The mountain laurel is about to burst into bloom on Oak Hill, the Littleton Conservation Trust property on Harvard’s northeastern border. The clumps of white or pinkish-white blossoms surrounded by shiny dark green oval leaves atop sprawling woody branches perk up the empty spaces in forests the way specks of white perk up a watercolor painting.
Pink lady’s-slippers have peaked, but large patches are still in bloom as well as an isolated one here and there. That shade of pink, from a distance and in the woods, can be a neutral and camouflaging color, so it’s a pleasant surprise when the eyes are focused just right to spot the flowers.
But it is Tophet Chasm and Lookout Rock that are the scene-stealing stars of this property. Tophet Chasm was formed by the rushing waters of a melting glacier cutting through rock. Big boulders are scattered on the way down into the chasm, lying at all angles, testifying to the action of the crashing water. Today, all is quiet, and the floor of the chasm, filling in with silt and forest debris over eons, has risen to about 80 feet from the rim.
Sometimes the bottom of the chasm is swampy and muddy but can be traversed by hopping from rock to tree stump to fallen log. From the bottom of the chasm, people walking along the rim can be spotted as though they are walking in the treetops.
The other attraction, Lookout Rock, at 475 feet high, provides views all the way to the tall buildings of Boston. Turning your back to the view, a trail rises steeply to an elevation of 507 feet, the highest point in Littleton. The town of Littleton water tower and a telecommunication tower stand nearby.
Each of the four main trails has a subtle character, depending on the foliage, the distribution of significant glacial erratics, or the whims of bordering homeowners, like the one who installed a gargoyle beside the trail. Even though the trails are well marked, it’s possible to get turned around, although you probably won’t get hopelessly lost. A sign at the Oak Hill kiosk explains the universal trail marks for turns and ends of trails. The kiosks, one at the entrance to the conservation area off Littleton-Harvard Road and another at the main entrance on Oak Hill Road in Littleton, display the QR symbol, which can display a map and information on your phone.
You can make a long or short walk depending on how you combine the loops. For instance, the red Summit Trail starting at the main entrance is just .7 miles, but can connect to the yellow Boundary Trail loop, the longest trail at 3.3 miles. The blue trail is accessed from the yellow trail, and the orange trails are connectors to other trails. There are also unmarked trails, many created by bicycles.
From the main parking area on Oak Hill Road in Littleton, the trails are immediately steep. If you want to ease into an exploration of this unique conservation land, start at the parking area where Littleton Road in Harvard crosses the border into Littleton. But you will encounter hills, rocks, and exposed tree roots throughout the property. You’ll also encounter people and dogs as this is a favorite local spot.
More informatiomn
- Marty Green’s archived article of Oct. 3, 2019, in The Harvard Press, “Conservation group seeks to protect ice age ridge on town borders,” vividly describes the creation of Tophet Chasm.
- www.littletonconservationtrust.org/trail_guide includes a map of Oak Hill and history and facts about it.
