One evening in mid-March -- one of the first warm days of the year -- I stepped out the back door at twilight and encountered a delightful surprise: a chorus of spring peepers! I wasn’t expecting to hear them so soon. Their chirping cries from the freshwater wetlands that border our property might be my favorite sign of spring.
Spring peepers are frogs. Relatively small in size (adults range in length from 0.75-1.25 inches), they dwell in the leaf litter in forested areas around swamps, ponds and streams. Light brown, tan or gray in color, with a dark “X” across their backs, they nourish themselves first with algae and later with spiders, insects and larvae. Only the males make their characteristic high-pitched sound. Spring is mating season, and that chirp is useful when attracting a mate.
Would you like to hear their cheerful chorus? The list below is a small sampling of local spots where – when the conditions are right -- you can hear spring peepers! There are plenty more – just look for any woodland where there’s also fresh water. Plan your visit toward the end of the day, when they really come alive.
Abington – Ames Nowell State Park
Listen for spring peepers at this 700-acre property on Linwood Street, which features 10+ miles of paved and unpaved trails through forest and wetlands in the Beaver Brook/Taunton River watershed. Ample on-site parking.
Braintree – Cranberry Pond Conservation Area
This 140-acre forest on the Braintree-Holbrook line features 2 miles of trails, plus views of Cranberry Pond and Cranberry Brook in the Fore River watershed. Limited on-site parking on Eutaw Road and Hillsdale Road.
Cohasset – Whitney Spur Rail Trail
This 1.5-mile trail connects the Cohasset MBTA station with Whitney and Thayer Woods, Turkey Hill, and Wompatuck State Park. It extends through two different watersheds – Great Swamp, which flows to Hingham Bay, and the Aaron River, which empties into the Gulf River via Bound Brook. Designated free parking at 110 Chief Justice Cushing Highway (Route 3A), Cohasset.
Duxbury – Camp Wing Conservation Area
This 450-acre property in the Phillips Brook/South River watershed offers 2.7 miles of trails in two sections, plus an observation platform overlooking a freshwater wetland – a great spot to listen for peepers. Limited on-site parking at 654 Franklin Street, and on Temple Street.
Halifax – Striar Conservancy
This 168-acre Wildlands Trust property features a quiet, 0.8-mile woodland trail with numerous footbridges and five certified vernal pools. A short side trail offers a beautiful view of the Winnetuxet River, part of the Taunton River watershed. Limited on-site parking on Thompson Street (Route 105).
Hanover – Folly Hill and Bog Iron Trails
With 3.6 miles of trails extending through 130 acres of conservation and water protection land this property is the perfect spot to listen for peepers. Be sure to check out Iron Mine Brook, a tributary to the Indian Head River. Trail access and parking at the Water Department land at 519 Broadway.
Hanson – Poor Meadow Brook Conservation Area
Explore the forests and wetlands around Poor Meadow Brook and the Shumatuscacant River, part of the Taunton River watershed. This 115-acre property features a mile-long trail in two intersecting loops. Limited on-site parking at 891 W Washington Street.
Hingham – Wompatuck State Park
There is a lot to see in this 3500-acre state park. To hear spring peepers, leave your vehicle at the park’s Transfer Station and explore the trails near Picture Pond and Boundary Pond, part of the Aaron River/Gulf River watershed. Ample on-site parking.
Kingston – Camp Nekon
This 206-acre forested parcel features numerous ponds and wetlands, and at least 2 miles of trails and unpaved roadways. You should be able to hear peepers anywhere within it, but especially around Smelt Pond, which is part of the Jones River watershed. Limited on-site parking on Monks Hill Road.
Marshfield – Webster’s Wilderness
This 130-acre property features a 2-mile trail network through lowland forest and wetlands, plus a certified vernal pool. Wharf Creek, a tributary to the Green Harbor River, flows through it. Park at Wheeler Recreation Campus, behind the Marshfield Senior Center, at 230 Webster Street.
Norwell Pathway
Boardwalk C on this 3-mile trail remains closed for now, and we hope Norwell Town Meeting will approve its repairs on May 5th. In the meantime, visit the boardwalk between Norwell Middle School and the Donovan-Wildcat Conservation Area, which traverses the freshwater wetlands around Margaret’s Brook, a tributary to Third Herring Brook and the North River. Ample parking at Norwell Middle School, 328 Main Street.
Pembroke High School and Hobomock Elementary Trails
These wide, well-maintained trails at Pembroke High School extend for 3 miles through woods and wetlands in the watershed of Herring Brook, a tributary to the North River. Limited off-street parking toward the end of Learning Lane.
Plymouth – Hedges Pond Recreation Area & Preserve
This 105-acre woodland park and nature preserve features a 2.25-mile trail loop that offers ample opportunities to hear spring peepers. Limited on-site parking 166 Hedges Pond Road.
Plympton – Cato’s Ridge
This 105-acre property features a 2-mile network of woodland trails plus a 600-foot boardwalk over the Jones River Brook and its surrounding wetlands. Part of the Jones River watershed, with a 5-vehicle parking lot at 81 Main Street.
Rockland – Rockland Town Forest
This 43-acre property features a well-maintained woodland trail network, with boardwalks, and numerous views of French’s Stream, a tributary to the Indian Head River. Limited on-site parking at 482 North Ave.
Scituate – Higgins-MacAllister Preserve
This property’s 1.2-mile loop trail extends through woods and wetlands, with views of Merritt Brook, a tributary to Bound Brook, part of the Gulf River watershed. Parking area at the end of Holly Crest Road.
Weymouth – Bradford Torrey Bird Sanctuary
This 110-acre property features more than 3 miles of trails in the Weymouth Back River watershed. On-site parking area on Main Street, north of Park Ave. and south of Hunter Terrace.
Looking for more places to explore?
The Get Outdoors section of our website features 500 places on the South Shore to enjoy the natural world. More than 200 of them feature walking trails, but there are also some lovely spots to just sit and enjoy the view. Each listing includes parking information, trail maps, and plenty more.
If you love the outdoors and would appreciate a daily suggestion for where to enjoy it, follow “Postcards From the ‘Shed” our 2025 Explore South Shore program. In addition to inspiring photos and access information, we share details about each property’s watershed. Every day on Facebook and Instagram, we highlight a different spot. Not on social media? We’ve included all the locations on our website as well! Plus test your knowledge with our monthly “Where in the Watershed?” photo quiz!
by Kezia Bacon, NSRWA Community Engagement Manager
Kezia Bacon's articles appear courtesy of the North and South Rivers Watershed Association, a local non-profit organization devoted to protecting our waters. For membership information and a copy of their latest newsletter, contact NSRWA at (781) 659-8168 or visit www.nsrwa.org. You will also find 27+ years of Kezia’s Nature columns there. For more information about the “Where in the Watershed?”/Postcards from the ‘Shed Contest, visit https://www.nsrwa.org/2025-nsrwa-explore-south-shore-contest-rules/