Full Notification

Dear friends,

In support of the directives issued by the governors of Massachusetts and New Hampshire asking their citizens to stay at home and in direct response to the request of the Director of Emergency Management in Hollis to help to control crowds that could lead to an increase in the spread of the virus, Effective immediately the Beaver Brook hiking trails in Hollis, Brookline, and Milford are closed to the public until further notice. We certainly regret the need to do so. In normal times we welcome all visitors to explore the trails at Beaver Brook; but these are obviously not normal times. We have been advised that the unusually large crowds of people who have locked to the Ridge Road, Wildlife Pond, and Diamond Casting trailheads have posed a greater risk of transmission and placed an additional burden on Hollis’ already short-staffed rescue personnel. At a time in this pandemic when the need for their services is expected to increase dramatically over the next two weeks we cannot risk their being called to render aid to a hiker. We apologize for encouraging you to come here to hike when it has rapidly become inadvisable to do so. Physical activity like hiking and immersion in nature are and always will be therapeutic and good for body and soul, but doing so at this time should not be allowed to contribute to the spread of this highly contagious virus. The trails will still be ahead of us when this pandemic is behind us. Thank you for understanding the responsibility of Beaver Brook to do our part to slow the spread and thank you for doing yours.

Thom Davies Volunteer Executive Director Beaver Brook Association