Holden – Holbrook Woods to Cascades Hike (GWLT)

Quick Facts

• Distance: 6.1 Miles
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Restrictions: No motorized vehicles

Trailhead

• We used the trailhead off Fisher Street in Holden, which is near the Worcester line and off Salisbury Street. There is also parking right after the Worcester line, which is smaller. A path, not shown on the map on the right, connects Salisbury Street to the Holbrook Woods area.
• Google Maps
• Links:  GWLT Trails and Lands

Description

• This hike goes from south Holden through Holbrook, Kinneywood, Cooks Woods, and Donker Farm, and comes out by Cooks Pond in Worcester.
• These are all nice trails through the woods A short walk from there goes to the cascades, a pretty water cascade with many more trails.
• These trails are part of the Greater Worcester Land Trust (GWLT) Four Town Greenway network. Total elevation is 400 feet.

Hike Details

From the Fisher Road Parking Area

• Head south on the blue-blazed trail and connect to the yellow-blazed trail. This goes through open woods on easy paths.
• Near the town line, pass over a power line and follow the blue blazes again through Cook’s Woods, a somewhat rockier trail that leads to the Cooks Brook area, which comes out at Moreland Green Drive.

Donker Farm

• Cross the road and descend into the Donker Farm area. You will go through a gate and may be joined by a sheep or two before coming out on Tory Fort Lane, near Cooks Pond.
• Continue around the south of Cook’s pond, over some pine trails. Cook’s Pond is a scenic area and good picnic spot, and there are also trails back around the east side of the pond that can be explored.

The Worcester Cascades

• Follow the trail across Olean Road and after a short hike arrive at the Cascades. Take some time to hike up the cascade trails for some good photo opportunities.

Return with Kinneywood loop

• Reverse direction and follow the trail back until the yellow-blazed trail is encountered and proceed clockwise around the yellow trail through the old Camp Kinneywood, which goes past a small pond before connecting back to the parking area.

Other Options to Consider 

• • The smaller parking area on Salisbury Street is a more direct way to enter the Holbrook conservation area.
  • There are several other trails in the GWLT property, especially on the Cascade side. A good option is to park at the Cascades and explore the trails in back of the cascades.