Jug End State Reservation, MA

ABOUT THE PARK:
Jug End State Reservation - Mass.gov

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 42.148412, -73.449890

Jug End State Reservation Parking Lot

TRAIL MAP:
South Taconic Trails - New York New Jersey Trail Conference
Mount Washington State Forest Trail Map (includes Jug End) - Mass.gov
Jug Handle State Reservation, MA at EveryTrail

A snapshot of the track in case EveryTrail goes down again.

HIKE DISTANCE:
Jug End Reservation - 4.5 miles
hiked together with
Catamount Ski Area and Taconic State Park - 4.2 miles

THE HIKE:

It's just a couple of miles of driving from the Catamount Ski Area hike to this hike so we took a break and had lunch before the second hike of the day.  Although hiking is for fun, it is also work, so Shawnee's lunch was "Working Dog Stew."

And off we went.  You can either go left or right at the barrier since it is a loop hike.

We chose right where you immediately cross a bridge over Fenton Brook.

The trail starts out smooth and wide.

It was even freshly mowed.  Seemed way too manicured for us after all of the overgrown trails we have been on here lately.

Cedar Waxwing

Still mowed!

There was a side trail down to Fenton Brook, much to Shawnee's delight.

Fenton Brook

Back on the trail.

Beautiful woods.

Several feeder streams flowing towards Fenton Brook cross over the trail so there are many wet areas along the way.

Loving all of these streams across the trail.

The NYNJTC map shows an unmarked woods road continuing on a longer loop but it is, in fact, a longer section of the trail.

Totally game to do the longer loop.

An old cabin just before the trail loops around to head back.

An older cabin nearby.

Sometimes the trail is a stream.

This crossing goes down steeply ...

... and up steeply on the other side.

We found a clearing off the trail up above Fenton Creek where we took a break.

This is what happens when you stop near the sound of falling water:

We had continued on our hike when something large and brown flew right over our heads across the trail. Thinking it was a hawk, I watched where he landed but when he turned to look at me, I saw it was not a hawk at all...

First time I have ever seen and photographed an owl.  It was so cool!

Having finished the Upper Loop, continuing on the Main Loop.

The trail intermittently goes through scenic fields then woods.

She says 'no thanks' to that makeshift bridge but it was muddy muck she walked through.

Fortunately, a second such crossing with clear water to rinse those paws off in.

Coming back out opposite from where we started at the parking lot.

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