LOST DUCK BROOK STAIRWAY LOCATED

 Years ago I came across an old newspaper article that mentioned how two stairways had been constructed from  Duck Brook Trail up the steep banking, today we located one of those stairways, incredibly most of the steps remain in place.  Long before the current bridge spanned Duck Brook and its gorge, a much smaller bridge crossed the brook upstream., near where a dam was once located.  

The accidental discovery of the stone stairway  came as an unexpected surprise, as this was not the prize we were seeking out;  which was signs of the old flume.  The stairway is accessible from the brook, the first steps appearing along a well worn path which may be a section of the forgotten Duck Brook Trail.  The steps move upwards, moving to the right as they do so and conclude a short distance from the shoulder of Duck Brook Road, where a faint path  serves to connect the route to the road.  These steps may of been very effective guiding hikers from the brook to the road above years ago, but today the steep sides of the gorge along with loose debris  makes for an interesting climb that some may want to steer clear of.  I highly recommend this stairway be approached from below, moving upward.

Directly across the brook from this stairway is another slightly worn path which veers left in the direction of Duck Brook Bridge  which towers over the narrow brook.  The further you follow it the more defined it becomes, but ends where a rock slide appears to have destroyed that section of trail.  This is a nice find but be warned, loose debris and steep sides does add an element of danger.

GPS - steps begin by brook at

N 44 23.524   -   W 068 14.125

slightly worn path begins by Duck Brook Road

N 44 23.492   -   W 068 14.126

Photos were taken as I made my way up the stairway from the brook;

These three large stone steps mark the start of the stairway by the brook.

This is a section of the old Duck Brook Path, as taken from the first three stones of the stairway.

As the path gets very close to the Duck Brook Road you can see where one side of it is slightly built up.

Duck Brook Road where its blocked off to traffic, old Duck Brook Path and stairway is down banking a very short ways by this closed off section of roadway, between here and the bridge you can locate the lightly worn path leading to the stairway.