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Hike Route

Blackall Family and Ballou Farm Preserve

5.0 (1 Rating)
Needs Summary
3.7
mi
Distance
266
ft
Gain
moderate
Difficulty

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
3.74mi
Distance
266ft
Elevation Gain
266ft
Elevation Loss
20%
Max Grade
452ft
High Point
301ft
Low Point
Path Type
Loop
Description
For most of the 20th century the Blackall family owned and farmed this property. The 18th C. family homestead is on Old West Wrentham Road. The western half of the Blackall property was sold and developed as Highland Corporate Park for the CVS corporate headquarters, apartments, and commercial office space. The eastern half of the property was conserved as open space. Much of the land north of the power lines was an apple orchard, now overgrown but a few apple trees still survive along the trails. Visitors can see remnants of the farming history in the impounded cattle ponds, cart paths, miles of well made stone walls, and a horse riding ring (yellow trail). The many stone walls kept separate the pastures, wood lots, and apple orchards.

Route Conditions

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Contributors
Derik Fog