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Bob Johnson Crag
Massachusetts
> N Shore
> Lynn Woods
> Stone Tower Area
Description
These are a collection of a few blocks within close proximity to each other. The largest of which are Bob Johnson boulders #1 and #2. The problems Ambulance Chaser, Bear Grease, Frat Boy, Lactose Intolerant, Outsourced, Tour of Duty, and Wardrobe Malfunction and Zombie are all on the first boulder. The problems Bloodhound and If it Fits, Primate, The Ramp, and Vapor are on the second boulder which is about 250 feet further back. There are several other smaller blocks in the area, too. These boulders were first climbed on by Lynn Woods pioneer Bob Johnson back in the day.
Getting There
From the main parking lot, walk 5 minutes up Great Woods Road, and take a left. Walk on this trail for 8-10 minutes keeping the golf course on your left until you come to a huge marsh/pond. Continue anothe minute or so and as soon as the small trail intersects with a wide dirt road, turn right and walk uphill for 2 minutes and then cut right into the woods. Go past the Entrance Boulder and about 30 seconds later you should see the first giant boulder. Note that the Bob Johnson trail has been added to the Lynn Woods Caltopo map.
[Hide Photo] This is the path that leads to the Bob Johnson Boulders. After passing the large lake/marsh and meeting up with the road, walk 2/3 mins uphill up the road, and take a right on this path.
[Hide Comment] I've tried finding these boulders twice now and have stuck out both times. Any additional directions/beta would be most appreciated. Where do you take a left at? Where are these in relation to the Stone Tower?
Aug 24, 2012
[Hide Comment] Head up towards the tower. Take your 1st left. Follow the path past the golf course (on left) until you come to a pond. Turn right and follow till you come to dirt road. Take right onto the road and look for small trail on right leading to Johnson Boulders. 15 to 20mins? Nice blocks:> Message old timer. Bet he has better directions. Think these took me three times to find.
Aug 24, 2012
[Hide Comment] A few clarifications on the directions after finding my way there:
From the parking lot, you walk up towards the stone tower until you see the "Cornel" Trail on your left (just before the main road splits) - the same first left that you would take on the way to the Queen's Row Boulders. Continue on this trail, bearing left to avoid taking the Stone Tower Trail. You will then continue on this trail for quite some time - you will pass the golf course, you will be able to see the hidden boulder on your right on the other side of a marshy area, and eventually you will find yourself at a lake (there is a little shortcut path on the right just before the lake which you can either take or not, it doesn't make any difference). Continue on the Cornel Path past the gully boulders until you reach the wide road. Walk up the hill for a few minutes looking for a small stone staircase on the right. When you see this staircase, take it and head directly into the woods. You will pass the some large boulders on the right fairly quickly - these are referred to as the entrance boulders in this section. After continuing into the woods away from the road for a short while, you will reach the first Bob Johnson Boulder. It is very tall and has some scorching/broken rock on the right side of it as you approach it from a campfire. If you continue to walk in the same direction for a few more minutes, you will shortly reach the 2nd Bob Johnson Boulder which has a stone bench in front of it. Hope this helps.
Nov 26, 2012
[Hide Comment] I found the turn into the woods from Dungeon Road to be the only tricky part of the approach. According to my phone, it is at 42.48407,-70.98261. It didn't appear to me to be a staircase, just a couple steps down off the road. From there, it's a few hundred feet to Bob Johnson Boulder 1.
I would consider parking at the ballfield at 100 Great Woods Road, Saugus MA, walking up Great Woods Road through the gate past Stone Tower, taking a left on Dungeon Road, and finding the trail into the woods (which would be on the left coming from that direction) using the GPS coordinates above. It's just downhill from the Dungeon Rock turnoff (which would be on the right). Maybe taking the Cornel Trail would save a couple minutes after you have it dialed, but I'd be surprised if it was significantly faster.
The approach might be even quicker from the Pennybrook Playground parking area, but I haven't tried it.
Sep 2, 2019
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Castle Rock, CO
West Ossipee, NH
Derry, NH
From the parking lot, you walk up towards the stone tower until you see the "Cornel" Trail on your left (just before the main road splits) - the same first left that you would take on the way to the Queen's Row Boulders. Continue on this trail, bearing left to avoid taking the Stone Tower Trail. You will then continue on this trail for quite some time - you will pass the golf course, you will be able to see the hidden boulder on your right on the other side of a marshy area, and eventually you will find yourself at a lake (there is a little shortcut path on the right just before the lake which you can either take or not, it doesn't make any difference). Continue on the Cornel Path past the gully boulders until you reach the wide road. Walk up the hill for a few minutes looking for a small stone staircase on the right. When you see this staircase, take it and head directly into the woods. You will pass the some large boulders on the right fairly quickly - these are referred to as the entrance boulders in this section. After continuing into the woods away from the road for a short while, you will reach the first Bob Johnson Boulder. It is very tall and has some scorching/broken rock on the right side of it as you approach it from a campfire. If you continue to walk in the same direction for a few more minutes, you will shortly reach the 2nd Bob Johnson Boulder which has a stone bench in front of it. Hope this helps. Nov 26, 2012
Medford, ma
Boston, MA
I would consider parking at the ballfield at 100 Great Woods Road, Saugus MA, walking up Great Woods Road through the gate past Stone Tower, taking a left on Dungeon Road, and finding the trail into the woods (which would be on the left coming from that direction) using the GPS coordinates above. It's just downhill from the Dungeon Rock turnoff (which would be on the right). Maybe taking the Cornel Trail would save a couple minutes after you have it dialed, but I'd be surprised if it was significantly faster.
The approach might be even quicker from the Pennybrook Playground parking area, but I haven't tried it. Sep 2, 2019
I would avoid this area as it is a ways in off of the trail. Doesn’t seem very safe. Nov 17, 2021