Leominster State Forest Rocky Pond Circuit

The granite quarries that once supplied stone for Boston’s Back Bay buildings left behind a maze of flooded pits and steep ledges that now challenge 4×4 drivers threading between Rocky Pond and Crow Hill. The technical section begins at the old Bemis Quarry where massive cut blocks still line the access road, then climbs over exposed granite shelves that require careful line selection to avoid high-centering on the sharp edges and deep crevices left by 19th-century stonecutters.

This difficult trail demands experienced drivers with rock sliders and skid plates, as the granite ledges can easily puncture oil pans or tear off exhaust systems. Summer’s low water levels expose the most technical rock features, but also concentrate rattlesnakes around the quarry pools. The reward is accessing some of central Massachusetts’ most dramatic terrain, with cliff-top views over the Nashua River valley and primitive camping spots hidden among the old quarry equipment dumps.