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

Whale Rock (Waypoint 12)

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 a small, matted down, grassy entry path.
Length of Trail: approximately 2 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 pink tree ribbons;
- 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 and back to the starting point. There is a slight uphill at Whale Rock.
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 large hunter's platform
- a fallen oak with a large vertical trunk that grew from it
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.