Discovering abandoned places is usually fun, often exciting, and maybe just a little creepy. When we happen upon an abandoned place, we tend to imagine what it may have looked like when it was first built. As a state holding hundreds of years of history and historical sites, Massachusetts has quite a few abandoned places you can discover. In fact, you may even want to take in the abandoned Becket Quarry trail for your next adventure. Read on and learn more about this abandoned quarry in MA:
The town of Becket was once home to the Chester-Hudson Quarry.
Granite was quarried from here between the 1860s and 1960s, which is an incredible piece of Massachusetts history.
The granite quarried from here was used in the building of monuments around the country.
However, the quarry, structures, and equipment used for quarrying were eventually left abandoned like so many other abandoned places in the state.
Hiking here at this historic quarry is quite fascinating.
The machinery left behind has been slowly taken over by decay and nature over the past several decades.
While at the Becket Quarry, you can take a self-guided history tour along the access trail.
Along the way, keep your eyes open for the interpretive signs that have information on the machinery and tools you'll see. It's like a cool Massachusetts museum, but al fresco style!
You'll also encounter a former railbed that was once used to transport the quarried granite into town.
Can you imagine how hard it must have been for the miners to haul the granite and other materials here? What an interesting piece of history!
The quarry itself is quite beautiful and surrounded by verdant trees.
While nature has reclaimed this area, try and imagine what it was like when people were working here for nearly a century. The geology here may have changed some, but it's still captivating!
In total, this loop trail is approximately 2.7 miles long and is rated as moderate. It will take just over an hour to complete, so plan accordingly.
It will take just over an hour to complete, so plan accordingly for the weather and by wearing the correct hiking shoes. Don't forget to bring enough water to keep you hydrated.
Have you ever taken this abandoned quarry hike in Massachusetts? If so, what do you think? Was it fun creepy...or both! We'd love to read about your experience in the comments section. Are there any abandoned quarries near you? Please share a few of your favorite trails in the state.
To learn more about the hike at this former quarry, visit the Becket Land Trust website as well as the Becket Land Trust Facebook page.
While you're still in an outdoor kind of mood, there are several additional hikes to abandoned Massachusetts places you might enjoy! Make sure you check out AllTrails+ for the latest trail info.
If you enjoy waterfalls, watch this video about the 10 Best Waterfall Hikes in Massachusetts:
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