Welcome to our new website! Learn more

Cat Rocks and Behind the Onion Patch Hike

Quick Facts

  • Distance: 4.5 miles
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Restrictions: No motorized vehicles

Trailhead

  • Location: Sterling – Justice Hill Trailhead (Leominster State Forest) There is a small parking area at the north corner of Lucas Road and Justice Hill Road.
  • Google Map

Description

  • This is an out‑and‑back hike starting from Lucas Road in Sterling and ending in East Princeton, with an optional side trip to the Cat Rocks ledges.
  • The route passes Stuart Pond—beautiful in every season—then continues south of the Onion Patch pond in East Princeton.
  • A short bushwhack leads to Cat Rocks, a jumble of boulders just off the main path.
  • Total elevation gain is about 200 feet.

Route Details

1. Lucas Road to Stuart Pond

  • Begin by walking west along Lucas Road. Turn right up the hill toward Hobbs Road.
  • Take a left through the DCR gate.
  • Follow the trail around the north side of Stuart (Washington) Pond.
  • Continue across a small brook. After the second stream crossing, the trail becomes briefly rough.
  • The trail leads to a cart path beyond the pond.

2. Stuart Pond to Squaw Cap

  • Turn right onto the gravel cart path and climb the steep hill.
  • On the left, a set of ledges—known as Squaw Cap—can be climbed via a bushwhack.
  • At the top is a “Witness Stone” marking the boundary between Princeton and Sterling..

3. Squaw Cap to East Princeton and the Onion Patch

  • Continue following the cart path all the way to East Princeton.
  • You’ll reach the pond known as the Onion Patch.
  • An old bridge crosses Keyes Brook; crossing it brings you to the Quik Stop store. The bridge may or may not be crossable!
  • Before the bridge, when the pond first becomes visible on the right, look for a “fisherman’s trail.”
  • This trail loops around the pond to the inlet brook. Great Blue Herons have nested here for several years.

4. Optional Side Note: Nearby Roads and Trails

  • On your return, follow the cart path back about a quarter mile.
  • You’ll see a wide, well‑maintained gravel road on the left, heading north.
  • This road is not part of the main hike but leads to Hobbs Road, just east of North County Road and across from the “potato chip trail.”
  • Both routes connect to Leominster State Forest.

5. Return Route and Cat Rocks Spur

  • Continue along the cart path past Squaw Cap.
  • Take a left onto a narrow path.
  • When the trail levels out, look for a small path on the left through open deciduous woods.
  • The Cat Rocks are just beyond this point—a large jumble of boulders.
  • They can be climbed from the east (right) side via a steep trail.
  • From the top, enjoy a wide view across the valley.
  • Wildlife sightings here may include bears, bobcats, fishers, and porcupines.

6. Return to Start

  • Retrace your steps to the main cart path.
  • Turn left to return to Stuart Pond.
  • Take the small trail on the left to return to Lucas Road.

Other Options to Consider

Trail to Leominster Road

  • A marked trail leaves the cart path and heads toward Leominster Road (shown as a purple line on the map).
  • Follow the markers; the trail eventually turns right at another marker.
  • It ends at a swampy area and a stone wall, leading into an open field on private property.
  • Hikers are allowed to cross the private property through the yard.The property is at 25 Leominster Road, roughly halfway between Route 140 and Stuart/Washington Pond.

Quick Stop Visit

  • IF the bridge is not broken, you can cross the bridge over Keyes Brook to visit the Quick Stop for refreshments.

Historical Notes

  • The last reported and verified mountain lion in Massachusetts was killed in 1858.
  • Princeton’s Cat Rocks were named around that time to mark the site where the final mountain lion in the area was reportedly killed by a local farmer. Bobcats have been seen in the area in recent years.

 trail map

Close window