Great Hill Mass Ave Entrance Trail

Great Hill has an entrance trail from Massachusetts Ave., which is currently unofficial (not shown on maps), although it sees a fair amount of use. This was an official entrance trail, and has a maintained wood footbridge over the stream draining that side of Great Hill (eventually feeding into Fort Pond Brook, after looping around Rt. 2 and the Woods subdivision.) When the Victor School acquired the buildings between the trail head and Mass. Ave. they were supposedly initially in favor of granting access, but their legal counsel advised against it, so this Great Hill entrance trail is currently relegated to unofficial status (not shown on our maps).

Historical features in this area include a stone culvert underneath the path going to the footbridge, and an old stone-lined large well off the yellow path which allows access to water even in dry times. Further downstream on the small brook are several rock walls built to pass the stream through while controlling animal passage.

There are several areas around the path, with varying invasives and history of control.

Area A

This area, adjacent to the Yellow trail, was initially cleared in 2012 or so, and repeatedly over the following years. The invasives here were mostly Glossy Buckthorn, with some Asian Bittersweet. With repeated clearings, in 2023 this area was looking good with regards to invasives, although native undergrowth is lacking due to regular deer over-foraging.

Area B

This area, along the sides of the entrance trail to the south of the footbridge, has had several sweeps since 2012 removing invasives. As of Spring 2024, it needs another.

The invasives in this area are mostly Asian Bittersweet, Winged Euonymus, Multiflora Rose, Glossy Buckthorn, and Japanese Barberry.

Area C

This area, along the sides of the entrance trail to the north of the footbridge, but before the wall, has had several sweeps since 2012 removing invasives.

The invasives in this area are mostly the same as Area B (above), but also include several Autumn Olive trees.

This area was cleared in Feb. 2024, but numerous Asian Bittersweet vines were cut 1 ft. above ground as root removal wasn't feasible due to frozen ground. Several large Glossy Buckthorns were girded, but others were doubtlessly left due to lack of positive identification. Several huge Multiflora Rose, and a few Japanese Barberry plants were also cut which will also require return trips to remove.

Area D

This area, north of the rock wall, has been ignored previous to 2024 due to a misconception that it was not included in the Great Hill conservation area.

Area E

This area, to the west of the wood footbridge, is a wetland.

It is possible that there is an infestation of Phragmites here.