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