Rounseville II Preserve - Rochester, MA

Location:

Mary’s Pond Road

Area:

48.3 acres

Gift of:

Winifred Rounseville, 1994

Directions:

Rt. 195 to Exit 20. North on Rt. 105 into Rochester Center. Turn right onto Mary’s Pond Road, and immediately left into ball fields. Trail head is in back corner of field, straight ahead from entrance.

Parking:

Off road at ball fields.

A loop trail follows wide cart paths through an upland forest of white pines, typical of the Rochester area, and provides a walk of about a half an hour on mostly level terrain, although the preserve includes rolling hills. The trail enters pine-oak woodlands from the ball fields. Watch for a bog on your left, much of which is within the property. The bog drains across the preserve into Doggett’s Brook. The trail then crosses this drainage as it ascends gradually up a hill. Near the base of the hill on the left, you will see a vernal pool.

The trail then curves around to the right and parallels Sherman Brook, which is the northern boundary of the preserve. Walk on through an upland that includes a few pitch pine, then through a wetland created by Doggett’s Brook and the drainage from the bog. It is filled with sweet pepperbush, and the tall clusters of small white flowers release a wonderful fragrance in late July and early August. The trail continues briefly uphill into an area dominated by white pines before the loop ends near the property’s entrance.