Welcome to our new website! Learn more

Bickford Pond Loop Hike

Quick Facts

  • Distance: 3.5 miles
  • Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
  • Restrictions: No motorized vehicles, because this area is part of the watershed, some activities are restricted.

Trailhead

  • Start in Princeton. Park at the corner of Rhodes Road and Green Road in northwest Princeton. Google Maps

Overview

Bickford Pond is a 163‑acre reservoir shared by Princeton and Hubbardston. It’s fed by the East Branch of the Ware River and West Wachusett Brook. This loop begins on the discontinued section of Green Road, circles the pond, and returns along Rhodes Road.

Route Description

1. Green Road to the Stream Crossing

  • Begin at the corner of Rhodes and Green Roads.
  • Follow Green Road (a discontinued dirt road) into Hubbardston. The road is rough in places where Fitchburg Water recently replaced a culvert.
  • Just before the Westminster town line and Lanes Road, look for a gate on the left.
  • Go through the gate and walk downhill to the stream connecting Bickford Pond to Mare Meadow.
  • Note: This stream can be wide and deep during high water (winter and spring). It may not always be crossable.

2. Berm and Hill Trail

  • If the stream is passable, cross it and continue on the paved road.
  • Watch for an open berm on the left (west side of the pond).
  • Cross the berm for a beautiful view of Mount Wachusett.
  • After the berm, bear right and pass a large rock.
  • Take the trail up and over the hill toward the dam. The descent to the dam is steep.

3. Dam to AT&T Line

  • Enjoy views east toward Wachusett Mountain and down the spillway to the East Branch of the Ware River.
  • Cross the dam.
  • Continue on a short bushwhack through the woods to the right of the pond to avoid private property.
    • Important: Stay on the pond side of the stone wall closest to the AT&T line.
  • When you reach the AT&T line, turn left.
  • Follow this track; it is often wet, so stay to the right.

4. Bypass Trails and Return

  • You’ll encounter three bypass trails marked with yellow blazes (two on the right, one on the left).
  • After the third bypass, the trail bends right and enters the Zinns Conservation Area.
  • After the gate, turn left onto Rhodes Road and follow it back to your starting point.

Alternate Route

In spring or after heavy rain, the stream at the north end of the pond may be too wide to cross. If so:

  • Walk down Rhodes Road instead.
  • Enter and explore Zinns Conservation Area
  • Take the AT+T path to the left to get to Bickford Pond and complete the partial loop up to the stream as an out‑and‑back rather than completing the full loop.
  • You can also check the stream crossing from the Westminster side at the end of Lanes Road.

Historical Notes

  • Bickford Pond Dam was built in 1970. It is a 933‑foot‑long earth dam with a concrete core wall.
  • Fitchburg’s drinking water comes from Mare Meadow Reservoir, with Bickford Pond available as an emergency backup.
  • According to Fitchburg’s 2002 DEP Source Water Protection Report, rapid population growth between 1907 and 1930 and periodic droughts led to the addition of Mare Meadow and Bickford Pond to the water system.
  • Bickford Pond has never been used as a public water supply. Mare Meadow is used for 4–6 weeks each year during periods of high demand.

trail map

 

Close window