Sheffield, MA - Bartholomew's Cobble

Date Hiked:  Monday, October 8, 2012
Number in group: 4
Estimated distance round-trip: 3 miles
Weather:  Cloudy, 55°F
Resources:  Batholomew's Cobble, Trail Map
Highlights of the trip: Views from Hurlburt's Hill, large trees, rock formations

On Columbus Day, the family took a hike to Bartholomew's Cobble in Sheffield, MA.

(In order for me to remember, I will take a moment here to set the tone for the day:  At least one person would have called it a forced march and tried to ruin his mother's mood.  He very nearly did before we left the house.  We could have left him home, but then that would be giving in to what he wanted and I was digging my heals in against that.  I wanted this to be a family activity, so someone just better suck it up and do what Mom wants to do.  Very mature of me, I know.  Once we were out in the woods, I could really care less what he thought.  He wasn't really surly, just plodding.  He had stayed up watching a football game the night before.  Two teams that he really has no interest in.  Can you feel my sympathy for him? Anyway, enough of that other than to say thank goodness for my husband who worked to make the experience more enjoyable for the kids and thus for me.)

Bartholomew's Cobble is located in the southwest part of Massachusetts, very near the border with Connecticut.  The Housatonic River meanders along the east side of the property.

There is a small nature center where you can check in and pay.  From here we took the Ledges Trail to the cobble, or rock formations.  The rocks are composed mostly of marble or quartzite and are a fun place for the kids to explore.

Along the Ledges Trail.

 

A little cave.

From the Ledges Trail, we took the Bailey Trail along the Housatonic River until the Junction with the Spero Trail.  Here we stopped for a few minutes to take in the large cottonwood tree, and for it to take in one of the kids.  The man at the nature center said the record was 12 people inside the tree.  We'll take his word, but they had to be small people who were not claustrophobic or arachnophobic.

B inside the giant Cottonwood tree.

We went east along the Spero Trail loop, through some fields and along the Housatonic River before looping back to the Cottonwood.

View looking north.

Two-striped grasshopper (Melanoplus bivittatus)?

Along the Housatonic River.

More rocks to climb.

View looking south (I think).

Half River - seems to be an oxbow from the Housatonic.

After completing the Spero Trail loop, we retraced our steps on the Bailey Trail for a short bit and then went west on the Tulip Tree Trail.  This trail climbed a bit before we crossed Weatogue Road and then climbed some more, switch-backing a little until we got to the large Tulip Tree.  The guys, who were ahead of me, completely missed it, so I guess it wasn't that impressive to them.

A cool rock along the Tulip Tree Trail.

Along the Tulip Tree Trail.

The Tulip Tree that the guys missed.

The Tulip Tree Trail came out on the tractor path that led to the top of Hurlburt's Hill, an open meadow with the most incredible views to the north up the Housatonic River Valley.

The guys taking in the view.

After spending a few minutes at the top, we took the tractor path down to the road.  Instead of walking along the road back to the nature center, we crossed the road and took the short Craggy Knoll Trail through the cobble.

On our way home, we stopped in Canaan, CT and had a late lunch at Roma's.  My mood had been much improved by the hike and the food cheered up the boy.