04Feb 2018 by southshoretrailsma@gmail.com

Willow Brook / Pembroke

Willow Brook Farm is a Wildlands Trust property located in Pembroke off Route 14. The property consists of 127 acres of unique landscape and just under 3 miles of trails. One of the best features of the property is the Tower located on the edge of a freshwater tidal marsh. The view from the top enables visitors to birdwatch and get a brand new perspective of the landscape. The area is extremely productive for wildlife and conserves an unusual freshwater tidal marsh, a habitat type of both state and global significance. Tidal fluctuations can be observed here, some 11 miles upstream from the Atlantic Ocean. Within the valley lies a wilderness of more than 2,000 acres, which is a headwater area of the North River, and critical to water quality...

14Jan 2018 by southshoretrailsma@gmail.com

Jacobs Meadow / Hingham

Hingham, Hingham Land Trust, Trail

Jacobs Meadow consists of 50 acres of open fields and varied woodlands from Main Street to the Fulling Mill Brook, with trail access on weekends and after school behind the Wilder Memorial Building. The trail presents a serene opportunity that is very family friendly! The wide open fields are perfect for getting some fresh air. Each of the connecting fields within Jacobs Meadow takes visitors further away from the hustle and bustle of Rt 228 in Hingham. Helen Burns, a major donor to the town, gave 30 acres to the HLCT and 8 acres to the HCC. The northern 10 acres were purchased by the Commission from abutters an the access to Main Street was donated by the Goodlatte family along with an easement given by Wilder Memorial. Two lots...

10Jan 2018 by southshoretrailsma@gmail.com

Newsletter #13

Newsletter

New Year, New Trails! Welcome to 2018! Just because it is Winter does not mean you have to stay indoors all day by the fire. There are plenty of great trails along the South Shore that make for wonderful snowy hikes and Winter adventures - especially when you are prepared for the elements! So stock up on the essentials and hit the trails. We hope that this new year brings wonderful new adventures to each and every one of you. One of the best parts about January is the opportunity to set new goals and aspirations: (1) Try new trails. We have 121 trails on the site. You can search by stroller score, town, or dog friendly. Each town offers something different and we love that. (Psst, we think Marshfield is a real...

09Jan 2018 by southshoretrailsma@gmail.com

Widow’s Walk / Scituate

Scituate, Trail

Widow's Walk is one of the most popular walking areas in the town of Scituate. Visitors can't wait for golfing season to be over to explore the property. The site is most frequently visited by walkers with dogs. The large property is also well known with bird watchers. Visitors frequently post to town social media about various wildlife sightings like coyote, fox, and different birds of prey. As a commitment to the environment Widow’s Walk became a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary course in 2002. This program ensures a commitment to the environment by establishing avian nesting box programs, providing habitats for numerous other species of animals, and using integrated pest management to apply the least amount of water, pesticides and fertilizer as possible. (source) Visitor Reminders: follow town leash laws....

09Jan 2018 by southshoretrailsma@gmail.com

Best Snow Hikes on the South Shore

Audubon Society, Best Of, Cohasset Conservation Trust, Trail, Trustees of the Reservation, Uncategorized

Just because it is Winter does not mean you have to stay indoors all day by the fire. There are plenty of great trails along the South Shore that make for wonderful snowy hikes and Winter adventures - especially when you are prepared for the elements! So stock up on the essentials and hit the trails. We've pulled together a list of great options for your Winter adventures. All of the trails we have noted include good parking - crucial in snowy weather! Grab your big boots, cross-country skis or snowshoes and hit the trails. Good, Easier Loops Turkey Hill - Hingham // Although this is a big property, there is a great loop right around the field at the top of the hill Bay Farm - Duxbury // great views of Kingston Bay, might even...

27Dec 2017 by southshoretrailsma@gmail.com

Phillips Farm / Marshfield

Marshfield, Trail, Wildlands Trust

Philips Farm Preserve is a Wildlands Trust property located in Marshfield. The preserve is located in an area of Marshfield rich with conservation sites including some connected to Philips. The original Philips Farm was owned by the Philips family for over 150 years. This particular preserve consists of 40 acres that were secured in 1999. Without Phillips Farm, four other properties — Cornhill Woodland, Union Street Woodland, Tilden Farm, and Nelson Memorial Forest — could not have been linked by trail. The preserve was purchased with the support of residents who value the historic country vistas, farm meadows, and historic, classic farmhouses and stone walls. Some nature tips from the Wildlands Trust: Listen for scarlet tanagers, hermit thrushes, red-eyed vireos, blue-gray gnatcatchers, eastern wood peewees, and other forest interior birds. As...

26Dec 2017 by southshoretrailsma@gmail.com

Cornhill Woodland / Marshfield

Marshfield, Trail

Cornhill Woodlands is a 123 acre preserve located in Marshfield along Union Street. The parcel features a trail system that weaves through the forest and ultimately to a flat marsh area. The nest of trails lead visitors through a deep, mature forest crisscrossed by historic stone walls. One of our particular favorites was coming across an old stone well in the middle of the forest. The trail network is accessible via a few access points but the best is on Union Street. As noted on the Marshfield trail maps, the paths are not very wide and as a result they can be a bit overgrown during high-growth periods. The trails also cross through some significant wetland areas but thanks to raised boardwalks visitors can still enjoy themselves and keep their...

13Dec 2017 by southshoretrailsma@gmail.com

Newsletter #12

Newsletter

Happy December! Hopefully everyone enjoyed the first snow of the season this past weekend. Our trails appear extra magical with a sparkly, white dusting of snow. We are extra excited to revisit some of our favorite trails this winter. They all look so beautiful with autumn leaves…. and totally different covered in white. We love it. BY THE WAY - If you've enjoyed our photography this year, then you will love our 2018 calendars! All featured pictures have been taken by South Shore Trails. There are several editions available but we can also customize an edition just for you! You can also purchase the digital files to print at home. Use Code TRAILS to save 10% on your Etsy order. Enjoy your fresh air and fun adventures! P.S. We are up to 121 trails on...

10Dec 2017 by southshoretrailsma@gmail.com

Bay Farm / Duxbury

Duxbury, kingston, Trail

The Bay Farm trail is an 80 acre land preserve located in Duxbury along the Kingston Bay. The acerage is comprised of land owned by Kingston, Duxbury, and the state. Upon first arriving at the trail, visitors are immediately drawn to the large open space that feels reminiscent of Turkey Hill or World's End. The simple Bay Farm trail network provides incredible views of Kingston Bay, the Myles Standish Monument, Clark’s Island, Gurnet Light, Rocky Nook and Saquish. The property has become a popular location in all seasons with dog-walkers, bird watching, fishing, and even cross-country skiing. HISTORY Duxbury acquired after the original onsite farm first in 1973. Although originally a dairy farm for the first half of the 20th century, a group of actors purchased the land and formed the Duxbury...

04Dec 2017 by southshoretrailsma@gmail.com

Hubbell / Scituate

Scituate, Trail

The Hubbell Trail is located on about 40 acres of land in the North Scituate area of Scituate. While this area is well known for marsh and ocean views, the wooded landscape of the Hubbell preserve is a fresh perspective. The trail is relatively new as compared to other South Shore trails. The Hubbell preserve was initially started in the 1960s with a donation by Dick Hubbell and continued in recent years with an additional 16 acres. In 2016, the initial trail work was initiated by XX as part of an Eagle Scout project. Eagle Scout projects are a great way to enhance the utilization of town resources . The nearby Minot Beach Kayak ramp is another great example. The trail provides a great resource for the Minot and North...