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Cobb Brook Trails Hike

Quick Facts

  • Hike Name: Cobb Brook Loop
  • Distance: 2 Miles
  • Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
  • Restrictions: No motorized vehicles

Description

  • These trails head from Worcester Road down to the west to the Cobb Brook area. This hike loops around the trail area, stopping at three spurs that lead to views of beaver ponds or Cobb Brook. The land is shared by Princeton Land Trust and landowner Bruce Jacobson. The elevation change is 175 feet.
  • The trail can be wet, particularly along the lower section, and there are a few streams that need to be crossed with some caution.

Trailhead

Worcester Road (Route 31) just north of the Princeton Post Office and Monti’s Market south of the Mountain Barn. Enter and park against the chain link fence gate.

 

Route Details

1. Start

  • From the parking area, follow the blue blazes down Jake’s Trail through the open lot to the left of the kiosk and through a short, wooded section
  • At the junction, turn right toward the cell tower. Pass the cell tower on the left and proceed along blue blazes to the T junction.

2. Jakes Trail to Giard Trail

  • Take a left at the T Junction, proceeding clockwise around the loop.
  • Pass over a stream crossing and continue straight on the Giard Trail, which stays on the high side of the valley.
  • The Giard Trail then goes downhill and joins to the lower Cobb Brook Trail.

3. Pond Spur Trails

  • At the T junction at the bottom of the hill, explore off to the left down the South Pond Trail to the larger beaver pond.
  • Return past the Giard Trail and take a left onto the North Pond Trail to check out the smaller pond.
  • There is a nice viewing area with benches at both ponds to check out the wildlife.
  • Return to the Cobb Brook Trail and take a left to proceed to the north end of the property

4. Cobb Brook Crossing

  • At the junction for the Cobb Brook Spur, bear left to get to the Cobb Brook Bridge
  • You can cross the bridge and go over the stone wall at the top of the hill to exit onto Sam Cobb Lane. This is Princeton Land Trust property.

5. Sunny’s Slope and Return

  • Return across the bridge and keep left onto the Sunny’s Slope Trail.
  • This goes back up the hill and then turns right to return to the intersection with Jakes Trail.
  • Turn left on Jake’s Trail to return to the parking area.

Other Options to Consider

  • The hike can be shortened by using one of the two connector trails.
  • At the top of Sunny’s Slope where the trail turns to the right, you can continue straight through a small forest and back of the Barn restaurant parking area. From here it is a short walk out to the main parking area.

 

Map showing the path of the hike

 

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