Douglas New Boston Loop
By: Laura Petto
Route Name: Douglas New Boston Loop
Route Distance: 7.2 miles
Elevation: 526 ft
Terrain Type: Paved road, dirt roads, and trails
Description: This is a nice, challenging double loop. Routes that include New Boston are my favorite (see my route description from last year) and the view after the first climb is particularly beautiful – after the twisty initial New Boston climb, there’s a wonderful outlook onto fields framed by mountains in the background. At sunrise (and I suspect at sunset, I just never run then!), the light pouring over the mountains onto the fields is stunning. Then, after New Boston, a sharp left is taken onto Douglas, which is a very challenging climb – about 200 ft up in .4 miles. But that beautiful New Boston outlook is even better from the top of Douglas! After that, there are some nice rolling dirt roads to the Douglas connector to Upper Turnpike. The connector is along a small creek, and it can occasionally be slippery, but it’s an easy trail without much elevation gain. Then, onto Upper Turnpike for a gentle downhill dirt road. Finally, onto Turnpike, past the Dairy. I often see chickens roaming on side roads, which is fun! To break the monotony, I like to go back along Beaver Meadow instead of taking Turnpike all the way to Main Street. It’s easy going after the connector trail. The route is definitely front-loaded with climbs and views – the best and hardest parts in the beginning.
Variations: Start at Huntley Meadow, or start from the Dartmouth green
