Westwoods Loop 9 – The Plank Walk

General Description: A fun and moderate hike highlighting the Massive Rock Formations (aka Dinosaur Rock), the Great Marsh and the Plank Walk.

Difficulty: A moderate but not strenuous hike with some up and down hiking.

Weather considerations: There are a few areas that are usually wet and muddy. Wear appropriate shoes.

Distance: Just under 2 miles

Duration: 75 minutes

Sights: Massive Rock Formation.

Hiking Narrative: Park at entrance #2 on Peddler’s Road. The beginning of the trail has been rerouted to avoid town property that is now actively being used by the town. Begin on the rerouted White Circle trail located behind the kiosk.

  1. Stay on White Circle as it goes left and White Square goes right.
  2. White Circle crosses gravel road back into woods.
  3. White Circle makes left and rejoins old trail.
  4. Take a left on to Green Circle as White Circle continues straight.
  5. Green Circle descends to the Great Marsh. The Marsh will be on your right.
  6. Green Circle makes a right over a bridge. You have traveled about ¾ miles. The area just past the bridge is quite often wet and muddy. Note a few Hemlock trees along the trail. The ridge to your left has several Hemlock trees and a few spill over into this area.
  7. Green Circle meets up with Green Rectangle. Make a right on Green Rectangle. Green Rectangle was once an old colonial road called Marsh Road. You’ll see the remnants of rock walls on either side of the trail. Colonial roads often have rock walls on either side. A lone rock wall in the woods is likely marking the edge of a field from long ago.
  8. Green Rectangle crosses a bridge. The body of water is called the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) Pond. The pond was created in the 1930’s as a fire pond in case of a forest fire.
  9. Make a right on Orange Circle soon after crossing the CCC Pond.
  10. After turning onto Orange Circle you will approach the Massive Rock Formation. The Orange Circle trail takes you right through this magnificent feature. The trail zigzags left and right through a narrow corridor between rocks. As you hike out of the rock corridor with the cliff side to your left, look at the fallen rock to your right. The fallen rock has a shape similar to a dinosaur with the head farthest from you.
  11. Stay on Orange Circle as Orange Square veers left.
  12. Orange Circle ends.
  13. Continue right on White Circle onto the 660 foot long plank walk as it crosses the Great Marsh. The plank walk was constructed back in the late 1960’s to early 1970’s and there have been 2 major overhauls since its construction. The most recent overhaul (by members of the Westwoods Trails Committee) was just 2 years ago. 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.
  14. After the plank walk, White Circle takes a right and goes uphill.
  15. At the top of the hill, take a left on White Square. White Circle will continue right.
  16. White Square comes up out of a field and ends. Make a left onto White Circle. Continue to the parking area.