Hello Runners! One of the best things about being a part of the Wrentham Running Club is the chance to get off the beaten path to explore our beautiful town and its incredible trails. As runners with busy schedules, most of us are often confined to the paved surfaces around our homes if we want to squeeze in a run. And there's certainly nothing wrong with that. But for those up for a new challenge, for a change of scenery , and for the tranquility of a trail run, we've compiled a list of our top five favorite trails in Wrentham. You'll find our club members out hitting these and other trails on our weekly training runs throughout the year. Our group is a supportive and inclusive community of runners, from first-timers to seasoned marathoners -- so come join us, sign up is free!
Trout Pond & Knuckup Hill
Trout Pond & Knuckup Hill offer 100 acres of varied terrain with ponds, fields, forests, and wooded trails culminating in challenging climb with a rewarding view -- all within a mile of the town center! There are several places to park on Randall Road or Taunton Street, but our favorite loop begins at White Barn Farm at 431 South Street, connects to the Trout Pond trail and ends back at White Barn for some Farm-to-Pizza.
Rice Complex
The open fields and windy paths at the Rice Complex at 54 Emerald Street are a staple of the Wrentham Running Club group training runs. The 5k loop tests runners with ups and downs, twists and turns, and a maze of grassy paths. There is plenty of parking, a playground for kids, and rest rooms available. The route also serves as the course for the annual club-supported Thanksgiving Turkeywacker 5k race.
Wrentham State Forest
The Wrentham State Forest offers over 1,000 acres for adventurous trail runners. With parking off Taunton Street, you can explore miles of trails and dirt roads - just remember how to get back to your car!
Wollomonopoag
According to the Wrentham Conservation Committee: "Wollomonopoag" means “Place of Shells,” it features miles of trails, large eskers, several beaver dams, extensive marshes, a large heron rookery, and a mature White Pine forest. Eskers are the remnants of river beds which ran beneath glaciers more than 13,000 years ago. As the glaciers melted, flood waters ran beneath the ice in tunnels. The flood waters contained enormous loads of gravel and boulders that were laid down as steep, linear ridges. Because eskers are comprised of gravel they are typically mined and sold as fill. Therefore, eskers are becoming increasingly scarce in eastern Massachusetts. It is not hard to imagine that Native Americans found this area attractive: close to water and a natural defensive position that the eskers provided.
It is a beautiful place to run for sure! Parking is on Elysium Street off Route 140 a few hundred feet before entering Franklin. Ignore any “Private Road” signs and go to the end of Elysium Street where there is Off-street parking on an unpaved lot.
Birchwold Farm
Birchwold Farm provides over 100 acres with an open meadow and connections to miles of trails over a variety of terrain straddling the Rhode Island border. In late winter and early spring, the area is known for congregations of bluebirds and Woodcock courting flights. Back areas contain undisturbed woodlands and an old mill in the area of Ellery Street. You can park off of West Steet/Route 121 for a great 3.5 mile trail run on the Indian Brook Loop shown below.
From its fields, forests, ponds and hills, Wrentham has much to offer adventurous runners looking to pause from pounding the pavement. Come join us for a run soon and see what it's all about.