Whitney and Thayer Woods was a very pleasant surprise for us all. The two-mile, blue blaze trail that we chose to hike is 1. a piece of cake to navigate (as most Trustee’s properties tend to be), 2. easy to walk on with its wide gravel and hard-packed dirt trails, and 3. FUN. The trailContinue reading “COHASSET – Whitney and Thayer Woods”
Category Archives: Hikes/Trails
NORWELL – Jacobs Pond
Jacobs Pond is a 60-acre body of water with 189 acres of surrounding conservation land. This property is one of our favorite discoveries–it’s a place we’ll return to again and again, for many reasons. First and foremost, Jacob’s Pond is just seconds away from our favorite ice cream place: Hornstra Farms. More about this amazingContinue reading “NORWELL – Jacobs Pond”
FALL RIVER – Copicut Woods
Despite its location just outside the heart of Fall River, this property had the feel of a much more rural destination–we could have been in Vermont. We didn’t see everything that the Trustee’s side had to offer because we wanted to check out the Bioreserve as well. The Bioreserve turned out to be a fairlyContinue reading “FALL RIVER – Copicut Woods”
MANSFIELD – Corporal Robert Francis Hardy Conservation Area
This is a short (about 1.5 miles) and easy loop. It’s not worth driving a long way to visit this small spot, but if you are in the general area and looking for a stroller-friendly loop that is well-marked and not heavily trafficked, this is a great option. Maple Park Conservation Area is located minutesContinue reading “MANSFIELD – Corporal Robert Francis Hardy Conservation Area”
LAKEVILLE – Betty’s Neck
Betty’s Neck is a beautiful property that snakes long the shores of Assawompset Pond (the largest freshwater pond in Massachusetts) from above–you’re high above the water while on the trail, and this provides some amazing views of the pond and the opposite shore. The trails also provide a challenging workout–the hills will get your heart pumping and your legs burning. We recommend hitting the white blaze loop and the blue out-and-back trail, but if you can only do a short walk, prioritize the blue trail–it has the best views of Assawompset as well as an unmarked narrow single-track trail down to the pond so you can put your hand in the water and skip some rocks. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot a bald eagle; this area is known for them.
CANTON – The Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate
We are huge fans of the Trustees of Reservations. They do amazing work making nature available to the masses while simultaneously preserving historic buildings and promoting the history of Massachusetts. The Bradley Estate, with its 90 gorgeous acres, is no exception. It’s immaculately kept, convenient, and beautiful. The estate hosts weddings from May to October, features amazing gardens in the spring and summer, and offers a wooden reindeer hunt and holiday light walk-through in the winter. Located near Route 95 and the Blue Hills, the Bradley Estate is easy to get to. Parking is a breeze (although it costs $6 if you’re not a member of the Trustees), and you really cannot get lost here, which makes this property a much less intimidating option than the Blue Hills across the highway. Speaking of the highway, that is the one downside to this spot–you will hear the constant hum of cars during your whole hike. However, after a while, it becomes white noise, and you’ll be more focused on your burning calves–this property has a fair amount of steep hills!
ROCKLAND – Town Forest/Twin Ponds Trail
This, by far, one of the wackiest places we’ve ever been out in nature. There are painted rocks, toys, trinkets, tchotchke, and random surprises at every turn on this trail. From rusty old chairs, to bedazzled rocks, to dream catchers, to Christmas trees, to a story book trail, Rockland Town Forest has it all. The kids kept repeating–over and over–“We give this trail a 5 for interest level!” They *LOVED* this place. If you’re looking for purity and nature in its rawest form, this trail might not be for you. But for a bit of whimsy and fun that will draw in the kids, this is your spot!
BROCKTON – Stone Farm
Stone Farm was a great find for our families–it’s a beautiful, well-labeled, interesting, easy-to-access spot in the city of Brockton near the Easton line. It proves that nature can be found even in urban areas. The Wildlands Trust/Brockton Audubon manages these 105 amazing acres that, surprisingly, were deserted on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. We had the whole place to ourselves!
BRIDGEWATER – The Great River Preserve at Conihasset, Wildlands Trust
The Great River Preserve (GRP) is 125 acres of woodland, field, and riparian (Google it!) habitats. You may find box turtles or hear bullfrogs along your way, and you’ll most certainly be treated to beautiful views of the Taunton River. Hot and buggy in the summer and wet in the spring, you might have theContinue reading “BRIDGEWATER – The Great River Preserve at Conihasset, Wildlands Trust”
QUINCY – Blue Hills @ Willard St.
When you think of the Blue Hills, you may think of Great Blue Hill, or the ski area, or maybe Houghton’s Pond or the Trailside Museum. However, the Blue Hills Reservation is HUGE, stretching over 7000 acres, from Quincy to Dedham, Milton to Randolph. There are over 125 miles of trails, according to the website. The Blue Hills has much more to offer than just the hike up the main hill (which we love too!).