Day Hike at Beaverdam Park in Gloucester
Saturday April 17, 2021
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
We'll meet in the parking lot at the main entrance to Beaverdam Park at the end of Roaring Springs Road. Our full route is a six-mile out-and-back around the east arm of the reservoir with a lunch stop at the primitive campground about three miles in. To provide a little variety, we'll take the "low route" (hiking trail) along the water's edge on the way in and the "high route" (multi-use trail) on the return trip.
If you prefer a shorter hike, you may turn around at any point. The Morgan Bridge at the east end of the reservoir is a good half-way marker for a shorter hike, but there are many other turn-around spots as well.
If you plan to do the full hike, pack a lunch and some trail snacks along with a liter or two of water. Given all the rain we've had, we can expect portions of the trail to be muddy, so choose your footwear accordingly—and watch out for horse poop on the multi-use trail. Allow approximately four hours for the full six-mile hike at a comfortable pace, including a leisurely lunch break.
COVID-19 Considerations: Beaverdam Park currently requires social distancing for all trail users. To protect ourselves and others, we will space ourselves out on the trail, although members of the same household or participants who are fully vaccinated may relax that restriction. The park is likely to be busy on a spring Saturday, so be prepared to step off the trail and/or mask up when passing other users. For liability reasons,
this activity is restricted to members only. Space is limited to 12 participants and advance registration is required.
