Walk (POI 1) as it crosses the Great Marsh. The plank walk was constructed in the late 1960’s to early 1970’s and there have been 2 major overhauls since its construction. Members of the Westwood Trails Committee conducted the most recent overhaul in 2023. The sections are built using natural features like tree clumps when possible. In the center channel of the marsh, the sections were built by driving stakes into the ground and using struts.
  • After the plank walk, White Circle continues to the right and goes uphill while the Orange Circle Trail goes to the left. Stay on the White Circle as it takes you to two treeless granite tops with pretty and expansive views, a classic Westwoods feature (POI 2). Along the edge of this clearing are found Scrub Oak, a species of special concern that’s being protected by WWTC and State forest management.
  • Stay on White Circle Trail as it crosses the Green Rectangle trail.
  • White Circle takes you to the Natural Monument feature (POI-3), a granite hillside that has caved in.
  • The White Square branches right into The Maze (POI-4) and travels through a part of the rocky Monument. It’s quite an obstacle course. You’ll be squeezing through narrow openings and pulling yourself up onto the rocks. If you’re not up for these gymnastics, you can by-pass this feature by staying on the White Circle.
  • Take a right onto White Circle.
  • After a short distance is an intersection, with the White Circle branching left and the White Square going straight. Follow the White Circle as it climbs a steep hill. Midway through this climb, you can take a break and meet the Brooding Troll (POI 5), a huge rock boulder alongside the trail that’s capped with moss and ferns.
  • The White Circle continues the climbs and follows along a cliff edge with views into the swampy valley below. Just beyond is a small clearing, a peaceful and very quiet place for rest and contemplation. Look for the rare Pitch Pines (Pinus rigida) (POI 6) and their craggy shapes.
  • Coming down the hilltop requires careful maneuvering and balance. After you descend the rocky, steep drop, stay left on White Circle.
  • Just before the power line, take a right on the combined Blue Rectangle and Red Triangle trail.
  • Continue on Red Triangle as it forks to the right, this walk in the valley of the former power line corridor is almost always muddy. Take the right turn onto the Yellow Square trail. It’s sometimes overgrown and easy to miss. If you come to a footbridge while walking on Red Triangle then you have gone about 20 yards too far. After you take the right turn you will cross the utility corridor clearing to the intersection of the Yellow Square Trail. Follow the Yellow Circle with a hard right turn that takes you up a very steep 90 foot climb, we call the Escalator (POI 7). It’s a dramatic and exposed trail section where you will be pulling yourself up, looking for hand and foot holds in some areas.
  • When you reach the top, continue left across open rock faces on Yellow Circle.
  • Yellow Circle then turns right and goes through a narrow rock corridor, known as the Little Squeeze (POI 8) – emphasis on narrow! Yellow circle is our most challenging trail. It follows along a hillside and you are often hiking on a tilted corridor.
  • Yellow Circle crosses Green Rectangle which was once an old Colonial Road known as Marsh Road.
  • Yellow Circle crosses Yellow Square.
  • Yellow Circle takes you through a rift feature. You’ll be climbing over and between large jumbled boulders strewn along the base of a cliff. Known as Heaven’s Staircase (POI 9), you’ll be negotiating challenging ups and downs, looking for steps and hand-holds that aren’t always obvious. Be observant! The path through isn’t always obvious.
  • Yellow Circle takes you along the base of one last impressive granite feature with the blazes leading you into what appears to be a cave. As you’ve now learned, this is not a mistake, but another convoluted granite path. Duck down to begin and enter the Crawl POI 10). At one point you’ll have to climb on your hands and knees to avoid hitting your head. Once out of the Crawl, follow the Yellow Circle across a hilltop, then descend down a steep drop to the trail intersection on the southern end of the Plank Walk.
  • Take a left on White Circle and retrace your steps across the plank walk.
  • After the plank walk, White Circle takes a right and goes uphill.
  • At the top of the hill, take a left on White Square. White Circle will continue right.
  • White Square comes up out of a field and ends. Make a left onto White Circle and continue to the parking area.