Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Russell Mill Pond & Town Forest
132 acres of alternating oak and pine with 3,000 feet of shore on Russell Mill Pond, and a big trail network shared with mountain bikers.
Written for ages 3–12.
Researched from this park's own sources. Nobody's walked it yet.
Read this bit out
This forest keeps changing its mind. One minute you are under oak trees, and a bit further on it is nothing but pines. Listen for the moment it goes quiet under your feet — that is the pine needles, and it means the trees have swapped over.
One of your three free places, or the Explorer Pass. What that costs
Before you go
- Time there
- Plan on about an hour and a half at the park.
- Parking
- Park behind the soccer fields at 105 Mill Road. There are two more ways in from Noble Drive. Open dawn to dusk.
- Underfoot
- Densely wooded, alternating oak and pine, with three thousand feet of pond frontage. Mountain bikers use the trails a lot, so keep little ones to the side when bikes come through.
22 challenges written for this place
A game deals seven to fifteen of them, so no two visits are alike.
6 things to spot, 4 things growing and 3 ways to find your bearings.
Every game includes this one
Three Thousand Feet Of Shore
Get to the east bank of Russell Mill Pond and walk along the water.
A few of the others
How Far Across?
Stand at the water and everybody guess how far it is to the other side.
Under The Oaks
Find an oak tree, then look underneath for an acorn or an old acorn cap.
Another Way In
Find one of the other ways into this forest, the ones over on Noble Drive.
Made For Mountain Bikes
Lots of mountain bikers ride these trails. Find a place where you can see tire tracks, and step to the side whenever a bike comes.
Past The Soccer Fields
Find the soccer fields on Mill Road, where the main way into the forest is.
Nothing But Needles
Find a patch of ground that is nothing but fallen pine needles.
The rest are a surprise — that's the whole point.
Also around Chelmsford
Thanksgiving Ground Forest
Chelmsford
Forty-five acres of ledge and giant glacial boulders on the west bank of Russell Mill Pond, named for the town's old Thanksgiving Day fox hunt.
Cranberry Bog Reservation
Chelmsford
Wetland paths on causeways and peninsulas at the head of the old Carlisle cranberry bogs, with a wide, flat trail to a small dam and otters and herons.
Play this at Russell Mill Pond & Town Forest
Free. Works with no signal once you're there.