There are many trails right across the
street from the Four Seasons. Trail 5, a snowmobile trail, is
right across the street from the Brookside Motel. Cross the road and
turn left on the trail. This gives you access to the following trails.
Trail 5 is a gentle uphill trail that that follows an old railroad bed. It is good for walking, biking or running. After a mile it goes dramatically uphill: a great place to get in shape and not bad for getting back to nature either. This section of the trail is also a good place to find wild flowers. The trail follows Minnow Brook (which empties into 4th Lake beside the Mountain View cottage) for about a 1/2 mile. The stream gives way to a series of beaver dams which forms Cary Pond and provides the habitat for 3 beaver lodges. Below the dam is a marsh which is a great place to watch for wildlife. Not a bad place to try for some trout either. After another 1/2 miles the trail begins its climb to Rondaxe Lake just after the road intersects the pond.
Vista Trail Just a short ways down Trial 5 (remember turn left when you get on Trail 5) on the right is a connection to the Vista Trail which runs from the parking lot near The Lantern restaurant to the Bald Mountain trail along the peak of the mountains that line Route 28. The connection goes straight up the mountain. Great trail to get your heart going. There are some fantastic 'hanging gardens' on the left of the trail. I also think that is were the bears live in the winter. After a 1/3 mile the access trail intersects the Vista Trail. Turn right and go east to the Bib and Sis lakes trails or to the Lanterns for some refreshment. This trail runs right along the ridge and is very lightly traveled which means in some sections it is like bushwaking. Turn left and you are on the trail to Mountain Pond. That path winds through some wet areas habituated by Stripped Maples. There are many fallen trees as well. Be very careful, it is difficult to follow the trail. Mountain pond will be on your left. When you find the pond, you will find the trail as well. Explore the pond, there is a nice camping area there. Continue on the Vista path and you will begin to climb again. In the early spring (before the leaves mature) you can find many wild flowers along this section of the trail, especially Trout Lilies. When you reach the top you will have gained 365 ft from Route 28. There is a lookout path which will provide some interesting views of the surrounding areas. The remainder of the path winds down to Trail 5. The last 200 yards is through a swamp that adjoins Carry Pond. Turn left and follow the Trail 5 back to the Four Seasons
Trail to Rondax Rd If you turn right when you hit Trail 5 and continue a few yards you will come to a cut off on the left. This is the continuation of the Vista trail which will take you to the Bald Mt. Trail. You will see a sign which describes the railroad that once was here. Follow the trail. It is a good, fairly level trial along the shore of Cary Pond. When you reach the end of the pond, the trail cuts uphill to the right and you are not far from the entrance to Bald Mountain. There are some really nice rocks to test you balance on this section of the trail. This is a good trail for kids. Now you are ready for Bald Mt.
Trail 5 is a gentle uphill trail that that follows an old railroad bed. It is good for walking, biking or running. After a mile it goes dramatically uphill: a great place to get in shape and not bad for getting back to nature either. This section of the trail is also a good place to find wild flowers. The trail follows Minnow Brook (which empties into 4th Lake beside the Mountain View cottage) for about a 1/2 mile. The stream gives way to a series of beaver dams which forms Cary Pond and provides the habitat for 3 beaver lodges. Below the dam is a marsh which is a great place to watch for wildlife. Not a bad place to try for some trout either. After another 1/2 miles the trail begins its climb to Rondaxe Lake just after the road intersects the pond.
Vista Trail Just a short ways down Trial 5 (remember turn left when you get on Trail 5) on the right is a connection to the Vista Trail which runs from the parking lot near The Lantern restaurant to the Bald Mountain trail along the peak of the mountains that line Route 28. The connection goes straight up the mountain. Great trail to get your heart going. There are some fantastic 'hanging gardens' on the left of the trail. I also think that is were the bears live in the winter. After a 1/3 mile the access trail intersects the Vista Trail. Turn right and go east to the Bib and Sis lakes trails or to the Lanterns for some refreshment. This trail runs right along the ridge and is very lightly traveled which means in some sections it is like bushwaking. Turn left and you are on the trail to Mountain Pond. That path winds through some wet areas habituated by Stripped Maples. There are many fallen trees as well. Be very careful, it is difficult to follow the trail. Mountain pond will be on your left. When you find the pond, you will find the trail as well. Explore the pond, there is a nice camping area there. Continue on the Vista path and you will begin to climb again. In the early spring (before the leaves mature) you can find many wild flowers along this section of the trail, especially Trout Lilies. When you reach the top you will have gained 365 ft from Route 28. There is a lookout path which will provide some interesting views of the surrounding areas. The remainder of the path winds down to Trail 5. The last 200 yards is through a swamp that adjoins Carry Pond. Turn left and follow the Trail 5 back to the Four Seasons
Trail to Rondax Rd If you turn right when you hit Trail 5 and continue a few yards you will come to a cut off on the left. This is the continuation of the Vista trail which will take you to the Bald Mt. Trail. You will see a sign which describes the railroad that once was here. Follow the trail. It is a good, fairly level trial along the shore of Cary Pond. When you reach the end of the pond, the trail cuts uphill to the right and you are not far from the entrance to Bald Mountain. There are some really nice rocks to test you balance on this section of the trail. This is a good trail for kids. Now you are ready for Bald Mt.
