Thayer Brook Trailwalk
Wilbraham, Ma
(Information Compiled by the Wilbraham Open Space and Recreation Plan Committee)

Whale Rock (Waypoint 6)

Trailhead Location: Wilbraham Community Gardens, 700 Monson Road, Wilbraham, MA
Directions to Trailhead: From Main Street in Wilbraham, take Monson Road heading towards Monson, MA. Proceed over the mountain past Ridge Road on the left and down into the valley. Pass Hollow Road on the right and Glendale Road on the left. The entrance to the Community Gardens is just past Glendale on the left. There is a small sign at the entrance to the driveway that says "Community Garden." Make the turn and take your first right. Park as far down the dirt road that runs parallel to the Community Garden as you can. To access the trailhead on foot, walk around the back of the garden (where the garden meets the woodline) to the north east corner. There you will see the Thayer Brook Kiosk and a small, matted down, grassy entry path.
Length of Trail: 1.6 miles
Types of Surfaces:
- the first couple hundred yards is matted grass
- the rest of the first 3/4 of a mile, past the scrap metal pile, out to the "Private Property" sign, is well worn dirt trails with some muddy areas
- from the "Private Property" sign to "Whale Rock" and from "Whale Rock" back to the scrap metal pile is uneven, leaf covered, off road terrain with low vegetation and some
  roots. This area is marked with white 2" x 6"rectangles on the trees
- from the scrap metal pile back to the trailhead, you will be backtracking over the same terrain described earlier.
Elevation Factors: The trek starts at the 300 foot level and is mostly flat out to Whale Rock. This area rises to 725 feet. The way back to the starting point is mostly at 300 feet with slight rises and dips.
Interesting Features:
- several stone walls including a stone wall corner
- "Whale Rock": a huge rock that resembles a whale with an open mouth and flippers
- a fallen oak with a large vertical trunk that grew from it
Hiking Directions:
The kiosk at the NE Corner of the Community Garden is the start of the path. When you pass the scrap metal pile, note the stone wall behind it. From this point, the stone wall parallels the trail for a short distance. At the corner of the stone wall, turn right and continue to follow the well worn trail. Continue to the rotted tree. Take the right fork of three path options at the rotted tree. This is the start of the relocated trail made to bypass the "Private Property trail" which is intersected straight ahead. Do not go past the private property sign. The relocated trail parallels the private trail.  After a short trek through the woods, you merge back with the main trail coming off of the "Private Property bypass." Look for the white blaze markers on the other side of the main trail and follow them. This short path leads you to the site of a huge erratic "Whale Rock" at elevation 725 ft. Return via the same path to the main trail that you crossed earlier. Take a left on this trail. At the trail’s end, follow the white blazes through the woods. This marked way returns you to the stone wall and the scrap metal pile. From here just return back down the trail to the entrance kiosk.
Facilities: parking, portable toilet
Activities Permitted: All passive recreational activities including hiking, cross-country skiing snowshoeing, educational studies, and nature observation are permitted. Please be careful not to leave litter and not to deface the property. Please park in designated areas and be respectful of neighborhoods in the area.