We start the spring season off with a clear blue sky, a strong breeze and spring like temperatures, as we continue our trek along the Warner Trail . The third section of our hike starts in Gilbert Hills State Forest. This 1,027 acre woodland located in Foxboro, Mass is named for a state forester and park employee from the 1930's. The park has 23 miles of trails for various uses, looping through the forest. Not only does the long distance Warner Trail cut through the property, but they have designated trails for off-road vehicles, horseback ridding and mountain biking.

Parking at the end of High Rock Road I find only one car in the dirt parking area, but by the time we get our packs on three more vehicles pull in and start unloading several mountain bikes. The Warner Trail cuts through the lot and reenters a hardwood forest of oak, beech and white birch at a barrier gate. After about 80 yards the trail takes a sharp turn left following a wooded ridge and slowly descends into a col. During the descent the trail follows the base of a ledge formed by Goat Rock. It always amazes me how nature can take over, about half way up the ledge a white pine has taken root and has found enough nourishment in this rock to have a girth of about 15 inches. At the bottom of the col, a brook can be heard cascading underground but the surface water between the rocks at the trail is just sitting there in pools. Checking out about 200 feet or so farther east I could see the water coming out of the ground in a rush. Leaving the gully, the Warner Trail climbs and winds its way up a steep slope. Using stone steps set by the CCC we reach the top and intersection with the Acorn Trail.

At the intersection is a sign board with distances to different locations, hey look Warner Trail 19.1 miles to Diamond Hill, Cumberland, RI. After a short hike through scrub pine and oak the trail emerges out on top of a large slab ledge. The view to the west is spectacular, a large rock nestled between some pines offers a great seat to take in the view and have a break. Continuing on, winter still shows its head with some ice holding on to the rock slabs as the trail works its way down the varies natural steps of rock. Heading north/west we cross a trail marked with green and yellow markers designating it for mountain bike use. Hearing the talk and laughter of several people, we see a group riding their bikes down some steep ledges and rock outcrops. Although there were a few teenagers in the group most of the cyclists were in their mid thirties to late forties. Who says you have to grow up! Continuing on, the trail parallels a beautifully made stone wall as the hardwood forest turns to white pine. Shortly we pass two towers on our left and hear the traffic of Route 1. Turning west we head down a rocky slope and come out above Route 1.

Using care and a little patience we cross Route 1 without becoming road pizza. The trail continues on Myrtle Street a short distance and returns to the woods. After paralleling Route 1 the trail follows the shore of a wetland were the sounds of three woodpeckers jack-hammering noise echo through the pines. Crossing a bog bridge the Warner Trail leaves the wooded wetland and comes out onto the cul-de-sac of Davis Avenue . Until now I had forgotten that this was a urban trail you could have been wandering the woods of Maine or Vermont . After about 10 minutes of street walking the trail returns to the woods at the end of Warner Trail Road. Circling around the sealed off Wrentham Landfill and crossing Madison Street into the Wrentham State Forest.

With a steep and steady climb we reach the first peak of a ridge line known as the Pinnacles. During the rollercoaster trek in this part of the trail several great views of the Boston skyline greeted us from its ledgy summits. Descending into the woods once more care is taken in following the Warner Trail as several bike trail cross it. Passing some large boulders and a rocky area we finally climb Outlook Rock. Continuing on we descend crossing a brook before climbing to a cliff with great views of Minnehaha Pond. Following Minnehaha Brook for a while the trail passes several turnoffs till it winds itself around an impressive rock ledge and out to Taunton Street .