Forest Walk + Brunch: 12 Local Pairings

 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.

 

Kingston: Blackwater Memorial Forest recently reopened, after a successful ecological restoration that re-established the headwaters of Sampson’s Brook! Stop by this 46-acre property in the Jones River watershed and explore the 0.7-mile loop trail. Limited on-site parking at 26 Winthrop Street. For brunch, visit the Early Bird, not far away at 28 Main Street.

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/

The Best Fall Foliage: 11 Local Walks

My love affair with the North River began in my mid-teens, thanks to the enthusiasm of a group of high school friends. Together, we spent a lot of time on the water, sometimes paddling canoes and rubber rafts, but more often sneaking onto someone else’s rope swing in an undisclosed Norwell neighborhood. In retrospect, it seems odd that we didn’t also enjoy the river by land. 

We knew of only one trail, at Mass Audubon’s North River Wildlife Sanctuary. While we walked there regularly, apparently it didn’t occur to us that other, similar trails might exist. Couch Beach, now one of my favorites, was known to us only as Garbage Gut, the place where our classmates partied on Friday nights. Stetson Meadows, Corn Hill Woodland, and Nelson Memorial Forest all had been established more than a decade prior, but we were clueless. I still remember the day my friend Nancy learned about the Norris Reservation, and how excited she was to bring the rest of us there. 

 

Almost forty years later, I’m an expert on local trails, excited to share what I’ve learned with anyone who will listen. Recently, an old friend was visiting from California. Aligning our busy schedules wasn’t easy, but when we settled on a Sunday afternoon to get together, we decided to go for a walk. It was so fun, to show her around a place she never knew existed, even though she grew up right down the road.

 

Here at NSRWA, we want to be that old friend who shares secrets about the best local nature places. Every day, our Explore South Shore program highlights a different spot where you can enjoy the natural world. Our Get Outdoors database features 500 public properties. We lead walks too, with quite a few scheduled for October, November, and December. Visit the Events page on our website to learn more and sign up. 

 

This month’s article features some of the best local places to enjoy fall foliage. Here in the North and South Rivers watershed, the leaves are just beginning to turn. According to Massachusetts DCR’s Interactive Fall Foliage Map, our foliage will be “near peak” around the third week in October. Get out there and see it while you can! I recommend the following spots.

photo by Lisa A. Irwin

• North Hill Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary: On-site parking on Mayflower Street, Duxbury.

• Chapman’s Landing: On-site parking at the end of Indian Head Drive, Hanover.

• Veterans Commemorative Town Forest: On-site parking at 565 School Street, Pembroke.

• Alton Smith Reserve: On-site parking on Camp Kiwanee Road, Hanson.

• Corn Hill Woodland: Look for the parking area between 1087 and 1147 Union Street, Marshfield.

photo by Lisa A. Irwin

• Norris Reservation: On-site parking at 18 Dover Street, Norwell.

• McCarthy Farm: On-site parking at 829 Beech Street, Rockland.

 

• Emery Preserve West: On-site parking at 951 Ship Pond Road, Plymouth.

• Muddy Pond Wilderness Preserve: On-site parking on Bishop’s Highway, Kingston.

• Pond Meadow Park: On-site parking at 470 Liberty Street, Braintree.

photo by Lisa A. Irwin

• Great Pond Trail: Park at Gifford Playground, 150 Thicket Street, Weymouth.

by Kezia Bacon

October 2025

 

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 28+ 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/

 

Cornet Robert Stetson and the North River

Last year for their annual gathering, the Stetson Kindred of America asked me to compile a presentation about the North River’s history, with a focus on their ancestor, Cornet Robert Stetson. For me, this was a dream assignment – an opportunity to dig deeper into a subject I know and love. While I’d already learned that, in the Colonial era, Robert Stetson and his wife, Honour Tucker, were Norwell’s first European settlers, I had no idea that the John B. Stetson Company – renowned more than 200 years later for its cowboy hats – was founded by one of their descendants!

 

Cornet is a military rank – the lowest grade of commissioned officer. The Robert Stetson who arrived in Scituate in 1634 and established a homestead on the North River by 1640 is often referred to as Cornet Robert, or just “The Cornet.” In the early 1600s, towns as we know them today did not have distinct boundaries. Land grants were made to individuals, but the colony waited until a settlement became large enough to require its own identity before designating it a town. The property where the Stetsons settled and reared nine children first became part of Scituate, and then South Scituate, and eventually Norwell. Much of it is now town-owned conservation land – Stetson Meadows -- which you can visit daily from dawn to dusk.

Discussion of the original Stetson settlement almost always mentions its “unfailing and valuable” freshwater spring – a natural spring that continues to flow today. A source of fresh water is essential for a successful homestead. It’s something we could easily take for granted these days here on the South Shore, where water seems abundant and flows through taps on command, despite increasing demands on local aquifers.

 

Like many of his era, Stetson established his homestead on a waterway. While today we hold riverfront properties in high regard for the natural beauty that surrounds them, in the 17^th century, they were valued for different reasons. Since public pathways were scarce and slow-going, the rivers served as highways, and thus living close to them was convenient and practical. In addition, the adjacent lands were often well-suited for farming, enabling a family to sustain itself. 

Just as important was the availability of salt marsh hay, which didn’t require management and produced a fresh crop every year. Salt hay was used as roof thatch and wall insulation, but more importantly, it was good forage for livestock. Without the naturally-occurring salt marsh hay, early Colonial settlers might not have survived, as they wouldn’t have been able to produce enough food for themselves and their livestock. Salt hay was so valuable that by the late 1600’s, rights had been granted to all of the area’s salt marshes. 

 

In part because of ecological changes resulting from the 1898 Portland Gale, salt marsh hay is no longer abundant here. Instead, our marshes hold a different value. They are essential for flood control, especially during storms. They provide wildlife habitat, which supports the food chain in general. And they help to keep the rivers and water supply clean.

Robert Stetson was an influential member of the community, a key figure in the establishment of colonial boundaries, roadways, and common lands. He served as a constable in Scituate in 1643, and was chosen to be the town’s first selectman, a position he held for many years. He was a Representative to the General Court of Plymouth Colony, and also on the Plymouth Colony Council of War. 

 

In addition, Stetson was a businessman, establishing two sawmills: one on Third Herring Brook in 1656 (with Timothy Hatherly and Joseph Tilden), and one on the Drinkwater River, between 1656 and 1674. Both were essential in the development of local communities, which perhaps is why both were destroyed in the raids that occurred during King Philip’s War ... although the disruption of longstanding herring fisheries could also have been a factor. Industrial dams often outlast the mills and factories that accompany them. In the early 2000’s, NSRWA removed three obsolete mill dams on Third Herring Brook, one of which was a short distance downstream from the site of the Stetson sawmill.

While I could go on for days, sharing anecdotes from the North River’s rich history, for now, King Philip’s War is a good place to stop. Wampanoag and Massachusett tribes had inhabited the area for centuries when European colonists arrived in the 1620’s. While there are treaties and bills of sale between Native Americans and colonists, they had decidedly different views on the nuances of land and water rights -- views that were probably difficult to communicate effectively. Cornet Stetson was part of the delegation from Plymouth Colony that traveled to Mount Hope to meet with Chief Metacomet, aka King Philip, as he began to push back against colonial encroachments. Stetson continued to serve the community for many years to follow, and passed away in 1702, at age 90.

If you enjoy North River history, be on the lookout for presentations given by NSRWA’s Ambassador team. Led by longtime volunteer Charlie Naff, and hosted by local libraries and senior centers, these provide a 1-hour overview, touching upon such subjects as storms, mills, and shipbuilding. The next few are happening September 25^th in Hingham, October 9th in Cohasset, and October 14^th in Pembroke.

 

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, many of which also have a fascinating history. Not on social media? We’ve listed all the locations on our website as well! 

by Kezia Bacon

September 2025

 

Photos: Stetson Meadows Conservation Area, Norwell.

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/

 

Why I Wear a Life Jacket (PFD)

I wasn’t planning to swim that day. It was a classic July afternoon, sunny and high 80’s with a pleasant breeze, and I was heading to Rexhame Beach to go stand-up paddleboarding. By some stroke of luck, the weather, the tides, and my schedule had all aligned, and I was meeting a friend for our annual trip on the South River. 

I thoroughly enjoy the ritual of preparing for a river excursion. Pulling my paddle board or kayak off the rack and clearing away the pollen, dust, and cobwebs. Gathering my gear. Balancing the vessel on my car’s roof rack. Threading the tie-downs and tightening them just-so. Letting my family know where I’m going, and when to expect me back. And then the drive across town. By then, because so much has already gone right, I’m mostly feeling excitement. But it’s mixed with a healthy dose of caution.

 

When I’m out on the river, I try not to tempt fate. I smear on the sunscreen. I bring drinking water, and sometimes a small snack. I attach a band to my sunglasses to secure them to my head. I tuck my car key into a resealable bag and zip it into a pocket. And of course, I wear a personal flotation device (PFD), ... or as the old folks say, a life jacket.

Me, on my paddle board on the South River, on a calmer day.

The plan for the day was simple enough. Put our boards in the water about an hour before high tide, paddle upstream with the current, pause in the Bourne Island Lagoon to rest, then ride the retreating tide back to Rexhame. We’d done it before. The only potential variable was the wind. If it was blowing too hard in either direction, it might not make sense to go out. But we could still sit on our boards in the shallows by the shore, dangling our feet and enjoying the gorgeous view.

 

I knew already, on the walk from the parking lot, that our odds of success were dropping. It was quite a bit breezier than it had been at home. A 10-foot SUP is awkward to carry, but when the wind gusts, it can be downright comedic. Remaining stubbornly positive, I set my board in the water, hopped on, and paddled out. The tide was coming in, as expected, but the wind was blowing entirely in the opposite direction. Digging in, I was eventually able to propel the board around the first bend, but wasn’t this supposed to be relaxing and fun? It wasn’t.

 

The South River at Rexhame, on a windy day.

 

It was time to pivot. Reasoning that the wind would blow us back to our starting place, I shouted to my friend, “I think we should turn around!” But I’d forgotten about the tide.

 

A paddleboard isn’t difficult to maneuver. Once you understand how to keep it balanced, it’s pretty easy to control where it goes. But I didn’t quite think things through when I attempted to turn into the advancing tide ... and instead inadvertently took my first swim of the year!

 

The last time I fell off my paddleboard – probably 10 years ago -- I wasn’t wearing a PFD. It wasn’t scary. I was in waist-deep water. I laughed it off and quickly hoisted myself back onto the board. But the experience stayed with me.

 

This time was different, and thank goodness I was wearing the PFD. The water was deep, and moving quickly. In the few seconds it took me to get my bearings, my board floated off in one direction while I went the other. (A paddleboard leash would have come in handy here.) The current was too strong to swim against... plus I was still holding the paddle. 

 

Bobbing for a moment, I realized that if I turned around and kicked, I could propel myself backward. Adrenaline gave me the strength to get my upper half onto the board, and then somehow, I wrestled my legs up too. I don’t remember how I got to the edge of the marsh. 

 

My friend soon joined me, and we agreed to stay put until the tide turned and we could paddle back to Rexhame. Everyone made it home safely, but for days, I couldn’t stop thinking about how helpless I felt in that swiftly-moving water, and how grateful I was for my PFD.

A different day on the water, but still grateful for my PFD!

It's not my intention to scare anyone away from the water. Go paddling this summer! Get out there and enjoy our local rivers! There are risks and rewards for every adventure, and we all must be our own gauge. Just please bear in mind that some basic precautions will improve your likelihood of success.

The South River at Rexhame, on a calmer day.

• Check the forecast, and remember that wind and tide will greatly affect your experience. 

 

• Bring drinking water and a snack, especially if you’re planning to be out for a while. 

 

• Wear a personal flotation device (PFD). Zip it up and tighten the straps. If a vest-style PDF is a problem, consider an inflatable one, or the kind that comes in a waist-pack. It’s also a good idea to have a whistle on-hand, to make it easier to call for help.

• Tell someone where you’re going, and when you expect to be back. Harbormasters advise that you file a Float Plan, and also post a phone number or email inside your boat. That way, if you become separated from it, they can find you (and not have to launch a search).

 

• Be safe out there, and have fun!

 

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 Wednesday, we feature a spot with water access. Not on social media? We’ve listed all the locations on our website as well! 

by Kezia Bacon

August 2025

 

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/

 

How To Walk (almost) All the Way Across Marshfield on Nature Trails

There was no fanfare, no press conference, and certainly no “last spike” celebration, but in mid-June, when construction completed on a 500-foot boardwalk in a remote corner of Red Gold Farm, I couldn’t have been the only one doing a Happy Dance. Why? Because the boardwalk was the final piece of infrastructure required to create a public pathway (almost) all the way across the town of Marshfield!

Along with Rockland’s 3-mile Rail Trail and Norwell’s 3.5-mile Pathway, this makes Marshfield the third South Shore community with a public trail that spans the town. In Marshfield, it’s all part of the Bridle Path and Rail Trail, a route established in the 1870’s by what was soon to become the Old Colony Railroad. Keep reading to learn how to access it.

 

Please note that altogether, this route extends for at least six miles, across four different watersheds! If you do it all at once, out and back, it’s a 12-mile journey. Alternatively, you could explore it in pieces, or stage a second vehicle at the other end. The route described below goes from south to north.

Hoyt-Hall Preserve

Our walk across Marshfield begins at the Hoyt-Hall Preserve, a diverse 123-acre property in the Duxbury Back River watershed, owned by the Wildlands Trust. Look for the parking area at 780 Careswell Street. Follow the trail to Long Tom Pond, and then turn left. After tracing two sides of the pond, you’ll enter a pine forest. Very soon, you’ll see an unmarked but well-established trail to the left. Follow it, and after 0.15 miles you’ll reach the southernmost section of Marshfield’s Rail Trail, which connects Careswell Street to Stagecoach Drive. Turn right, and follow the old railroad bed all the way to the end, where you’ll find a large metal gate.

Black Mount Detour

You’ll be stepping off the trail for a very short distance here, circumventing a culvert that helps channel stormwater out of the Black Mount neighborhood. Turn left at the metal gate and walk less than a tenth of a mile up Stagecoach Drive. Look to the left, in the woods, to see where the railroad bed continues. (Hint: It’s before the next house.) After another tenth of a mile, you’ll arrive at the boardwalk. Note: Happy Dance!

Red Gold Farm

This 500-foot boardwalk is the perfect place to note that not only have you entered a new property, Red Gold Farm, you’ve entered a different watershed. The wetlands that surround you are tributaries to the Green Harbor River. Fifty years ago, the railroad bed was still passable on foot here, but water levels are higher now. The boardwalk provides a much-welcome alternative. 

 

When you reach the end of the boardwalk, turn left. You may be tempted to continue straight along the old railroad bed, but this is not recommended, as some sections are impassable. Instead, continue along the pond until you arrive at the first of several cranberry bogs. Then turn right to follow the main trail through this recently-acquired conservation property. Note: While the main trail is the quickest, consider exploring some of the side trails, around the cranberry bogs, for additional views of the river. 

Toward the end of the main trail, you’ll see another metal gate, but if you continue a little farther, you’ll find a wooden footbridge to the right. Cross the bridge and you’ll be back on the old railroad bed. Turn left, and soon you’ll arrive at the Green Harbor River. Stop on the bridge to admire the view, then continue to Webster Street.

Webster Street Detour

In the summer of 2024, Marshfield residents were thrilled to see a sidewalk installed along one side of busy Webster Street, ... but also perhaps a bit puzzled, as the sidewalk came to an end, rather abruptly, at a seemingly random spot. The sidewalk is actually part of the Rail Trail, providing a detour for an area sold to private owners after the railroad ceased operations. Follow the sidewalk north, all the way to the town center. A crosswalk provides access to Dandelion Park, and the first of several informational kiosks for the Bridle Path and Rail Trail.

 

Dandelion Park

The route becomes easier to follow now. From here, it’s a straight shot to Station Street, with much to admire along the way. Stop first at the kiosk, which features a map and some fascinating local history. Take a quick meander through Dandelion Park and then continue up the trail. You’ve now entered your third watershed: the South River. Follow the trail another 0.15 miles and admire the view.

Francis Keville Footbridge

Behind the scenes, for the last 25 years and more, the Town of Marshfield has been slowly and deliberately building its Bridle Path and Rail Trail. A key step was the 2001 installation of the Francis Keville Footbridge. Not only does the bridge connect the northern and southern parts of town, it offers some gorgeous views of the South River. And access too! The town provides a seasonal gangway and float here – an ideal spot to launch a canoe, kayak or SUP. Beyond the bridge, you could take a short side trip into Pratt Farm, a 34-acre conservation parcel with a half-mile out-and-back trail. Or continue north on the Rail Trail, crossing South River Street to the start of the Bridle Path (and another kiosk).

The Bridle Path

You are now about halfway through your journey. While the trail itself doesn’t look much different, it has a new name. The Bridle Path exists because years ago, Marshfield decided the railroad bed would remain open, in perpetuity, for equestrian access. Lead your horse by its bridle, or just continue walking for 2.5 miles ... all the way to Pinehurst Road. Along the way, you’ll cross Clay Pit Road and Ferry Street (with a couple more kiosks). 

Note: If you have time for a major detour, you might also explore the adjacent 775-acre Carolina Hill Reservation, which borders the Bridle Path north of Ferry Street. If you’re blessed with boundless energy, you could do a long loop through both the Carolina Hill and Furnace Brook Watershedconservation areas!

Station Street and Beyond

When you reach the end of the Bridle Path, at Pinehurst Road, take a moment to contemplate your location, as now you are truly on the other side of town! The Rail Trail continues a little farther north, to Station Street, not far from where the bustling Seaview train station once stood. You’ve traveled at least six miles now, and perhaps have seen Marshfield from a refreshingly different perspective.

 

But are you all the way across town? Not quite. Again, because land was sold to private owners in the 20^th century, the next section of the railroad bed is not accessible to the general public. You could walk a mile up Summer Street, but in the absence of sidewalks, I don’t recommend it. (Note: Let’s get this on the Town of Marshfield’s radar, for future Public Access projects!)

Damon’s Point

The final leg of the journey begins at the southern end of Damon’s Point Road, off Summer Street, at the intersection with Macombers Way. We’re in yet another watershed now – the North River. Murdock’s Pond, to your left, marks the spot where Hannah Eames Brook becomes Macombers Creek. From 1871-1839, the Marshfield Hills Railroad Station stood here. Today’s Damon’s Point Road extends over the railroad bed. It’s a pleasant street to walk along, and at the end, there’s a magnificent prize!

 

Damon’s Point, on the banks of the beautiful North River, is the final stop. A 1939 hurricane destroyed the railroad bridge, but the town built a lovely observation deck and seating area on its footings, along with seasonal ramps, docks and floats for boaters. And the view? It’s among the best around, as you can look out for quite a distance, in both directions, across the estuary. Note: One more Happy Dance... you’ve completed your journey! Now go home and soak your feet.

 

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 Saturday, we feature a long walk. Not on social media? We’ve listed all the locations on our website as well! 

by Kezia Bacon

July 2025

 

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/