The East Quabbin Land Trust encourages visitors to all of its preserves. Please be respectful of the land and other visitors. EQLT has several policies that guide use of the land, including a Dog Policy, Hunting and Fishing Policy and Recreational Trail Use Policy. We encourage you to go explore Mandell Hill.
Mandell Hill is a working landscape in many senses of the term. One major aspect of the property is the ongoing management of invasive plant species such as Asiatic bittersweet and multiflora rose. In concert with this work is the reclamation of acres of former pastures that were lost to these invading plants and are now once again supporting active agriculture. Currently the fields are hayed in support of a local grass-fed beef operation. The third leg of this operation is the management of the large upper fields for breeding grassland birds such as bobolinks and meadowlarks. Supported with sustainable forestry and other endeavors such as sugaring, the Mandell Hill property is intended to be a model of ecologically sensitive, financially profitable and culturally appropriate land use.
The Mandell Hill property is a beautiful landscape that the public is encouraged to utilize, but do keep in mind that this is a working farm property, and that the ecological management is ongoing. There will be times when there is machinery about, and you may also witness areas of land clearing. This work is always according to a strict, long-term management plan in pursuit of the East Quabbin Land Trust’s mission of preserving the natural, historical, agricultural and recreational character of the region.
In 2022 a Motus wildlife tracking tower was installed. Scientists across the northeast can track birds, insects and mammals as they migrate up and down the eastern seaboard. Click here to see detections from our receiver.
Blue Loop Trail at Mandell Hill
Click here for a map of the property.
- 1.5 miles
- 1 hour
- Easy to moderate, flat across edges of open fields, transitioning to woodland with moderate grade changes
Start Location: The marked parking lot is at the intersection of Barre and Ridge Roads.
End Location: Same
Getting there: From Barre Common, go south on School Street to the intersection of Route 32. Follow Route 32 south and turn west onto Barre Road. Follow Barre Road about a mile to the peak of the long hill. Parking is on the left side at the hill’s peak.
From Hardwick Common, head east on Barre Road for a mile. Parking is on the right.
Route Description: The trail takes you upon the plateau of the East Quabbin Land Trust’s Mandell Hill property, through active pastures and high-canopied forests. From the parking lot, walk south through the gate and follow the farm road. Immediately to your left is the reclaimed foundation of the Mandell Farm barn whose rich history has been well documented by local historians. Back on the farm road, views to the east offer Winimusset Wildlife Management Area, the Ware River, and Mount Wachusett. West shows more active agricultural land falling away towards Hardwick center. This is a great spot to take in both sunrises and sunsets. Continue on, soon coming to a fork in the road. This is a Loop Trail, so either direction is appropriate, but this description is following the branch left. Take the left branch, and as you walk look off in the distance to see Mount Wachusett visible on clear days. Walk past the enormous European Beech tree, and bear right, up the low knoll. Once upon the knoll take a look back for a great view of the fields and the historic landmarks. Off the knoll the trail continues, bearing right, into the forest and bisecting the steep, wooded slope of Mandell Hill. Soon a subtle jog in the trail left passes through a historic farm lane bordered on each side by stonewalls, now under the forest canopy. The trail continues relatively flat through the forest for another ¾ mile before it turns to the west and climbs steeply back up to the plateau and winds around the outside of an isolated field. This field is known locally as the President’s Field due to lore of George Washington’s army setting camp here. Follow the blue blazes passing over the stone wall taking walkers around the end of the field. Bear right keeping the field closely on your right side across the stone wall. Follow the blue markers to the farm road and across the fields. Eventually the trail will bring you to the Ellison Memorial Birding Platform. The birding platform is twelve feet in the air, giving visitors a panoramic view of the Mandell Hill area and the birds that frequent this large expansive managed grasslands. Continue heading north and the parking area is less than 1,000 feet away.
Terrain: Somewhat steep in places. A few rocky sections.
Surface: Bare substrate in forest. All roads dirt.
Public or Private Land? Owned by East Quabbin Land Trust.
Is route safe during hunting season? Hunting is allowed on the Mandell Hill property.