Ah, the weekend! Saturdays and Sundays mean different things to different people. Some are heading to work. Some are spending quality time on their children’s athletic fields. Some are sleeping in, or seeing where the day takes them. The possibilities are endless! For some, weekends are all about brunch.
Do you know what pairs well with a long, lingering midday meal? A walk in the woods! Whether you’re building your appetite in advance, or burning excess calories after an indulgence, consider the 12 walks and brunches listed below. Detailed descriptions of each walking locale can be found in the Get Outdoors section of our website. Brunch suggestions are provided by NSRWA staff and volunteers.
Please bear in mind that autumn is game bird and deer hunting season in Massachusetts. If you’re planning to explore a forest trail, we recommend confirming the property’s hunting regulations in advance, and wearing blaze orange where hunting is allowed. Convenient for brunch pairings, hunting is prohibited on Sundays statewide.
Abington: Get to know the Thompson Pond Trail, located in a quiet corner of the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station. A 1.9-mile pathway extends through meadow and forest, offering views of Thompson Pond and the west branch of French’s Stream, a tributary to the North River. Limited on-site parking on Spruce Street in Rockland. For brunch nearby, check out Yaz's Table at 1209 Bedford Street.
Cohasset: Stop by Great Brewster Woods, a varied, 26-acre property with rocky outcroppings and views of Little Harbor. Its well-marked 1-mile trail descends into a valley beside a salt marsh. Look for the informational kiosk at the trailhead. Parking for 2-3 vehicles at the end of Great Brewster Trail, off Highland Avenue. Additional parking with separate trailhead at Cohasset Town Hall. For brunch, head down into Cohasset Village to 5 South Main.
Duxbury: The Knapp Town Forest and its adjacent open spaces provide various opportunities for walks of any length. Within the forest, check out the Green’s Harbor Path & Kettle Hole Loop, a 2-mile loop in the Bluefish River watershed that incorporates a pre-Colonial path. Park and look for the kiosk and trailhead behind First Parish Church at 842 Tremont Street. No hunting. For brunch, enjoy Oysterman down the road at 30 Railroad Ave.
Hanover: Explore 130 acres around Iron Mine Brook on the 3.6-mile Folly Hill & Bog Iron Trails, which wind through forests, water protection facilities, and retired cranberry bogs, with the occasional footbridge. There are numerous access points with parking, including the Water Department land on Broadway, the Lutheran Church on Rockland Street, and the Hanover Police Station. No hunting. For brunch, consider Crossroads around the corner at 216 Rockland Street.
Hanson: The Indian Crossway Conservation Area features a trail that extends through the woods, to the edge of the Great Cedar Swamp, and into the northern part of the Burrage Pond Wildlife Management Area. Look for the parking area and trailhead toward the end of Crooker Place, immediately after the railroad track. For brunch, visit Mo’s Place, around the corner at 1357 Main Street.
Hingham: The 100-acre McKenna Marsh Conservation Area offers a 1-mile trail through woodlands to a bridge over Accord Brook and along the edge of a freshwater marsh. A property sign on Scotland Street marks the trailhead, with limited roadside parking. For brunch, check out Strawberry Fair, just up the road at 14 Pond Street in Norwell.
Hull: Forests are scarce on the sandy peninsula of Hull, so make note of Weir River Woods. This charming property in the Rockaway Annex neighborhood offers a mile of intersecting trails with beautiful views of the Weir River and its estuary. Limited on-site parking in a small lot on Chatham Street. For brunch, consider Toast, not far away at 121 Nantasket Ave.
Marshfield: Get your heart pumping with a hike on the hilly trails of Pudding Hill Reservation, a 37-acre Wildlands Trust property. Its 1.6 miles of forest pathways lead up and down a hill that overlooks Veterans Memorial Park and the South River. Prefer a shorter walk? Take a stroll on the grassy trail beside Chandler’s Pond. Limited on-site parking at 145 Pudding Hill Lane, Marshfield. No hunting. For brunch, consider the Corner Café, just down the road at 2000 Ocean Street.
Norwell: If you’re looking for a place for a long, lovely walk, you can’t go wrong with the Norris Reservation. This gorgeous 129-acre Trustees property on the North River and Second Herring Brook offers 2.4 miles of trails, plus a boat house with water views. Limited on-site parking. Look for the parking lot at 18 Dover Street, across from the Norwell Post Office. No hunting. For brunch, consider Cheever Tavern and the Tinker’s Son, both within walking distance in Norwell Center.
Pembroke: Treat yourself to a walk at the Tucker Preserve, a 78-acre Wildlands Trust property with a looping network of trails through the woods and across two streams, with several captivating views of the Indian Head River. Limited parking at Ludden's Ford Park in Pembroke. No hunting. For brunch, check out the long-lived Omelet Factory, not far away at 24 Schoosett Street.
Scituate: Enjoy 2 miles of well-marked, intersecting trails through the woods and around Deke’s Pond at the Ellis Estate, which is part of the Gulf River watershed. Main parking lot at 709 Country Way, with additional parking along the driveway. For brunch, consider The Galley at 95 Front Street in Scituate Harbor.
If you enjoy the outdoors, be sure to check out our Explore South Shore program for 2025. Every morning, we highlight one of the region’s best nature places on Facebook and Instagram. Every Sunday, we feature a short walk. Not on social media? We’ve listed all the locations on our website as well!
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/
