Monroe Dunbar loop run

Returning to an old favorite, Jen and I headed out to Monroe State Forest in northwestern MA to run a slightly modified version of the trail race route there. The weather was ideal for running, if maybe a bit warm (but it was summer, so who's complaining), and best of all, there were hardly any bugs at all, of any kind (which is kind of a minor miracle at Monroe). And the crowds were amazingly minimal considering it was the start of the July 4 weekend.

Two notes about the route there. First the trail on the east side of the road that leads from the parking lot beneath the powerlines down to the picnic area has been more or less obliterated by a recent logging operation there. I'm glad I chose to put parking where I did for the suggested route in the guidebook. Second, there was a blowdown along the trail either last winter or spring about a quarter-mile west of the parking area. A big one. And it still hadn't been cut yet. You either had to go up and around it or try to pass through it. We did the former on the way out and the latter on the way back. Neither was easy.

Several miles along, just before we reached the second shelter, I stopped us short when I spotted a black bear in the trail just downhill from us. It moved off pretty quick and we never saw it again, but as always there's those dew moments where you wonder whether there were others around.

Jen at Raycroft Lookout

Before heading up to the summit, we took the spur trail over and down to Raycroft Lookout, which was totally worth it. The view was incredible, and makes you wish the CCC was still around doing stuff like that.

at the summit

The rest of the run was just... fun. Took our time getting to the top and lingering for a quick snack. Enjoyed our descent tremendously and we were happy to note that there were few blowdowns along the way, the intersection with the snowmobile trail seems better maintained now, and the sometimes-flooded section was mostly dry. The final mile before you reach Raycroft Road again is so runnable as you drop down a series of alternating benches and steeper pitches. 

 Descending along Dunbar Brook

The upper stream crossing was super easy and I cooled off there a bit. The descent of Dunbar Brook Trail was a spectacularly great as ever, and the final stream crossing was much easier than we anticipated given what several hikers have said (they must have tried to keep their feet dry or something). 

See my 2015 Monroe Dunbar Brook trail race report and links to past photo galleries here.

And here is a link to my guidebook, Trail Running Western Massachusetts (this is site #6 in the book).