It's not as well-known as Walden Woods, but Mount Misery was one of author Henry David Thoreau's favorite places to take rambling hikes. Located less than two miles from Walden Pond State Reservation and connected to it by walking trails, Mount Misery, in Lincoln, Mass., has all the natural beauty of its famous neighbor, without the crowds.
"This is really a piece of heaven," said Elizabeth Shienbrood, 39, of Sudbury, who regularly walks the well-groomed, well-marked trails with her dogs.
The name Mount Misery is a misnomer. First of all, it's not really a mountain. The glacially carved hill is just 284 feet above sea level. And it's not miserable.
The 227-acre swath of land next to the Sudbury River, and established by the town in 1969 with the help of state and federal grants, has a diverse landscape featuring hemlock forest, vernal pools, ponds, agricultural fields and wetlands.
The wildlife is just as diverse, from painted turtles, deer, fishers, barred owls and ovenbirds to the dozens of chipmunks that dart through the carpet of leaves on the forest floor. Beavers have even built dams along the appropriately named Beaver Dam Brook.
So, how did such a beautiful place get such a bleak name? There are a couple of local legends, said Tom Gumbart, the town's conservation director.
In one, a pair of yoked oxen wandered away from a nearby farm in the late 18th century and got stuck on a tree, one on either side, with the yoke preventing them from moving forward. "They were either too stupid or too stubborn to back up, so they ended up dying there," Gumbart said.
In another story, sheep grazing in the area supposedly died after tumbling over a rocky outcrop, he said.
No matter what the story, Mount Misery -- also known as Lincoln Conservation Land -- has had the name for at least a couple of centuries. "We know Thoreau mentioned it in his journals," Gumbart said.
Although not quite the wilderness it was when Thoreau lived in the area in the 1840s, it is still a popular destination for a variety of recreational users. The trails are normally filled with hikers and dog owners, who are allowed to let their dogs off their leashes on certain paths.
Some of the trails are open to mountain bikers, and it's not unusual to see equestrians on the trails. Paths where dogs and bikers are allowed are clearly marked.
About a quarter-mile from the main parking lot is a parking area with a boat landing. Ice fishing and cross-country skiing in the winter are common sights.
"This is without a doubt the most popular site in our community," Gumbart said.
IF YOU GO
MOUNT MISERY. Located just off Route 117 (South Great Road) in Lincoln, Mass., about 20 miles west of Boston. Free admission. Open daily, dawn to dusk.
WALDEN POND. Concord, Mass., two miles from Mount Misery;
mass.gov/dcr/parks/northeast/wldn.htm or 978-369-3254.
