Rock Meadows Belmont Conservation Land, Mill St., Belmont, Mass.
Rock Meadows is a small conservation land overseen by Belmont.  It is a local favorite for hikes, birdwatching, mountain biking, and dog walking. Please keep on the trails in the posted nesting areas.

Directions:  From the west, take Route 2 and get off at exit 56 (Winter St./Waverly).  At the end of the ramp, take a right onto Winter St. Follow Winter St. to its end at Concord Ave. and take a left onto Concord Ave.  Very shortly after that, bear right at the fork onto Mill St. Follow the arrow for McLean Hospital.  There is a sign for Rock Meadows about  .2 mi. on the right.  It is very easy to miss.  The driveway down to the parking lot is just after the sign. 

CLUE DIFFICULTY: Easy
TERRAIN: Easy, but be careful crossing the creek and there is a section of uneven, rocky terrain
ESTABLISHED: October 13, 1999
STATUS: Temporarily removed April 2004; it will be re-hidden and a new clue posted soon.  Scroll down for the Beaver Brook box, which is in place and ready for visitors!

From the parking lot, take the trail on the left.  Follow the trail, keeping the garden plots and swings on your right.  Continue along the edge of the meadow, past the sumac and turn left at the main trail heading into the woods.  Cross the creek with care (the bridge is rickety).  Take the trail to the right.  Stay on the main trail until you reach the concrete slab. Count out 50-52 paces and then take the trail on the right.  The fallen tree branches and rocky path will guide you to your treasure.  Step over the large tree trunk and count out 40 steps.  On your right you will see a pile of rocks.  Step off the trail and go around them.  Beneath the striped rock lies the Rock Meadows letterbox.  This letterbox is dedicated to Guthrie the Cat.

Beaver Brook Reservation, Mill St. Belmont/Waltham, Ma.
Beaver Brook Reservation is a Massachusetts Dept. of Conservation park.  It is a historic mill pond site and was established in 1893.  Follow the directions for Rock Meadows.  Beaver Brook is also on Mill St.  Continue on Mill St. past McLean Hospital.  There is a green sign on the right for Beaver Brook and the parking lot is next to the road along the stone wall.

This is a short, easy hike suitable for families with young children.  It begins and ends at a duck pond, so bring a loaf of bread!  Or bring a picnic lunch--there are picnic tables at the pond.

CLUE DIFFICULTY: Easy
TERRAIN: Easy
ESTABLISHED: October 13, 1999
STATUS: In place as of April 2004

From the parking area, walk down to Duck Pond and take the paved trail that goes along the pond’s edge.  When the paved trail and fence end, continue to follow the trail to the right.  When you reach the second pond, Mill Pond, take the trail to the left. At the manhole "mound," turn left and climb up the rocks, heading to the clearing littered with fallen tree branches.  You will see a path that heads down south.  A pair of rocks will let you know it’s the right path. At the pair of rocks, count 24 steps to arrive next to the second pair of rocks by the trail.  Hop down off the path, stoop down and look under these rocks to find the letterbox of Beaver Brook.  The letterbox stamp is adapted from a medieval woodcut by Petrus de Crescentiis and is dedicated to him.

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