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Details

Activity Type: Hiking, Local Walks, & Trail Running | Hiking
Difficulty: 5 - Vigorous
Trip Leader(s): Veronica Keddy, Celeste Venolia
Registration Type: Application
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UVX0000014v0j
Register By: 5/20/2026
Audience: Everyone

Description: Join us for a one night loop backpack in the beautiful Douglas State Forest, MA! On day 1, we will hike around 9.3 miles with minimal elevation gain and loss (less than 700ft gain) largely following the Mid-State Trail. On day 2, we will hike around 12.1 miles with around 100 ft of gross ascent and descent. Some highlights along this section of trail include Wallum Lake, the Tri-State marker (be in CT, RI, and MA all at once), and lots of beautiful forest. We will be aiming for a moderate pace as this trip is meant to be accessible to relatively new backpackers who are comfortable with long hikes .
Participants must have their own sleeping pad/bag that they have tested in Spring overnight temperatures, and a pack that comfortably carries their own food, water, and gear. Water along the mid-state trail (i.e. lower elevation near farms/towns) cannot generally be guaranteed to be safe in relation to pesticides and other human contaminants that filters and other water purification methods do not remove, so participants should be prepared to carry at least 2 liters of water on Day 1 with an ability to refill at the Wallum Lake facilities. Leaders will coordinate caching water near the campsite.
Among approved participants, we will coordinate a carspot/carpooling, make a plan for bear safe food storage based on gear currently owned by the group collectively, and confirm plans for shelter (i.e. how many people are bringing tents/hammocks or need to find a buddy to tent with in case the shelter is full). What is the Midstate trail? It's a 90.6 mile trail in Central MA that came together in its current form by the late 1970s. It shares a Northern terminus with the Wapack trail in NH and a Southern terminus with the RI North-South trail. Learn more here .
To address unforeseen challenges such as adverse weather, unacceptable trail conditions or excessive crowding, the planned trip destination, activity and/or meeting place and time may be modified. In that event, participants may elect to join in that activity or opt out.

Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!

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