Sprague Brook Big Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features River/Creek

A tour of Sprague Brook County Park. This trail is often used for mountain biking and is probably the best trail loop within an hour of the city. There are a couple small stream crossings for you to cool your feet off, whether you like it or not!

There's a restroom by the main parking lot. In the colder months, the building in the cross-country ski lot usually hosts a nice fire.

You can start at either the main parking area (as depicted in the map) or at the cross-country ski parking lot just to the east.

From the main parking area, head toward the water, and you'll pick up the main trail. Head east and after a brief segment in the woods (picking up the short Tim's Trail), you'll cross the road and hike up some gravel until you make it to the XC ski parking lot.

Take a sharp left into the woods (don't head to the XC ski trails), and the trail is easy to follow for quite a while. You'll cross a couple small streams and a footbridge and eventually your first bigger stream crossing about a third of the way into the hike. You'll hike sharply uphill after crossing the stream—make sure you turn left (keep following the forest green trail markers) and don't continue all the way uphill to the restricted area of the park.

Enjoy the woods for a few miles, taking the Accidental Trail loop along the way, until things open up to a field. Head toward this open field, which will lead you across the road, past a playground, and back into the woods.

You'll hug the creek, leading to a larger stream crossing where you'll be in water up to your ankles, and then hike along the other side of the creek in the opposite direction until a well-marked right turn takes you back uphill for a bit.

Miles 8-9 can get a little muddy; this part of the trail is a bit harder to maintain. The trail will take you almost right up to Foote Road, but a sharp left brings you back toward the park and will lead you home to the main parking lot.

Plenty of deer.