Treasure Hunt: Holy Hill
The short version of the hike is approximately 1.5 miles. The long version is approximately 3 miles. Note that this conservation land is bounded by private property. Please respect the privacy and property of surrounding land owners.
You begin in the parking lot on South Shaker Road.
You’ll need sharp eyes and ears, not a big, heavy load.
Find the trailhead and go north, on into the trees.
Pretend you’re a fox and think what he sees.
The path will soon split, you stay to the east.
Follow the blue blaze and find a woodpecker feast.
If you are careful and your eyes are quite keen,
a small set of stairs on the left can be seen.
What were the stairs for? Can you figure it out?
Was it a garden? A small building? If you have a guess, give a shout.
Now back to the path you’ll go for a bit.
Cross the little bridge, but it’s not time to sit.
There’s a steep slope ahead. Stay right and up hill.
If you follow the blue markers, you’re in for a thrill.
You get to go down again to find a stone wall.
Wend your way carefully. Be sure not to fall.
Go north with the stones. Think about moving all those.
Can you imagine dropping a rock like that on your toes?
Keep heading north, there is quite a lot to see.
Can you identify five different species of tree?
On this part of the hike you’ll do well to stay straight.
Soon you’ll come to a break where there once was a gate.
A) SHORT VERSION
Eventually you’ll see a spot where two trails come together.
Head into the open field and hope for good weather.
This field is home to big maples and pines,
but beware of poison ivy growing on vines.
After the field there’s a small path on the left going up.
When you join another path there’s a hole like a cup.
Keep climbing up high. The treasure’s not far.
When you get to the top, inside a square’s where you are.
This is Holy Hill, where Shakers came to dance and sing.
You have only one task left: to find a hidden thing.
Where did the Shakers cut the hill away?
To move all that dirt took more than one day.
The Shakers worked hard to level this site.
Look southwest, along something white.
B) LONG VERSION
When you find some stone posts and maples, quite big,
see if you spot any proof that skunks like to dig.
Walk along Maple Lane; see the trees in a row.
What animals come here to play in the snow?
[Note: The area between here and Shaker Road is private property with a public right of way. Please be considerate and respectful. Stay on the road and do not climb on or around any of the buildings.]
Soon you’ll come to some fields, good places for hay.
Find brackets on posts that mark a gateway.
Stay on the road, looking off to your right.
The ramp of an old barn will come into sight.
This huge Shaker barn was built in 1831.
Jumping out of that loft would have been scary, not fun.
Go on around the corner and soon you will see,
a little more Shaker ingenuity.
The Shakers piped water from a spring far away
to give their cows water to go with their hay.
The Shakers also grew crops and dug ditches to irrigate.
The quality of their work gives us something to contemplate.
Looking up the canal you may also spot a round mound
where very busy beavers can sometimes be found.
Head toward Shaker Village and look all around you.
You’ll see buildings and foundations that are certainly not new.
The Shakers made many things: some to sell, some to use.
They made brooms and grew herbs. What would you choose?
Now go north on the road, away from the town.
You’ll see different stones, some lying down.
These have been cut and are longer and flat.
Do you think you could make a wall look like that?
Shadrack Ireland lived in the square white house.
He built a secret room where he could hide, quiet as a mouse.
Continue north. Soon there is another wall, rounder, not square.
You’ll see a knotty old tree on the left. Does some animal live there?
Now there are hemlocks on one side, big rocks across.
Some boulders have lichen spots, but they’re too big to toss.
Bear west once more when you see the yellow blaze on the tree.
If you get to the golf course, it’s too far, you will see.
Down the hill you will go looking for boulders. Now stop.
Do you see the big one with the large, pointed top?
The wooden bridge tells you that you’re on the right track.
Look for a duck in the stream and listen for its quack.
Bear left and look up at some very tall pines.
But don’t touch those big poison ivy vines.
Soon you’ll come to a field with a weary, old birch.
What sorts of birds use this tree for a perch?
Now go out of the field and down a small hill.
You’ll reach the goal soon, you certainly will.
The path will bear left and go past a meadow.
Are there animals that live here who you’d know?
Turn right once again, the yellow blaze is up.
Can you find a hole that looks like a cup?
Keep climbing up high. The treasure’s not far.
When you get to the top, inside a square’s where you are.
This is Holy Hill, where Shakers came to dance and sing.
You have only one task left: to find a hidden thing.
Where did the Shakers cut the hill away?
To move all that dirt took more than one day.
The Shakers worked hard to level this site.
Look southwest, along something white.
Note: Once you have reached your goal you may return to the parking lot on South Shaker Road by following the yellow blaze south along the ridge of the hill.
