The Sagamore Hill Letterbox

Location: State: MA County: Barnstable Town: Sandwich
Scusset Beach Reservation

Planted by: Tweety and Mr. Coon 10/13/02

Difficulty: Easy 20 minute walk with a gentle grade but a great view.

Driving directions: From Rt. 195 east go south on Rt.25 towards the
Bourne Bridge. Turn off at the last exit before the bridge, go around
the rotary (past the landlocked tugboat) and go around the rotary and
follow Rt. 6 under the bridge to parallel the canal. There are two
scenic turnoffs on the right side of the road, the second of which
gives spectacular views of the canal, its valley, and the glacial
moraines that form the part of Cape Cod next to the canal on the
other side. At the bottom of the hill lies the Herring Run Recreation
Area in Bournedale where there really is a herring run and there is
also a nature trail that leads from here.
If you continue on Rt 6 to the Sagamore Bridge rotary ( intersection
with Rt. 3 coming down from Boston) take the second turn paast the
bridge ( Scusset Beach Road) from the rotary and follow it to the
end it takes you to Scusset beach and camping area, a place worth
investigating. Before the campground there is a large parking area
right next to the canal where there are restroom facilities, snack
bar and tables overlooking the canal. The docks here are a popular
fishing spot. Park here and walk across the street away from the
canal to find the trail entrance for Sagamore Hill.

Sagamore Hill Coastal Artillery Camp. According to the signs there
native people once used this as a council gathering spot. Throughout
World War II this was the location of Battery C of the 241st Coast
Artillery. A level area just below the hilltop was the site of the
camps barracks and building and near the summit are the remains of
the gun mounts and ammunition storage bunkers. The hilltop commands a
sweeping view of Cape Cod Bay and the entrance to the canal. The 155
mm coastal guns located here had a range of 20 miles.

Directions to the box:
Head up the right hand trail to the top of the hill. This leads up to
a small clearing remnant of the area where the camp was. Continue up
a trail to the left and after a very short and easy incline you'll
reach the ammo bunkers. To your right lies the first of the gun
mounts. Continue to the summit. Another gun mount lies on the
downslope beyond the top. Stop and read the Changes Through Time
sign. Do an about face and, looking almost due west ( 244 degrees by
our reckoning) spot a sickly multi-trunked cherry tree about 20 steps
away. Amidst the base of its trunks the box should lie under some
sticks and debris.
On your way back down the hill you may choose to follow the trail
(the old camp road) that branches to the left after the camp clearing
to have a different return route. If you do take the left hand trail
(a slightly longer walk back) be sure you bear to the right when you
come to a fork in that trail in order to return to the starting gate.
You'll know you're on the right track when you pass by a building and
some storage tanks enclosed in a fence.
There are several other letterboxes in the vicinity of the canal.