Mount Grace

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This article is about a mountain in Massachusetts. For the priory in England by the same name, see Mount Grace Priory.


Mount Grace

View from Mount Grace firetower; Mount Monadnock visible in the distance
Elevation 1,617 feet (493 m)
Location Warwick, Massachusetts.
Range Upland plateau of central Massachusetts
Coordinates 42°41′28″N 72°21′18″W / 42.69111, -72.355Coordinates: 42°41′28″N 72°21′18″W / 42.69111, -72.355
Type monadnock; metamorphic rock
Age of rock 400 million yrs.
Easiest route Metacomet-Monadnock Trail

Mount Grace, 1,617 feet (493 m), is a prominent monadnock located in north central Massachusetts in the town of Warwick, approximately two miles south of the New Hampshire border. The mountain is rugged and largely wooded, but a firetower on the summit provides expansive views of the surrounding rural countryside. Little Mount Grace, 1,226 feet (374 m), is the southern summit of the mountain. Mount Grace supports a predominantly northern hardwood forest as well as stands of red spruce near its summit.[1]

The north side of Mount Grace drains into the Ashuelot River, thence into the Connecticut River, then Long Island Sound; the west side drains into the Connecticut River via Mill Brook; and the south and east sides drain into the Millers River, thence into the Connecticut River.[2]

Contents

[edit] History

Mount Grace is named after Grace Rowlandson, the daughter of Mary Rowlandson. Grace died sometime after she and her mother were captured by Native Americans of the Wompanoag Tribe during King Phillip's War in 1676. She was reportedly buried at the foot of the mountain.[3]

[edit] Recreation and conservation

Mount Grace is located within the 1458 acre Mount Grace State Forest. Hiking, backpacking, hunting, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, and snowshoeing are enjoyed on the mountain.[3] The 110 mile Metacomet-Monadnock Trail traverses the summit. A lean-to on the east side of the mountain is available for primitive camping.[1]

In 2000, Mount Grace was included in a study by the National Park Service for possible inclusion in a new National Scenic Trail, now tentatively called the New England National Scenic Trail, which would include the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail in Massachusetts, and the Mattabesett and Metacomet trails in Connecticut.[4]

The Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, active in the area, takes its name from Mount Grace.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b The Metacomet-Monadnock Trail Guide. 9th Edition. The Appalachian Mountain Club. Amherst, Massachusetts, 1999
  2. ^ DeLorme Topo 6.0 Mapping software. DeLorme, Yarmouth, Maine.
  3. ^ a b Massachusetts DCR Cited Dec. 12, 2007
  4. ^ Monadnock, Metacoment, Mattabesett National Scenic Trail Study. Cited Nov. 4, 2007.
  5. ^ Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust Cited Dec. 12, 2007

[edit] External links