Treasure Hunt: Bare Hill Wildlife Sanctuary
This walk begins at the parking lot just off Bolton Rd. about 2 miles south from the center of Harvard. It is directly across from Cadence Farm and there is a small brown sign for BARE HILL WILDLIFE SANCTUARY. This walk is approximately 3 miles round trip.
Begin in the lot with a Bare Hill Wildlife sign.
If you keep your eyes and ears open, your time will be fine.
Head west with the stones. A small barn you will see.
At the woodland roundabout, go right at the pine tree.
Another path will join in, but stay straight ahead.
BS20 marks a secret meadow. Don’t be misled.
You’ll come to a small bridge as the path takes a jog.
If the water is deep you may need to step on a log.
The yellow blaze says you are on the right track.
Another bridge and stream means you don’t have to turn back.
The next junction shouldn’t fool you. Bear right heading west.
You are well on the way to completing your quest.
Along this part of the path many big stones dot the trail.
Step carefully, don’t run and in the end you won’t fail.
Look up. Look down. Look all around.
How many species of trees can be found?
A number 13 is lucky today.
Go into the field. It is the right way.
A trail map is posted. Can you find your position?
You are making progress in completing your mission.
Leave the map at your back. Head across the big field.
Moss and lichen on the rocks means the soil would give a poor yield.
Find the pitch pine to the right. Are there many cones?
The white pines are on the left. But the pitch stands alone.
Now head up to the pond, but don’t jump in.
Can you see a rock that looks like a shark’s fin?
Near the edge of the water you’ll find another interesting tree.
Larch, Tamarack, Hackmatack, it’s called any one of the three.
It has needles but it’s different from the white pines you just found.
When it gets cold the larch’s needles fall to the ground.
Now go right, around the edge of the pond.
Use your head and you won’t need a magic wand.
Find two tall trees that were planted. They are Colorado Blue Spruces.
They tell us this land has had many uses.
At one point people dug gravel and hauled it away.
Others used the fields to grow and cut hay.
Around the pond you will go looking for signs
that the beavers have been here and that they have dined.
Take the path that goes between the two lakes.
Can you find the lodge that the beavers did make?
Your hunt is almost over. It won’t be a fight.
Look for the birch that is almost all white.
Bear left down the path, find a big rock under some trees.
At the base of the hemlocks, you’ll spot HCT with ease.
There you will find a small hidden treasure.
We hope that your walk has been a real pleasure.
