Short Winter Walks

A view from the Francis Keville Bridge, on the South River in Marshfield. 

It has been so cold lately! I know I am not alone in my reluctance to spend any time outdoors, especially when the newscasters warn us so constantly about frostbite. But sometimes cabin fever sets in and I just have to get outside, even if only for a few minutes.

Luckily there are a number of places on the South Shore where one can take a short outdoor walk - long enough to get some fresh air, but short enough that the chill probably won't have a chance to set in.

One very accessible walking place is the Keville Bridge, located on the old railroad bed behind CVS in Marshfield Center. You can access the trail from the rear of the store parking lot, and easily walk down to the river and back in ten minutes. There is always a great view from the bridge - what you see will change depending on how high the tide is. Ice floes along the river's edge, in all sorts of different shapes and sizes, can be particularly interesting to observe.

Another location for a short walk is Cow Tent Hill on Route 3A in Duxbury, just north of St. George Street. The parking area is visible from the road. This relatively new walking place, maintained by the Wildlands Trust, is comprised mostly of a wooded trail up and over a steep hill, with the occasional bench and views of a small stream. The hill will get your heart pumping for sure. Depending on what kind of shape you're in, this walk can take from 10 minutes to a half hour.

A third place to walk when you don't want to spend much time outside is the Marshfield YWCA on Ferry Hill Road. The Y has several short trails through the woods and adjacent to the salt marsh and Little's Creek, all accessible from the parking area. If it's high tide, some of the trails may not be passable. This is quasi-public land that borders on private property, so be sure to respect all signs posted. The trails at the Y offer terrific outlooks on the marsh. The wooded trails will be a delight to birders.

One could spend all day at the Norris Reservation in Norwell - there are several walking trails, and with access to both the North River and Second Herring Brook, some of the best views around. However, if you only have a few minutes, you can just take a short jaunt down to the pond - or perhaps the grassy clearing -- and back, probably in less than ten minutes.

If it's not too windy a day, Duxbury Beach is another option. Instead of walking along the ocean, consider the unpaved road to the Gurnet and Saquish. Stay on the bay side for the view. If you're lucky, you may be treated to an unusual animal sighting. While taking pictures there on the day after the coldest day of the past 40 years, my husband came across a harbor seal pup, stranded on the ice at the shore. After snapping a few photos, he led the seal back toward the water. I've heard of other folks spying a snowy owl.

One final site for a short walk can be found in pretty much every town on the South Shore - the cranberry bog. Find out if the owners of any of your local bogs permit public ice skating. Most cranberry bogs have wide access roads surrounding them completely, so while your kids or grandkids are having fun on the ice, you might make a quick trek around the bog.
If you're going to spend time outdoors during this cold weather, be sure to wear several warm layers, and cover as much skin as you can. Keep moving so you will stay warm. Bring a friend for safety - and company. And don't despair … spring is on the way!

by Kezia Bacon-Bernstein, Correspondent
January 2004

Kezia Bacon-Bernstein's articles appear courtesy of the North and South Rivers Watershed Association, a local non-profit organization devoted to the preservation, restoration, maintenance and conservation of the North and South Rivers and their watershed. For membership information and a copy of their latest newsletter, contact NSRWA at (781) 659-8168.