By Patricia Racine

January/February 2026

We live in a world that is hard-and-fast and kind of mean sometimes, and we all have our own way of dealing with the everyday pressures hoisted upon us. For me, it’s getting out into the woods. Growing up we were always playing in the woods, so it is not weird that I love being out there on a trail in the middle of nowhere. When Covid hit, I tried to get on the trails at least four times a week. It was a safe activity to do with someone you didn’t live with, or so they said. Since then I have explored tons of trails all over the county and even picked up a trail name along the way; and today I can’t say “no” when someone asks me to go hiking. Let me share one of my favorite trails with you.

I know that it’s winter but that’s no excuse for not getting outside on a nice bluebird day—skiers do it all the time. You just need to pick easier trails because it is no fun trying to navigate rocks and steep trails covered in snow. One of my favorite trails for a winter hike is down Miller Swamp Road, right here in Otis. In fact, it is the only time you can hike this trail because, well, it’s a swamp and needs to be frozen to get down the trail.

The nice thing about this trail is that it’s actually a snowmobile trail so you really don’t need to bring snowshoes if the machines have been running up and down it. The downside is that you need to keep your ears open for those machines or they will turn you into trail pizza. As you walk down the trail you are surrounded by mountain laurel and untouched wild forest. And it is so peaceful out there: no road noise, no other people, just the gentle sounds of nature. It is about two miles to the four corners where the trail crosses Shepard Road. I haven’t gone past there but if you go left, it brings you to the driveable part of Shepard and eventually Route 23. Going left heads to Amos Case Road and straight brings you to Beech Hill Road in Blandford and past the Standard Road Cemetery. For me, the two miles to the four corners is far enough. One has to retrace those steps back, and four miles is a respectable distance.

A really nice thing about this trail is that it is clear of any obstacles, making for flat walking and it rolls gently over easy ups and downs making it easy to enjoy viewing your surroundings. I appreciate that because I spend most of my hikes looking down at my feet so I don’t trip and only look up occasionally to take in the scenery, unless my hiking partner points something out.

I hope that I can inspire more people to get out in the fresh winter air and explore some of the beautiful places we have just outside our doors. And if anyone is ever looking for someone to hit the trails with, I’m always game.

Trail Mix & Sass with Rainbow Bright