The Father Loop at Alford Springs begins with a moderate uphill rise lined with birch trees. At the crest of the ridge, the views of Greylock are breathtaking on a clear day. Much of the hike is on old forest roads making conversations with fellow hikers easy before the trail ascends again to the ridge and returns to the parking area. Multiple stream crossings, lovely when ice covered, remind hikers of why this area is known for its many springs.
Registration opens 3/9 at 9 am on OLLI’s website: Register here
Location:Alford Springs, Alford
Trail Details: 4.3 miles, round-trip, 3 hours, difficult
What to Bring: Hiking in the winter is a special experience but it does require thoughtful preparation. Please be sure you have appropriate clothing – good hats, mittens/gloves, and wind and water proof outer layers if possible. Trails can be slippery. All winter hikers should use poles and micro-spikes. BNRC can provide extra poles, microspikes and snowshoes if needed.
Cancellation: Winter weather may mean we can’t hike on a designated day. We will notify all registered hikers by 8:00 AM about changes. We will cancel if the actual or feels like temperature is 15 degrees or below. If a snowfall means snowshoeing is an option, we will send a notification by 8:00 AM. BNRC does have snowshoes to borrow if you don’t have your own.