Trail Overview

Ashley Lake Road is an old, unmaintained road through October Mountain State Forest. It rolls through hardwood forests past multiple lakes/reservoirs, including Ashley Lake, Sandwash Reservoir (this has a unique "aerator" which is a large fountain in the middle of the woods), Clapp Pond, and Mud Pond (though the latter two are not visible from the road). Local history claims that this road once served as a colonial settlement, including a tavern and two quarries. One of these quarries provided quartz sand to glassmakers in Lenoxdale and Sandwich, MA, in the 1800s. Part of this trail is a corduroy road (logs laid across the direction of travel), which is very bumpy. This midsection is also choked with brush and will reward any full-sized car with trail stripes.

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Difficulty

A very bumpy road with some occasional mud holes and smaller ledges. In wetter seasons, these mud holes may become deeper and more tricky to navigate.

Technical Rating

Jeremy Lee

May 30, 2026

Open

It was fine and all, but i didnt know it lead to a gated exit on washington mountain road, so i had to turn around, was fun otherwise

Anthony DeCecco

Oct 06, 2025

Open

We went south to north, the beginning of the trail is the hardest part. We made it to the tree that is growing across the road and cut it out of the way. We turned around right after it though because the rest of the trail is very overgrown and we were running out of time. Exited on beach rd which is very easy. Stock 4Runner and Frontier.

David Zicari

Sep 21, 2025

Open

coming front the south, traveling north, the trail will start out as a very difficult level 3 IMO as the trail has continued to deteriorate. once you reach the branch off for beach road, the trail continues but is very heavily overgrown. I was trying to clear what I could until I got about a quarter mile from the branch, and there was a tree growing extremely low over the trail. I could see this section of the trail being closed in the near future if it doesn't get some maintenance. turning around was extremely difficult but didn't have much other choice.

Bob D

Aug 09, 2025

Open

Nice trail with some muddy spots.

Jeremiah Whitney

Jul 19, 2025

Open

Very fun trail but muddy in the beginning half. Went with a 21 Colorado ZR2 and I smacked the skid plates a couple times going through. Lot of deer flies

C R

Jul 12, 2025

Open

Tighter trail than expected. Mid-size pick up made it through anything wider would get pin striped. Not many turn arounds. Trail was muddy

Aaron L

Jun 30, 2025

Open

Definitely not a 3, but it’s a blast. Everything past Beach is muddy and rutted. Some trees have been put down to help with the mud, but they add a bit of a clearance issue in some places. You’re getting pinstriped for sure. Wouldn’t go in anything wider than a jeep, sorry full size and bronco owners.

Danny Modzelewski

May 29, 2025

Open

Borderline blue rated trail, at least when it’s wet. At the end were it forks New Lenox Rd is gated at Washington Mountain Rd but Beach Rd does exit out to Washington Mountain Rd