Long Pond Reservoir
| Vital Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Town | Falmouth |
| Administered By | Town of Falmouth |
| Where | Easiest access is from the Goodwill Park parking lot immediately off Gifford St. From that lot there is a part paved, part dirt access road which leads to the loop which then runs all the way around the pond |
| Distance | Roughly a four mile loop. In addition, there are several short spurs off the main loop, heading away from the pond, which end at Route 28, Brick Kiln Road, or Gifford Street and which would add to the distance. Most interesting is a very challenging single-track trail which leads from the loop, at the north end of the pond and about two miles out, to Brick Kiln, and is about a mile in length, one way. (On the way out in this section turn left where the trail forks.) The trail is marked by white blazes. This single track continues on across Brick Kiln and in turn leads to various other trails. Cross Brick Kiln carefully and take a short jog left to the entrance marked by a large white The 300 Committee sign. |
| Surface | Varies from soft dirt to grass to pine needles to plenty of loose rock and gravel in parts. The loop portion is all double-track. Trail shoes are highly recommended. |
| Last Visited | October 21, 2008 |
| Ratings | |
| Overall | Very hilly in sections, not an easy trail. |
| Walking | Majority of users are walkers. |
| Running | Good terrain for hillwork, also for a recovery run on a soft surface. Beware of unleashed dogs! |
| Biking | Portions require mountain bike expertise. |
| Hiking | The trail is used by speed hikers. |
About The Trail
Long Pond, in the Town Forest, is Falmouth's main source of drinking water. The trail loops around this pond and for most of its distance offers scenic views of it. The 300 Committee describes the pond as a large kettle hole pond which is surrounded by nearly 1,000 acres of conservation land. They say that the pond "lies across the contact between the outwash plain and the hillier moraine" which makes for interesting geological viewing.
Falmouth High School makes use of a portion of this trail for its cross country meets.
Grews Pond, a separate body of water in Goodwill Park, is adjacent to portions of the trail. In quieter times it makes for a good swim finish to a trail run -- the pond is roughly one third of a mile (out and back). There is a sandy beach, and convenient parking.
Getting There
From north or west, take Rte 28 south to Brick Kiln exit, there left (east) on Brick Kiln to Gifford Street, there right (south) to Goodwill Park which is identifiable by the rust colored chain barriers on short posts (and an obscure stone marker), parking lot is immediately on the right.
From the east take Rte. 28 east to Jones Rd., right on Jones Rd. and then right at Gifford St. The entrance to Goodwill Park (see above) is about a mile on the left.
See Also
Long Pond Trail (Don Fredrikson) in New England Runner July/August 2007.
Maps
