Community hike in Orange to celebrate Tully Trail license agreement

ORANGE — To celebrate the recent license agreement for stewardship of the Tully Trail, the North Quabbin Trails Association and state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) are hosting a community hike.

Participants will convene at the Tully Mountain Wildlife Management Area parking lot on Mountain Road in Orange on Thursday at 10 a.m. (For GPS purposes, type in 75 Mountain Road in Orange and drive to the end of the road.) State officials and North Quabbin Trails Association representatives will lead a speaking program as well as a short walk to see trail work and habitat management activity on the Tully Trail.

“This will highlight and show the actual work and partnership of removing the trail from one of the most dangerous road walks that I have ever encountered, the amazing natural resources resolution and the reason this whole initiative started,” said North Quabbin Trails Association President Bobby Curley.

The association and MassWildlife signed the new license agreement for trail stewardship in June. Curley said this agreement is a great opportunity to continue professional stewardship of the Tully Trail.

Previously maintained by The Trustees of Reservations, the Tully Trail is a 22-mile loop trail that encircles the largely undeveloped Tully Valley in the North Quabbin region. From the summit of Tully Mountain to the cascading waters of Doane’s Falls, the trail connects some of the region’s most scenic views.

Under the terms of the approved Trail Management Plan, the North Quabbin Trails Association may conduct trail maintenance activities on 6 miles of trail segments. These segments pass through MassWildlife’s Tully Mountain Wildlife Management Area, the adjoining Tully Mountain Wildlife Conservation Easement and nearby Fish Brook Wildlife Management Area.

Additionally, the North Quabbin Trails Association will hold a ninth anniversary celebration on Sept. 4. The celebration is free to attend, and will be held at the Lynrose Farm and Wellness Center, 145 Shepardson Road in Warwick, from 1 to 6 p.m. The Natural Consumption food truck will be on site all day.

■1 p.m. — Follow trail signs through an interactive Storybook Walks.

■1:30 to 3 p.m. — Engage in mountain biking demonstrations from Brown Dog Bike Tours and a healing modality demonstration from Lynrose Farm and Wellness Center.

■3 to 6 p.m. — Live music performance by The Gypsy Wranglers.

Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.

NQTA 9th Anniversary Party by Zachary DeLuca on Scribd