Directions to the Harold R. Rafton Reservation

Parking for Andover's Harold R. Rafton Reservation

It's something of a misnomer to think of this area bordering the Merrimack River as simply the "Rafton"; in fact it's an agglomeration of many conservation parcels pushing 700 acres when taken together (Rafton, 226; Fish Brook/Virginia Hammond, 235; Deer Jump; 147; Spaulding, 16; and the Merrimack River Reservation, 76), stitched together by the Bay Circuit Trail which wends its way through them and along the River. What’s to be found in them? Well, assuming the Rafton Reservation is typical (and lifting text directly from the Andover Village Improvement Society's (AVIS) website), "Maple, birch, oak, hickory and sassafras trees can be found in these serene woods; tall white pines grow along the ridges and hilltops and the ski loop trail passes through lovely hemlock groves; the forest floor is carpeted with ferns, partridgeberry and teaberry; deer, beaver, fox and numerous bird species have been observed." Parking for events exploring the Rafton and its neighbors is on High Plain Road at or near the leaf composting area lot. To get there try the directions given below or ask MapQuest for the best route from your starting location to "318 high plain road" in Andover, MA, 01810-3265. This probably isn't exactly right, but we think it's close (we'll know better after we've actually been there). A landmark is the community gardens; parking appears from AVIS' maps to be exactly across from them.

To get there:

From Route 128/95

Drive Route 128/95 to Route 93 and take Exit 37B toward Concord, NH. Continue 10.7 miles, reveling in the lush woodscapes and buzzing motorcycles, to Exit 43, Route 133 east toward Andover and Lawrence. After 0.3 miles make slight right onto Route 133/Lowell Street and drive a short distance, 0.2 miles, to Greenwood Road turn left onto Greenwood Road (warning: DO NOT STOP AT THE IRS PROCESSING CENTER when you pass it on the way to Greenwood Road). Once on Greenwood, drive 0.8 miles to its intersection with High Plain Road. Turn left on High Plain Road and continue 1.1 miles, passing under both Routes 93 and 495 along the way; the parking lot should appear on the left and community gardens on the right a quarter mile or so after the Route 495 underpass. Our best guess is that the driving time from Route 128/95 to the parking lot is 20 minutes. We'll see!