13 Spooky Places to Go for a Walk

 September had barely begun when Halloween decorations started appearing in my neighborhood. Towering skeletons, witches perched in mid-air, giant spiders climbing walls and windows... all sorts of fun, creepy stuff. This got me thinking: might this fondness for the spooky carry over into nature walks?

 Over the past five years, I’ve surveyed over 200 walking places on the South Shore. While there are plenty of similarities among our various parks and nature preserves, I’ve found that each has its own distinctive vibe. Some are quiet, some are busy, some are family-friendly, some are not. This October, I’d like to highlight the spooky ones.

 

What makes a nature preserve spooky? This too varies from place to place. Shady trails and minimal sunshine... Dark paths that skirt swamps... Crumbling ruins of factories and military installations... Toppled chimneys, rusted freight cars, and other vestiges of days gone by... Properties purported to be haunted... And of course, cemeteries. If – like me – you find spooky places fascinating, I encourage you to plan some walks at the spots listed below. 

 

Or join NSRWA for a group Spooky Walk on Sunday, October 27 at Couch Beach in Marshfield. You’ll find registration info on the events page of our website.

 

I also encourage you to follow NSRWA’s “365 Nature Places to Know,” our Explore South Shore program for 2024. Every weekend, we highlight two of the region’s best walking places on Facebook and Instagram. Not on social media? We’ve listed all the locations on our website as well! 

Fort Revere Park, Hull

Officially fortified during the Revolutionary War, this hilltop overlooking Boston Harbor also served as a prison for French soldiers, many of whom died from smallpox and were buried on site. Local lore claims that the fort – which continued to be used off and on until 1947 -- is haunted. Now maintained as a historic site, it’s a compelling spot to explore. Limited on-site parking at 60 Farina Road.

Turkey Hill, Hingham and Cohasset

A 62-acre property managed by both The Trustees and the Cohasset Conservation Trust, Turkey Hill was the site of an anti-missile radar control station (NIKE) during the Cold War. A half-mile trail at the top of the hill leads past a cinderblock building that was once part of the station. It also offers spectacular views of the Boston skyline and the Harbor Islands. There are parking areas on both Route 3A and Turkey Hill Lane.

Hatch Lots, Norwell

These 44 acres of historic woodlots contain two miles of walking trails through forest and wetlands, with a few small footbridges. Perched at the edge of Burnt Plain Swamp, the property can have a spooky vibe, especially on a damp or overcast day. Limited on-site parking at 510 Grove Street.

Rocky Run, Hanson

This 19-acre property -- located directly on the Indian Head River and Rocky Run Brook – offers more than a mile of trails with captivating views. It’s home to the lowest elevation in the Town of Hanson, at the foot of steep bedrock cliffs. Mossy and shaded with hemlock trees, it’s an intriguing spot – a dark, cool valley with historical significance. Limited on-site parking beside the State Street Bridge.

 

Ludden’s Ford Park, Pembroke

It’s hard to imagine now, but in the 1890’s, a sprawling rubber reclamation plant stood at this spot, on both sides of the Indian Head River. It’s long-gone now, but if you follow the trail into the woods, you’ll soon observe some ragged remains of the factory complex. Crumbling and covered with graffiti, they stand in stark contrast to the beautiful scenery. Ample on-site parking at 418 Elm Street.

Old Rockland Fireworks Loop Trail

Similar to Ludden’s Ford, the trails on this property offer views of graffiti-covered ruins, vestiges of the area’s industrial past. From Forge Pond Park in Hanover, follow the Clark Bog Trail from Parking Area C, heading away from King Street. The Old Rockland Fireworks Loop begins just beyond the metal gate.

Chapman’s Landing and Iron Mine Brook Trails, Hanover

Totaling about 2 miles, the Chapman’s Landing and Iron Mine Brook Trails traverse 50 acres on the Indian Head and North Rivers. Deep within the Iron Mine Brook section of the trail system, you’ll find a stretch of the former Hanover Branch Railroad, with some old freight containers at its side. Ample on-site parking at the end of Indian Head Drive.

Bonney Hill Trail, Hanson

Also known as The Last Meadows, this 1-mile woodland trail traverses the grounds of what was once the Plymouth County Hospital. Short spur trails reveal remains of hospital facilities, as well as the hearth and chimney of what was once a family home. Large parking area at 53 Pierce Ave. 

Folly Hill & Bog Iron Trails, Hanover

Iron Mine Brook runs through this property, which includes 3.6 miles of trails across 130 acres. In the woods in the western corner of the property, look for a fallen chimney, the last remains of a long-vanished house. Access and roadside parking at the Water Department land on Broadway.

 

Eaton’s Pond Conservation Area, Braintree

This 100-acre property features 2 miles of woodland trails around a pond and through a former granite quarry, with views of Hayward Creek. There’s a boardwalk, some mossy outcroppings of rock, and shadowy tree-lined ledges. Park on Bower Road extension, near the Eaton's Pond Area property sign.

Mayflower Cemetery, Duxbury

Mayflower Cemetery is a beautiful, tree-filled place with about 2 miles of paved roadways ... a great spot for a walk! But it’s still a cemetery, with crypts and gravestones dating back to 1787. Especially on a gloomy day, it can feel quite spooky! Limited on-site parking at 774 Tremont Street.

Burial Hill, Plymouth

Established in 1622, and located on a hill directly behind Plymouth Harbor, this is a fascinating place to explore. Follow the winding paths and check out the ancient gravestones, many of which are carved with skulls and ghoulish figures. Located at 12 Church Street. Metered parking on adjacent streets and in municipal lots nearby.

Historic Winslow House, Marshfield

This historic home was built in 1699 for Isaac Winslow, the third generation of Marshfield’s founding family... and some say it’s haunted. In the summer, you can tour the interior, where unusual sounds and sensations are often attributed to the spirit of Penelope Winslow, Isaac’s mother. Year-round, you can walk the loop trail behind the building (which connects to the adjacent Hoyt-Hall Preserve), and contemplate the mysteries within. Limited on-site parking at 634 Careswell Street.

by Kezia Bacon

October 2024

 

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 Explore South Shore 2024 Challenge, visit https://www.nsrwa.org/get-outdoors/2024-explore-south-shore/

 

Six Places to Observe the Seasonal Migration of Birds

This summer – especially when it was hot and humid – I saved my daily hour-long walk for the end of the day, and moved it to the beach. The air temperature was always significantly lower there, and the sea breeze made the humidity a lot more tolerable!

For the past five years or so, I’ve been spending much of my free time with an avid birder. He’s more tuned into avian activity than I am, and as a result I’m now noticing things in nature that – before – I hadn’t looked close enough to see. Especially birds. 

 

Most of our beach walks this summer were at Green Harbor or Duxbury, two spots that also happen to be nesting sites for plover. Earlier in the season we delighted in seeing plover chicks scurry across the sand on their spindly legs. More recently, we’ve enjoyed watching them poke around in the mud, hunting for food. 

The plovers will be gone soon, heading south for the winter. Summer will turn to fall. Because the South Shore is situated on one of the major North American migration routes, there will still be plenty of shore birds to observe. I asked Doug Lowry of Mass Audubon Southeast what we might expect to see in the upcoming months.

 

If you enjoy birds, consider the Mass Audubon’s monthly program, “Birding in a Changing Climate on October 17. NSRWA’s Brian Taylor will co-host. Learn more at massaudubon.org. 

 

Also, I encourage you to follow NSRWA’s “365 Nature Places to Know,” our Explore South Shore program for 2024. Every morning, we highlight one of the region’s best nature places on Facebook and Instagram. Most Thursdays, we feature a spot that birders love. Not on social media? We’ve listed all the locations on our website as well! 

Duxbury Beach 

The fall migration season for shore birds is quite lengthy -- beginning in early July and continuing all the way into November. Duxbury Beach is a prime location for spotting them on the move. Among my favorites here are swallows, which gather in giant flocks an hour or so before sunset, swirling through the air in mesmerizing patterns before settling down in the marsh. In addition, Lowry recommends surveying the mud flats north of the Powder Point Bridge at low tide, where you’re likely to spy great blue herons, great egrets, and snowy egrets in large numbers, feasting on minnows and mummichogs from the marsh creeks. There is a small public parking area on the inland side of the Powder Point Bridge. 

Green Harbor Beach

Migration, which often takes place at night, is exhausting. A bird can lose half its body weight. When it lands, it needs nourishment and rest. In August, Green Harbor is a great place to view semi-palmated sandpipers and plovers. During higher tides, you’ll find them nestled into the cobble, enjoying some down time. At lower tides, turn your gaze to the mud at the water’s edge, where they’ll likely be hunting for food. Lowry offers this simple way to differentiate the two: sandpipers hunt by feel, in a bent-over position, while plovers hunt by sight, upright and looking around. For parking, a Marshfield resident sticker in required in-season, in the town lots on Avon Street, Beach Street, and at Beach Street extension.

The Spit

This sand bar near the mouth of the North River in Scituate is a nesting area for plover. You’re likely to see many of the same species mentioned above, especially in the muddy areas on the inland side. Also, keep your eyes on the wrack line – the strip of seaweed, grass, and other detritus that forms along the high tide boundary – where you might find ruddy turnstones poking around for a meal. The Spit is best accessed by boat. There is no public parking nearby. 

Rexhame Beach

Situated between the Atlantic and the South River, this large public beach in Marshfield has a lot to offer. On the ocean, side, watch for sanderlings chasing waves while hunting for ghost crabs. In the mud on the river side, look for willets, greater and lesser yellowlegs, and whimbrels, whose down-curved bill is ideal for consuming fiddler crabs. And keep an eye out for peregrine falcons, which follow the shore birds. Ample on-site parking at the end of Standish Street. In season, a Marshfield Beach sticker or a fee is required.

Damon’s Point

This spot in Marshfield Hills, at the site of an old railroad bridge, provides an excellent vantage point to the extensive salt marshes at the mouth of the North River. Look for great blue herons, great egrets and snowy egrets hunting the marsh creeks at lower tides. In the fall, you might still be able to catch glimpses of osprey here too, before they fly away to warmer climes. On the ride out to the point, consider pausing at Murdock’s Pond, at the intersection of Summer and Prospect Streets. In August and September, you might see black crowned night herons in the trees, among the low branches. There is limited parking at Damon’s Point, with a Marshfield beach sticker required for most spots.

Scituate Harborwalk

Later in the season, head to Scituate Harbor, where you can stroll along the water’s edge for about a half mile. In October and November, the harbor is a great spot to see loons and grebes, along with such sea ducks as scoters and common eiders. In addition, you might find black ducks in the estuary nearby. Ample on-site parking on Cole Parkway.

by Kezia Bacon

September 2024

 

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 Explore South Shore 2024 Challenge, visit https://www.nsrwa.org/get-outdoors/2024-explore-south-shore/