Maggie Terninko Boulder Loop Trail

Directions:

The trailhead is on the East side of Case Road, about 0.6 miles north of the intersection with Mill Pond Road or 0.8 miles South of Mitchell Road. Park along the east side of Case Road near the farm gate just south of the junction with Oak Ridge Road. 

Description:

This trail offers 1.2 miles of easy walking. From the trail head, it first crosses through shrubland habitat, where you may see bluebirds, towhees, juncos, and sparrows, as well as red tailed hawks and barred owls. The remainder of the trail passes through mixed woodlands and older hemlock-dominated areas, where hermit thrushes can sometimes be heard. Vernal pools, used by salamanders and wood frogs, and intermittent streams are also present. During winter, you may see tracks of deer, turkey, coyote, bobcat, snowshoe hare, red fox, and weasels. A large erratic boulder deposited by the melting glacier, is near the link trail across the middle of the loop. Look closely and you can spot marks left by the drills used by early stone cutters to split pieces from the rock. Along the trails you may also see woodland wildflowers, including Canada mayflower, wood anemone, bunch berry, trailing arbutus, dwarf ginseng, star flower, Indian cucumber root, and fringed polygala. Bring your sightings home through your photos but leave the plants and wildlife for others to enjoy. 

Conservation:

John Terninko and his late wife, Maggie, purchased this 107 - acre parcel in 1993 following an extensive timber harvest on portions of the land. Later that year they generously donated a conservation easement on it to the Town of Nottingham. The easement and trails are managed by the Conservation Commission. Funded by a Natural Resources Conservation Service grant, thirty acres were cleared on the north part of the parcel in 2013 and 2014 to create habitat for New England cottontail rabbits and shrubland songbirds. 

Usage:

The trail is available year-round for walking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. Please follow the yellow blazes and stay on the trail. Do not enter areas beyond the No Trespassing or Trail Closed signs to respect the wishes of the abutters and protect sensitive habitat. Dogs are permitted on leash. Please clean up after your pet adn carry out any waste or trash. Motorized vehicles, hunting, and camping are not permitted.