Reducing rogue trails for wildlife
The Middlesex Fells is crisscrossed by approximately 100 miles of authorized trails. Even with such a high density of trails, many additional unauthorized, or rogue, trails have been established over time.
Rogue trails compromise safety because they are unmarked and can lead to visitors getting lost. They also cause erosion, fragment habitat, and decrease the size of undisturbed spaces where wildlife can thrive. Some rogue trails also occur in sensitive habitats and threaten endangered wildlife.
Recent efforts to address rogue trails in the Fells began in 2021 with a participatory science project led by Earthwise Aware (EwA). In the past four years, trained volunteers have assessed approximately 25% of the Fells and documented more than 20 miles of unauthorized trails. This result indicates a significant expansion of unauthorized trails over the past decade. In 2012, DCR’s Resource Management Plan documented that just 23 miles of illegal trails existed in the entirety of the Fells. Earthwise Aware’s Fells Fragmentation Map shows documented informal trails and can be viewed here. (Click on the “Informal Trails” layer in the Layer List to view the trails).
EwA’s participatory science program collects data to develop a baseline understanding of characteristics of trail segments slated for closure and monitor changes over time to evaluate the success of the closures. Friends of the Fells works with partners to develop educational messaging about the closures, conduct outreach to adjacent communities, and deploy our volunteers to monitor trail closures and perform any follow-up maintenance to ensure selected trail segments remain closed.
Earlier this year, Friends of the Fells and EwA partnered with the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) in a project to close unauthorized trails with the award of MassTrails grant. EwA conducted an analysis of their data to determine that best areas to prioritize closures. You can view their recommendations here. Our first target area is Greenwood Park. Pre-closure trail signs were added to the trailheads of three rogue trailheads with assistance from students at Stoneham High School in June 2024. In December 2024, volunteers closed these trails and installed closure signs. You can learn more about the beginnings of the project here.
In the coming months, we expect to provide more information on these efforts, and will also publish more volunteer opportunities related to this work. Stay tuned!