Trail Hound

Caching in the 'hood

You read it in geocaching logs all the time:  "I've lived here all my life and never knew this was here."  "Thanks for bringing me to this beautiful spot I never would have discovered, even though I live nearby."

I like to think that after decades of prowling the Cape's trails, I know where many of the scenic discoveries lie.  But leave it to geocaching to show me new vistas and historic sites just a stone's throw from my house.  Several caches have been published in the past few weeks in West Brewster and just over the line in Dennis.  I'll leave it to the Denizens to determine whether that's East or South Dennis - north of Route 6, south of Setucket.  But here's what's new in the 'hood.

"Quivett Marsh" is a creatively hidden micro-cache on Brewster's newest conservation property, the site of the former Skyline Motel on Route 6A overlooking Quivett Marsh.  The town and the Brewster Conservation Trust raised funds to preserve this classic view of Cape Cod Bay, and now there's a nice picnic table to settle in and enjoy the scenery.  The cache is a bit tricky to find, but this gem of a pocket park makes it worthwhile.

Just west on 6A, the same cache owner placed "Indian Spring," another sylvan oasis on the edge of Quivett Marsh.  The sign implies that fresh drinking water was obtained here at one time, and there are stairs leading to the water.  But drinking that water now is not advised.  The hunt for the cache will bring you deep into the cool spring area, just steps from the road but a place that probably few ever visit.

If you're looking to stretch your legs - or your horse's - pull off of Airline Road in Dennis onto one of the side roads and you'll come to a network of well-kept, marked trails leading to the western edge of Pine Pond.  "The Trail to Pine Pond" is a regular cache that brings you down a sandy path to the waterfront.  From there, you can explore a looping trail through pine woods and along hidden cranberry bogs as you find the four stages to the "Quaker Path" multi-cache.  The hike can easily be over a mile; but it's a short alternative, with some of the same feel, to Brewster's Punkhorn Parklands.

While you're in the neighborhood, cross Airline Road to visit "Baker's Pond Conservation Area."  Like much of the off-road topography on Cape Cod, this area is covered in bramble, so wear long pants and sturdy shoes.  Still, it's a bucolic spot that makes you appreciate the bits and pieces local citizens have struggled to preserve from rampant development.  

Cape Cod covers roughly 412 square miles of land.  Chances are, there are plenty of places you haven't yet found.  And with the Cape's active geocaching community, the chances are good that sooner or later, if you pick up the hobby, a cacher will introduce you to your own backyard. 

Happy trails.

Images, top to bottom:

Skyline property at Quivett Marsh

Indian Spring

Trail to Pine Pond

Quaker Path