Trails Used

Chases Mountain Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

A terrific little hike to one of the smaller peaks in the Worcester range. 1,250 in elevation gain from the trailhead but is comes in easy to moderate grades. Trail crosses rock in a few places but dry today and not slick. Trail does have a number of twists and turns and a few ups and downs as it winds up the mountain but trail bed is obvious and it is well blazed in blue. Summit itself is in the trees but there is a view from the East vista (signs point to summit and the vista). There is also a north vista but it is largely grown in. A popular hike with the locals met about 10 people on the trail toady with a few friendly dogs. Signs are a bit confusing in terms of distance there are two signs near the trailhead - one indicates 2.4 miles and the other 2.2 miles to the summit. Alltrails had it at 2.7 from the parking lot. A great little hike if you're looking for somewhere you won't find the crowds the other nearby peaks draw. If you have the time, you can continue up the road past the chases mountain trailhead for 0.5 miles into the actual notch with some nice beaver ponds.

Parking

Trail head is in Middlesex; take the Middlesex exit off I89 and head up Center road. Turn left on Middlesex Notch Road (signed as notch road). Parking is at the sign for the Middlesex Notch wildlife management area with room for 6 cars (no parking sign indicates no parking beyond here). To reach the actual trailhead walk up notch road (gravel) past the houses for 1/4 mile and turn left onto the dirt road where the gravel road bears right to a house. Actual trailhead is about 1/4 mile up this road (which is technically notch road). Trailhead is on the right with a kiosk.

Water Crossings

Only 1 crossing right at the trailhead easy rock hop

Wildlife

Not too bad today but still out and about.

Trails Used

Logging roads, bushwhack

Trail Conditions

Notes

I parked about a mile up from where the road makes a 90 degree turn north. I whacked down to the brook, shoes off to cross, then up to the road on the other side. I had no idea how this road would be, but it was good, a grassy centerline and dry in the tire tracks. I decided to follow it as far as it went. At the junction where it turns into East Branch Rd, it gradually faded out and I bushwhacked, maybe sometimes on old paths, for what seemed like a long ways, coming to a flat boggy section before finally reaching the summit. It was about 4 miles to get here, and felt remote, but in the log book I saw the last hikers were here just two days before me. I decided to make a line straight for Chase to save elevation, despite reports that it could be wet. It wasn’t actually any wetter than what I’d hiked earlier in the day, and my boots stayed dry by stepping carefully on logs and tufts through the marshy areas. The way out was easy, just long at 8 miles and 1500’ total. It took me about 3 hours, from 4:30 to 7:30, with the setting sun motivating me to move quick.

Parking

Coarser Brook rd is in its usual condition. A little rough in spots but I did about 20-25 mph in my Tacoma. Fourmile is fine, as far as I went. (Last fall I remember some crushed / raised culverts further along by West Tucker.)

Water Crossings

Shoes came off for a knee-deep wade of Fourmile brook. It was not too difficult. I went further upstream on the way back but did not find any better way.

Wildlife

No issues, just a few ticks.

Trails Used

Waterfall trail, Bald Mtn bushwhack, Mt Chase trail, eagles point bushwhack)

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Atleast a foot of snow spread all across trail and many places into the woods at approximately 2250 ft. A little before that you will encounter some ice easily avoidable. Going up past this maybe a couple hundred yards you will think you’re out of it but there’s some “ice mud” that traction would be advisable on. By about 2310 snow is gone and none at the top. No snow found on Bald Mtn bushwhack Eagles point bushwhack no snow that wasn’t avoidable. There was some along the stream crossing

Parking

Do not drive all the way to the trail head, the road is too soft and there’s a massive hole 2ft across and atleast a foot down, park in the gravel pit to the north of the road in before the hill. Locals report vehicles have driven down there and gotten stuck and damaged.

Water Crossings

All water crossings easily doable

Wildlife

Only bugs were in a low spot of standing water during the bushwhack to bald mtn