Callahan State Park South Side early winter hike - December 17, 2025

HIKE REPORT

 

Wednesday, 17 December 2025, Callahan State Park South Side early winter hike

Hike Leaders:  Margie & Tony Lee

3.4 miles, 10:00 am start from Callahan SP parking lot, Framingham

 

Hikers (14):  Margie, Tony, Annemarie Altman, Barbara Jacobs, Gerry Sheetoo, Janet Miller, Judy Perrin, Lynell Stromberg, Marie Keutmann, Richard Vignoni, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin, Ted Nyder, and Tod Cochran.

 

We hiked from Callahan's Edmands Street parking lot on the Pipeline trail and turned onto SVT's Baiting Brook trail just before the big hill.  We meandered through the woods and then crossed the Pipeline trail and descended to Deer Run and Birch trails.  We proceeded on Chickadee and Rocky Road, where we admired a NEMBA volunteer-built walking bridge. Finally, we hiked Red Tail, Wren, and Pioneer trails back to the parking lot.

 

The parking lot was icy, but the trails were well-travelled with only a dusting of snow.  Eleven of us drove to Franco's Trattoria in Sudbury's Mill Village shopping center for very fresh salads, pizza and sandwiches.

 

Report (and photo) by Margie Lee.

 

Exploring Wellesley, North of Route 9 - December 10, 2025,

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 10 December 2025, An early winter hike - Exploring Wellesley, North of Route 9

Hike Leader:  Susan Sabin

~5 miles, 10:00 am start from Wellesley, MA

Hikers (13):  Susan, Aiko Pinkowski, Barbara Jacobs, Dee Galacki, Elsa Lawrence, Lynell Stromberg, Marie Keutmann, Phyllis Evan, Susan Broome, Ted Nyder, Tod Cochran, and first-timers Joyce Bailey and Steve Caplow.

The day was mild with no annoying SUN from which to shield our eyes.  Sandwiched as it was between wintery, gusty days on both ends, we got the pick of the week.  Although we were missing several registered hikers (I later found two last minute online cancellations), we took to the trail on time.  The route - in woods, on streets, over route 9, then back in woods, on streets, and finally alongside the raging Charles River to our rest and turn-around spot - was varied and had something for everyone.  

We took a short break near the picnic benches where Washington visited many moons ago, and the day was so mild that everyone snacked and chatted outdoors, before heading back (street, trail, over Route 9, street, trail.  The five miles flew by with so many great folks to talk to.

Report by Susan Sabin.                    Photo by Elsa Lawrence.

Adams & Wright Woods hike - December 3, 2025

 HIKE REPORT

 

Wednesday, 3 December 2025, Adams & Wright Woods hike

Hike Leader:  Marie Keutmann

~5.5 miles, 10:00 am start from Lincoln, MA

Hikers (13):  Marie, Barbara Jacobs, Barbara Martin, Greg Stathis, Janet Miller, Judy Perrin, Keren Hamel, Melissa Norton, Phyllis Evan, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin, Ted Nyder, and first-timer Amy Juodawlkis.

Thirteen hikers met at Red Rail Farm in Lincoln.   The hikers set out through the woods along the many ups and downs of the kettle holes left behind by glacial activity.   We walked around a bicycle race track (velodrome) that is the sole visible remains of a late 1800’s fairground which people reached by steam locomotive on the Fitchburg line.  At the velodrome, I gave a brief talk about the history of the fairgrounds (see the links below) before we walked around the perimeter of the track.

We then worked our way over to a route along the Sudbury River and Fairhaven Bay, with great views of the water, as well as a large stone chimney and stone boathouse.  From there it was back into the woods and back to our cars.  The crisp temps and bright skies made for a great day of hiking.

Thanks to Barbara Jacobs for helping me navigate the route and to Janet for sweeping.  Thanks also to Richard Vignoni who arrived early to direct people on where to park.  Unfortunately, due to an injury, Richard was unable to do the hike.

Six hikers stayed for lunch in the greenhouse at Verrill Farm.

Report by Marie Keutmann.

Additional Information on Racetrack and Fairgrounds:

The bicycle race track was part of the fairgrounds from the late 1800s.  The track is about 500 feet in circumference and has a pronounced bank on one end.  In its heyday, the fairground included a dance hall, restaurant, baseball field, race track, and amusements.  On weekends, people flocked by the thousands to “Lake Walden” on the Fitchburg train line to go boating, swimming, and use the fairgrounds.  The fairgrounds were built by the owners of the railroad to encourage ridership.  There were several fires over the years, likely due to sparks from the steam locomotives, so in the early 1900s it ceased to exist.   Today, the only visible remains are the race track and cleared ground between the trees.

Online Exhibition of Walden Pond images

Information on Wright woods where we hiked