Castle Hill
Castle Hill Map
About Castle Hill:
Comprised of 25.67 acres Castle Hill is an easy to moderate walk through mostly Eastern White Pine Forest bordered on the West and School House Pond to the East. In total Castle Hill consists of .7 miles of trails. The distance from the parking areas to the trail head is .1 miles. The trail head begins at the wooden sign and is also marked by a blaze orange marker. After 480’ the trail splits, both trails eventually join up after 550’. The trail continues in one lane 315’ then splits into two trails which again merge together after walking 375’. From here the trail continues 110’ and dead ends.
Parking and Trail Access:
- Parking is available along the road beside the ball field to the playground.
- A sign and trail markers are easily visible from the road.
Other:
- “School House Pond” received its name from its proximity to the North District school house, once located near the present Concord and Lincoln Roads intersection.
- Three species of owl are local and reliable on or near the property including Great Horned, Barred and Eastern Screech-Owl.
- Waterfowl congregate in small numbers during spring and fall migration in the SSE portion of the property (best visible the ridge near the end of the trail heading south).
- Shorebirds are reliable in small numbers during the summer and early fall months during drought years when the water in the pond is low enough to allow suitable habitat for them to feed.
- River Otter are occasional visitors to the pond as are beaver the latter being more likely.
- Though rarely seen Fisher are around though more typically encountered in winter.