King Philip's Rock Trail

King Philip's Rock Trail begins on Mansfield Street and goes northwest to King Philip's Rock. The trails extend from Sharon into Foxborough conservation land and offer easy or rough going to suit everyone’s whims. Trail bikers and cross-country skiers can negotiate the wide Foxborough side trails with ease and enjoyment. On the Sharon side good but narrower trails lead to King Philip’s Rock and King Philip’s Cave where it is surmised that ancient peoples once gathered for observance of the solstices and made other astronomical observations. For more information on getting a full-color paper copy of this map, contact Kurt Buermann.

View a video on YouTube of a hike to King Philip's Rock.

The numbered red circles correspond to the notes below the map.

1 PK. Parking here on town-owned lot for about 6 cars. This trail entrance may awash in wet spring weather. If so, see 2 PK.

2 PK. This entrance through the Perkins conservation land has minimal parking, 2 cars at most but trail is drier year-round. This entrance marked by a green & white sign.

3. Trail goes over two hills. Between them is a small seasonal stream, possibly spring-fed.

4. Signpost and intersection of trails. From here proceed to King Philip's Cave (right turn).

5. Vernal pond and stream. Crossed by means of a pallet bridge. Bridge is a short way into woods on eastern side of meadow with bluebird houses.

6. Mark's Point. A large pointed boulder with a 'seat' at base of point. This stone may have been worked or altered by ancient people in the area as a sighting point for astronomical events. Nearby a few yards is a large, smooth rock suitable for relaxing or even picnicking.

7. "The crossover". This short path with its purple blazes is the best connection to the white-red-green trail system maintained by the Boy Scouts on the Foxborough side . These trails are generally wider and clearer than those in the KPR-Sharon side. Better for cross-country skiing or biking.

8. Here a good foot-bridge crosses the Canoe River. Once across, there are several good views from higher ground overlooking Greely's Pond. Because this trail emerges directly onto East Foxborough Street, parking here is not recommended. Better to find a spot on the nearby side road at 9 PK.

9 PK. A side road provides parking at the trail head. A short way in you will cross the Canoe River and once across it find a large brown sign erected by Boy Scouts and showing a map of Foxborough-side white-red-green trails.

10. "Two-storey Rock" A big squarish boulder with another on top. Also in this area you will find numerous small, tangled and intertwining trails represented on map by yellow dots.

11a. "Split-top Boulder" Large rock with split top. To left of trail is going northward.

11b. "Bathing boulder" A large boulder sits in a small pool to left of path if heading northward. (This may be dry at certain times of year.)

11c. "Moon Rock" A large boulder near top of East Hill. To left of trail is heading northward. Similar boulders nearby may have been used by ancient peoples for observation of lunar "standstills."

12PK. This is an ample dirt parking area on Willow St. for Foxborough conservation land which extends into the field abutting the lot lot as well as on the other side of Willow St. along the powerline easement, extending all the way to East Foxborough St. Properly, it is a mixture of State and Foxborough Town conservation land.

13. Abandoned cabins (ruins). These once were used as summer getaway places. They are to left of trail going northward.

14. "Jim Barron's Rock" This large rock is named in honor of an explorer of this trail.

15. "Kurt's Sitting Rock" An ideal rock for sitting and resting. Named after a maker of this map.

16. "Prisoner-of-Trees Rock" A large boulder to right of trail (if going northward) seems to be incarcerated by a group of pine trees.

17. Vernal pool. (Arrow pin points to this feature.)

18. "Campfire Circle" A bit off trail to right if going northward, this clearing with a circle of rocks is a good landmark.

19. In this area you will find numerous trails leading off the main yellow-blaze trail. These blue- blazed paths lead to private property and exploration is NOT encouraged. BUT
in some other places the blue-blazes coincide with public trails and it is OK then to continue. You may see two blazes, one blue one yellow on the same tree.

20. The Powerlines: Land to the northeastward of these is mainly State and Foxborough Town conservation land.

21. A system of trails maintained by Foxborough Boy Scouts. The trails are marked by white, red or green blazes. Look carefully as these blazes are infrequent and some may be missing. (At the time of this writing.)

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