Madison Cascades Trail
NOTE: This trail is closed in Summer 2014 as access is blocked by construction at the Madison Historical Society building.
Parking/Getting There:
Parking is easiest at the Madison Church, located just north of the junction of East Madison Rd and Route 113. Once out of the parking lot, turn right and head about two-hundred yards down the road, cross over to East Madison Rd, and find the Madison Historical Society (the Granville Homestead.) The trail begins behind this building. You will notice a guest book at the start of the trail, please sign in.
Trail Description:
The forest around the trail begins as mixed hardwood. Try to spot the change, noticing how undergrowth vanishes as you continue along the trail. Watch out for poison ivy on the first stretch of the trail, around the old well on your left. The trail cuts through a clearing of tiny pines, and it is easy to lose the trail in there. Once you are out of the pines, however, the trail is once again clear. Keep your eyes peeled for Lady Slippers in the spring and summer! The trail descends slightly after the pine clearing, and there is a stream crossing once the ground levels out. You can leap across, or use the stepping-stones. Soon the trail will climb moderately then the ground levels out into a ridge. You can look down onto Forest Brook from here. After reaching the top of the ridge, you will see the trail fork. The right path is steep and takes you down to the Madison Cascades. There are many flat rocks by the Cascades and shallow water. The left will take you through some lovely woods, past a grassy clearing, and end at an old class 6 road.
Find on map.
Written by Students at the Community School
Madison Trails 
A Beautiful hike, moderate effort, makes a great morning walk.
If you like to practice orienteering, try this. It follows the trail so it is good practice, yet you shouldn’t get lost. The distance is in FEET not paces. You might want to figure out how long your pace is or learn to keep it at 5 feet (two steps).
Good luck.
In front of the Madison Historical Society building there is a commemorative plaque. Look to the left and see a hiking trail sign and stand near it.
On a compass bearing of—-degrees: Go this many feet: To a:
100 125 Guest book
112 200 Base of a rise. Stop and look north to see an old well
112 45 Ash tree on your left
162 265 Through low pines to a huge white pine
120 225 Down hill, cross a brook, stop as trail bears right. Look left, see 5” diameter beech tree
180 200 Pile of rocks on left of trail
180 145 Descend to a double maple on RT
137 42 Bear left
95 250 4 white pines on RT
55-70 185-190 Up a small hill along a ridge to two white pines on L & R
70 160 Big white pine on RT with pinecones at the bottom
70 75 To upturned birch and White Pine
75-80 70 4 inch maple on RT with moss at the bottom
40-45 175 White pine with hiking symbol
60 124 Two inch hemlock on RT
28 108 3 inch hemlock on RT
80 25 24 inch red pine on RT
80 110 6 inch balsam fir
120 185 Pine with hike symbol on the RT
Descend RT to cascades
87 85 White pine on left
65 40 Red painted boundary tree BARBED WIRE
105 20 Double hemlock
260 125 Back to where trail descends to cascades