Sagamore Hill Letterbox LbNA #8184
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | May 9, 2004 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Sandwich |
| County: | Barnstable |
| State: | Massachusetts |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | donna  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | glassmoonrising |
| Last found: | Apr 28, 2007 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFFFFFaaaFaa |
| Last edited: | May 9, 2004 |
The Sagamore Hill Letterbox
Location: State: MA County: Barnstable Town: Sandwich Scusset Beach Reservation
Planted by: Tweety and Mr. Coon 10/13/02, re-carved and re-planted 5/9/04 ( with The Yachtsman and Mary Manatee )
Difficulty: Easy 20 minute walk with a gentle grade but a great view.
Driving directions:
From Rt. 195 east go south on Rt.25 towards the Bourne Bridge. Turn off at the last exit before the bridge, go around the rotary (past the landlocked tugboat) and go around the rotary and follow Rt. 6 under the bridge to parallel the canal. There are two scenic turnoffs on the right side of the road, the second of which gives spectacular views of the canal, its valley, and the glacial moraines that form the part of Cape Cod next to the canal on the other side. At the bottom of the hill lies the Herring Run Recreation Area in Bournedale where there really is a herring run and there is also a nature trail that leads from here.
If you continue on Rt 6 to the Sagamore Bridge rotary ( intersection with Rt. 3 coming down from Boston) take the second turn paast the bridge ( Scusset Beach Road) from the rotary and follow it to the end it takes you to Scusset beach and camping area. Before the campground there is a large parking area right next to the canal where there are restroom facilities, snack bar and tables overlooking the canal. The docks here are a popular fishing spot. Park here and walk across the street away from the canal to find the trail entrance for Sagamore Hill.
Background:
Sagamore Hill Coastal Artillery Camp. – According to the signs there native people once used this as a council gathering spot. Throughout World War II this was the location of Battery C of the 241st Coast Artillery. A level area just below the hilltop was the site of the camps barracks and building and near the summit are the remains of the gun mounts and ammunition storage bunkers. The hilltop commands a sweeping view of Cape Cod Bay and the entrance to the canal. The 155 mm coastal guns located here had a range of 20 miles.
Directions to the box:
Head up the left hand trail to the top of the hill. This leads up to a small clearing remnant of the area where the camp was. Continue up a trail to the left and after a very short and easy incline you’ll reach the ammo bunkers. To your right lies the first of the gun mounts. Continue to the summit. Another gun mount lies on the downslope beyond the top. Stop and read the Changes Through Time sign. (The sign wasn’t there when we re-planted the box, they may be seasonal, but the post was there on the top of the hill) Do an about face and walk 22 steps at 200° to a small clump of cherry trees in line with a tall red cedar beyond it. The box should lie under some small stones, and debris between the cherry clump and a small juniper next to it.
On your way back down the hill you may choose to follow the trail (the old camp road) that branches to the left after the camp clearing to have a different return route. If you do take the left hand trail (a slightly longer walk back) be sure you bear to the right when you come to a fork in that trail in order to return to the starting gate. You’ll know you’re on the right track when you pass by a building and some storage tanks enclosed in a fence.
There are several other letterboxes in the vicinity of the canal.
Location: State: MA County: Barnstable Town: Sandwich Scusset Beach Reservation
Planted by: Tweety and Mr. Coon 10/13/02, re-carved and re-planted 5/9/04 ( with The Yachtsman and Mary Manatee )
Difficulty: Easy 20 minute walk with a gentle grade but a great view.
Driving directions:
From Rt. 195 east go south on Rt.25 towards the Bourne Bridge. Turn off at the last exit before the bridge, go around the rotary (past the landlocked tugboat) and go around the rotary and follow Rt. 6 under the bridge to parallel the canal. There are two scenic turnoffs on the right side of the road, the second of which gives spectacular views of the canal, its valley, and the glacial moraines that form the part of Cape Cod next to the canal on the other side. At the bottom of the hill lies the Herring Run Recreation Area in Bournedale where there really is a herring run and there is also a nature trail that leads from here.
If you continue on Rt 6 to the Sagamore Bridge rotary ( intersection with Rt. 3 coming down from Boston) take the second turn paast the bridge ( Scusset Beach Road) from the rotary and follow it to the end it takes you to Scusset beach and camping area. Before the campground there is a large parking area right next to the canal where there are restroom facilities, snack bar and tables overlooking the canal. The docks here are a popular fishing spot. Park here and walk across the street away from the canal to find the trail entrance for Sagamore Hill.
Background:
Sagamore Hill Coastal Artillery Camp. – According to the signs there native people once used this as a council gathering spot. Throughout World War II this was the location of Battery C of the 241st Coast Artillery. A level area just below the hilltop was the site of the camps barracks and building and near the summit are the remains of the gun mounts and ammunition storage bunkers. The hilltop commands a sweeping view of Cape Cod Bay and the entrance to the canal. The 155 mm coastal guns located here had a range of 20 miles.
Directions to the box:
Head up the left hand trail to the top of the hill. This leads up to a small clearing remnant of the area where the camp was. Continue up a trail to the left and after a very short and easy incline you’ll reach the ammo bunkers. To your right lies the first of the gun mounts. Continue to the summit. Another gun mount lies on the downslope beyond the top. Stop and read the Changes Through Time sign. (The sign wasn’t there when we re-planted the box, they may be seasonal, but the post was there on the top of the hill) Do an about face and walk 22 steps at 200° to a small clump of cherry trees in line with a tall red cedar beyond it. The box should lie under some small stones, and debris between the cherry clump and a small juniper next to it.
On your way back down the hill you may choose to follow the trail (the old camp road) that branches to the left after the camp clearing to have a different return route. If you do take the left hand trail (a slightly longer walk back) be sure you bear to the right when you come to a fork in that trail in order to return to the starting gate. You’ll know you’re on the right track when you pass by a building and some storage tanks enclosed in a fence.
There are several other letterboxes in the vicinity of the canal.