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Trail Hound

“I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” - Robert Frost
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Dennis detours: Between a rock and a dog place

08/14/08 · 1:48 pm :: posted by Susan Spencer     

 Flax Pond

I haven't owned a dog since I went off to college, but one way in which canines are arguably superior to the cats I now serve is their ability to get their owners out for long walks.  I know they do this because whenever I am geocaching along trails in Dennis conservation areas, I encounter many dogs and dog owners. 

Dennis Dog ParkFresh Pond Conservation Area, on Route 134 between Upper County Road and Route 28, is home to the Dennis Dog Park, so naturally, this is the place to be for trail hounds of all sorts.  The Dennis Dogs 2 geocache brings walkers with or without pooches onto the paths behind the fenced-in dog park.  It's a short but scenic pondside stroll through the woods, a nice place to stretch your legs after too much lying in the sun or on the couch.

 Head for the hills of Hokum Rock Conservation Area, on the northside, to walk your dog and find a cleverly hidden geocache.  But be prepared for the ascent:  According to Mountainzone.com, Hokum Rock is a mountain summit, all 112 feet of it.

 Not far from Hokum Rock, on Setucket Road, lies Flax Pond, another dog-favorite conservation area with a decent trail network.  Flax Pond also qualifies as a free beach.  Park your car in the conservation area lot, walk straight down the trail, and enjoy the small, clean swimming hole.  The Childhood Memories cache is hidden off the loop trail extending counterclockwise from the beach.

Hokum RockEnjoy the trails.  Capture some caches. Spend quality time with your canine.  But please don't forget the Pooper Scooper.

 

Photos, from top:

Flax Pond Conservation Area - Setucket Road

Dennis Dog Park/Fresh Pond Conservation Area - Route 134

Hokum Rock Conservation Area - Hockum Rock Road

15 comments
Blog posts and comments are entirely the thoughts and ideas of the people who write them and in no way represent the views of CapeCodToday.com, eCape, Inc., or its employees or owners.

08/14/08 @ 2:35 pm
Solon [Member] writes:
Susan,

Thanks for bringing Hokum Rock to my attention--I didn't even know it was there.

Now about why cats are not out walking with their owners: I can only speak for my cat. She is currently out on parole for dogslaughter--she has been ordered to stay at least 1,000 feet away from anything resembling a canine.

If cats were out there, too, pity the poor, trusting dogs.
 [ Show all comments by this user ]
08/14/08 @ 6:45 pm
capecodjon [Member] writes:
Flax Pond should be kept a secret! Seriously. It won't stay as clean as it is if everyone and their mother learns about it. I try my best NOT to share all the best spots, as their quality just might deteriorate by doing so. I feel the same about geocaching. Maybe I am selfish. ;)
 [ Show all comments by this user ]
08/14/08 @ 6:58 pm
capecodjon [Member] writes:
I think the real charm behind some of these places is that only the locals know about them, and we can be assured or preservation and continued enjoyment. When any old schmo can go on the internet and learn all the nice, local, secret spots it seems self-defeating. I don't mean any harm Susan, but truly feel a sense of betrayal.
 [ Show all comments by this user ]
08/14/08 @ 7:10 pm
pennyroyal [Member] writes:
Exactly ccjon, exactly. Invaded enough in season, why can't locals be left with a little piece (peace) to themselves...
 [ Show all comments by this user ]
08/14/08 @ 8:28 pm
bipr [Member] writes:
Hey, folks, sorry, I don't mean to offend. These town conservation areas aren't exactly secrets - they're on town Web sites and listed in travel and trail guides. Plus, they have signs along the road. I've found most tourists don't bother with these fairly rustic places. And locals like to know about them if they're inclined to take a hike - it may increase appreciation for the beautiful but fragile nature of the area.

Solon, LOL about your cat :-).

Cheers,
Susan
 [ Show all comments by this user ]
08/14/08 @ 9:20 pm
capecodjon [Member] writes:
Susan-Thanks for the response. However, Flax Pond is very easy to miss. There is no sign anywhere near the road. The only sign is set back 60 feet from the road, near the trailhaed. I even miss the turn sometimes. As far as the dog path on 134, your point is well taken, but that is meant for dogs. At Flax Pond there are numerous bags of dog crap and other trash littered about.
I still cringe at the thought of promoting many of these places on the net.
 [ Show all comments by this user ]
08/14/08 @ 9:29 pm
capecodjon [Member] writes:
Susan, Maybe I am missing something. I just searched the Town Of Dennis website and I can't find any reference to these conservation areas as you suggested. Can you provide a link to where the Town promotes these areas online? Thanks!
 [ Show all comments by this user ]
08/14/08 @ 9:39 pm
bipr [Member] writes:
Hi Jon,
Here's the link to maps of Dennis town conservation trails (it's under Natural Resources) - Sorry, editors, I don't know how to make a space-efficient hyperlink in a comment:
http://www.town.dennis.ma.us/dept/naturalres/cam06_4.pdf.
That's where you'll find most public trail maps. Barnstable and Yarmouth have trail guides in addition to maps. Harwich Conservation Trust is coming out with one very soon.

'Hope this helps.

 [ Show all comments by this user ]
08/14/08 @ 9:45 pm
capecodjon [Member] writes:
Thanks,Susan!
 [ Show all comments by this user ]
08/15/08 @ 7:50 am
murrbuck [Member] writes:
A great place to walk are the trails in the woods behind town hall- absolutely beautiful. you can see all the little blue crabs on the tiny beaches scurry into their holes as you approach and dream about if you were one of the lucky ones to own one of those fabulous houses with their own docks. there are benches here and there and even a couple of picnic tables....really cool.
 [ Show all comments by this user ]
08/15/08 @ 7:54 am
murrbuck [Member] writes:
p.s. remember to bring out any trash back with you should you have lunch at one of the tables- there is a trash bin located at the entrance to the trail in the town hall parking lot so no-one should be littering in this beautiful spot. And if you bring your dog to any of these areas....Please don't forget to pick up your dog's crap- it bugs me to no end when people leave their dog's mess behind! Thanks!!
 [ Show all comments by this user ]
08/15/08 @ 10:55 am
dennistonian [Member] writes:
Capecodjon - how do you think I feel? I LIVE on Flax Pond, and I'm not crazy about the beach that Yarmouth set up! It's a private, residents-only area on OUR side of the pond!

And it's a shallow, small body of water - so THANKS, Yarmouth, for encouraging people to take their dogs there to poop!
 [ Show all comments by this user ]
08/15/08 @ 12:47 pm
bipr [Member] writes:
Dog poop is indeed a scourge. I would score one for the cats for their tidier litter habits.

As for Dennis-Yarmouth intermunicipal relations...they must be as delicate and confounding as anything on the international stage. I wonder: Can they bring disputes to the Cape's own version of the UN, the Commission?
 [ Show all comments by this user ]
08/15/08 @ 6:22 pm
Monponsett [Member] writes:
Great pic, except that now all the dogs are going to stop peeing on the hydrants and start f*cking them.
 [ Show all comments by this user ]
08/29/08 @ 9:09 pm
tonka_boy [Member] writes:
Great blog! I tried to subscribe, but don't think I got your blog only. Thanks for stopping by ours.
http://geocats.blogspot.com
 [ Show all comments by this user ]
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« Bass River rumbles and rambles
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About This Blog

trailhound_135  Susan Spencer likes to wander off the beaten path.  An award-winning freelance writer and photographer, she splits her time between rural and historic West Brewster and a former mill town in the rural and historic Blackstone Valley. 
  Trail Hound is a little bit about geocaching (the GPS treasure-hunt game), a little bit about running, hiking and biking, but mainly about discovering those out-of-the-way places that we – perhaps on purpose? – keep out of the visitors guides.
  Share your favorite trail tips here and be sure to visit Susan's website here.

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