This week we head off on our fourth section hike of the Warner Trail. Checking the weather forecast the night before the weatherman said we were in for a partly cloudy day in the 50's. As dawn broke there was heavy cloud cover; temperatures in the high 20's and a feel of rain or snow in the air. To make the trek even more interesting, when I arrived at the store the fire alarm in the loading dock area was going off; all the computerized clocks were an hour ahead thinking it was day light savings time, my partner called saying he had been sick all night and wouldn't make the hike, and as the hikers were checking in; a local police officer came into the store to jokingly harass them. He was thinking that the group was going kayaking so he enlightens them with a tale to watch out for that giant 20' alligator that inhabited the Blackstone. It's just a typical outing for Blackstone Valley Outfitters.

Our hike this day will traverse the town of Foxboro, Massachusetts . Starting at Edward Road near the Sharon town line we travel southwest ending our journey at High Rock Road in Gilbert Hill State Forest . Leaving Edwards Road at utility pole 27, the overgrown trail winds its way to Camp Road passed private property. Due to new development; the Warner Trail follows roadways for about 20 minutes until it reenters the woods at the end of the Monroe Street cul-de-sac. Entering the forest we are surrounded by giant white pine on this section of the Foxboro Conservation Commission Land . After a short trek, the trail emerges into an open field and shortly returns to the pine forest. Peering down through the woodland; Neponset Reservoir can be seen to our left (east) and we pass a strange excavated hole in the woods before descending to the reservoir. Crossing an earthen dam the group is greeted by a great blue heron taking flight and the call of Canada geese passing over head. Turning southeast the Warner Trail passes between the shoreline and Conrail property (an active railroad) on a couple of short bog bridges. Emerging onto Chestnut Street we return to our urban hike. Following Chestnut Street passed the vacant Foxboro State Hospital and the new police station, and crossing Route 140 before returning to the Foxboro Conservation Commission Land . Only in southern New England can you go off on a hike and are able to stop at a Dunkin Donuts along the trail.

Returning to a hard woods forest of oak, birch and hickory the trail passes an abandoned horse paddock with an old horse trailer left in it. Following an old cart path we wind through the woods, a wetland to our left, princess pine at our feet and the sound of perennial brooks running. Traveling along one of those running brooks the trail rises to meet Lakeview Road. Crossing the road at Lakeview Pond, a historic marker tells of how the pond was made in 1813 to provide water power to a mill. Three mills had stood on this wooded spot all wiped out by flooding. We trek along the east bank of Lakeview Pond and not far from the road is a large granite block lying half in the water. The block boasts an iron ring still pinned into the cut stone. I wonder if it was part of one those 18th century mills. Continuing up a small rise we traverse around a body of water called Upper Reservoir. On the west side of the pond the group hikes along another earthen dam, the reservoir to our left and a ten foot drop or so to our right, the peaceful silences is broken by the wind and another great blue heron taking flight.

The Warner Trail enters Gilbert Hill State Forest at a split in the cart path. Taking the right fork we are greeted by a mountain biker and the mist of rain. Stopping at an emergency foul weather shelter just as the mist changes to a light rain, I jokingly think to myself "hope we won't have to use it for shelter". After taking a short break around the shelter, the group continues on with the trail getting steeper as it climbs to the top of a rocky ridge and High Rock. Here the group stops to read a bronze plaque mounted to this large rock outcrop and take pictures of the dogs acting like Rin Tin Tin. Set in 1996 the plaque honors a person for his continual work done on the Warner Trail. Leaving, we follow the trail along the ridge till it descends on stone steps to a full parking lot and our shuttle vehicle. After shuttle back to our cars, the group heads for Rock Bottom Cafe in Braintree for a micro-brew beer and plans for our next hike to finish the Warner Trail.