17 Places to Hear Spring Peepers

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/

The 1871 North River Dam

Imagine a 4300-foot barrier extending from Third Cliff in Scituate, across the mouth of the North River to Fourth Cliff. Imagine this structure continuing south along the western shore of Humarock, crossing the South River upstream of today’s Sea Street Bridge. Imagine a solid, curving wall enclosing today’s estuary, and preventing ocean tides from flowing up the North River. It seems radical, but in 1871 this very thing was not only proposed, but authorized! 

Imagine the North River in 1871. The shipbuilding industry had long since peaked, with the last of its major vessels -- the Helen M. Foster – to be produced that spring. The calamitous Portland Gale was still 27 years into the future. The river itself ran along its pre-1898 course. It was three miles longer then, with its outlet to the sea at today’s Rexhame Beach. An 1858 effort to relocate the river mouth to its current location had failed, the dredging machine no match for Mother Nature. 

 

In January 1871, the Fifth Annual Report of the Board of Harbor Commissioners indicated, “the total abandonment of all commercial enterprises on the North River.” Trains, roads, and bridges had replaced the river as primary transportation routes. The grand hotels that would soon transform the beaches of Marshfield and Scituate into resort destinations had not yet been established. Motor boats would not be invented for another decade at least. Although many workers traveled to factories upstream in Hanover and Pembroke, our river towns were very much agricultural communities. Salt marsh hay was still a valuable crop.

 

And thus, the notion of “reclaiming the marshes” began to gain traction. Positing that a dam across the North River would not “sacrifice ... interests of navigation,” land owners wondered if the salt meadows could be converted into farmland. Could the marshes be drained, expanding their potential for agriculture? By restricting the flow of salt water, could more arable land be created in the river valley? At least some residents viewed it a worthy inquiry. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts gave its blessing.

Chapter 287 of the Acts of 1871, “An Act to Authorize the Construction of Dams Across North River in Plymouth County,” reads, “The several proprietors of the marshes on North River ... are hereby authorized to drain said marshes by sluice-dams, dikes or other obstructions across said river, in the same manner as if the same had never been navigable ...” 

 

Clemens Herschel, a Hydraulic and Civil Engineer based in Boston, was hired to sketch out a plan. He proposed raising and fortifying the narrow shingle beach between Third and Fourth Cliffs. In addition, a 300+-foot dam would be constructed across the river, extending northeast from White’s Ferry. In between, northern Humarock would serve as a bulwark. Freshwater from upstream would flow to the ocean through three sluiceways. To assist drainage, a channel would be cut across southern Humarock, a short distance downstream of the dam. The estimated cost was $27,665.00.

There is no evidence of the North River Dam proceeding any farther than the proposal stage. However, a similar project did take place a few miles down the coast, on the Green Harbor River, the following year, with less-than optimal results. While the idea of a North River Dam may have been set aside, it wasn’t entirely dismissed. A 1915 report cited it as “still worthy of some consideration.”

 

From today’s perspective, it’s hard to imagine the North River walled off from the ocean, severed from the South River, with no access for boats downstream. It’s hard to imagine those 2,000 acres of salt marsh drained and sequestered ... not to mention how such changes would impact the diverse array of flora and fauna residing therein.

 

Fortunately, because of the 1978 North River Scenic Protective Order, new dams are strictly prohibited in the river corridor. In the 21^st century, dam removals are much more common than dam construction projects. The majority of our local dams are relics from centuries past, employed for a time by mills and factories but long since obsolete. 

 

Among the many benefits of removing them include: restoring the natural flow of rivers and streams, reconnecting wildlife habitats, and enhancing fish passage and migration range. As proposed, the 1871 North River Dam would have been disastrous for species such a herring and shad, who live in the ocean but spawn in freshwater, far upstream. That impact would have rippled far up the food chain, affecting the birds, mammals and larger fish. 

 

Ready to lend a hand with river restoration on the South Shore? Consider participating in our annual herring count! Each spring, we monitor fish populations to gauge the impact of things such as dams, drought, climate change, and shifts in predation. The data we collect really makes a difference! Sign up today on our website.

by Kezia Bacon

March 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. 

Sledding Hills of the South Shore

How fun to wake up to snow on a day off from school! In January, while town offices and businesses paused their regular schedules to honor Martin Luther King Jr., families all over the South Shore headed for the hills... the sledding hills! With sunny skies and not-too-frigid temperatures, it was the perfect day to inflate a snow tube, try out a new racer, or even dust off an old toboggan. But where to go? Each town has its own special sledding spots. The list below highlights a few tried-and-true public properties that welcome sledders in the wintertime. 

Sledding is not for everyone, of course. If you’re more inclined to enjoy the wintry outdoors on less slippery ground, there are plenty of options for getting some fresh air while keeping your legs dry. The Get Outdoors section of NSRWA’s website features 500+ places on the South Shore where the public can enjoy the natural world. Looking for a place to cross-country ski? We’ve listed more than 100. Prefer a brisk walk? We offer detailed info on more than 200 trails. Each listing on Get Outdoors includes parking information, trail maps, and much, much more.

 

If you love the outdoors and would appreciate a daily suggestion for where to enjoy it, we encourage you to follow “Postcards From the ‘Shed” our Explore South Shore program for 2025. This year, in addition to inspiring photos and access information, we’re including 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! 

South Shore Country Club, Hingham

This town-owned facility is best known for golf, but it also offers tennis courts and a bowling alley. In the winter, it welcomes the public to its grassy slopes for sledding. Cross-country skiers are also welcome. When they’re not frozen, the waters here drain to the Fresh River, part of the Weymouth Back River watershed.

Ample on-site parking at 274 South Street, Hingham.

 

Coast Guard Hill, Marshfield

Formerly a Coast Guard Communications Center, this grassy 40-acre property is now the home of the Marshfield Recreation Department. It features a popular sledding hill, along with walking trails, volleyball, basketball and horseshoe courts, a playground and a picnic area. It is situated in the watershed of Clapp Creek, a tributary to the South River. Limited on-site parking at 900 Ferry Street, Marshfield.

Weston Park, Weymouth

Located behind Tufts Library, this multi-use park on the outskirts of Weymouth Landing features two playgrounds, a picnic area, and 0.6 miles of walking paths. When there’s snow on the ground, it’s a popular spot for sledding. It lies within the watershed of Smelt Brook, a tributary to the Fore River.Ample on-site parking at 46 Broad Street, Weymouth.

Widow’s Walk Golf Course, Scituate

While reserved for golf from March through December, this scenic public course opens its pathways and hills to sledding and cross-country skiing in January and February. The view from the higher elevations is spectacular! It’s located in the watershed of the Herring River, a tributary to the North River. Ample on-site parking at 250 Driftway, Scituate.

North Hill Country Club, Duxbury

In the winter, this public nine-hole golf course is a very popular spot for sledding. It offers a variety of hills, including some tall, steep ones! It is situated within the watershed of West Brook, a tributary to the Duck Hill River. Ample on-site parking at 29 Merry Ave., Duxbury.

Whitman Town Park

Designed by the Olmsted Brothers, this grassy 14-acre property has something for everyone. In the winter, its gently rolling hills are a great spot for young sledders. Other features include a playground, a pond, broad walking paths, and numerous benches. Not far from the Shumatuscacant River, it lies within the Taunton River watershed. Numerous roadside parking spaces on Whitman Ave., adjacent to the park.

Strawberry Valley Golf Course, Abington

When it snows, this 9-hole golf course is open to the public for sledding, with both large and small hills. Its waters flow into the Stream River, which is part of the Taunton River watershed. Limited on-site parking at 164 Washington Street (Route 18), Abington.

 

by Kezia Bacon

February 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. Click here for more information about the “Where in the Watershed?”/Postcards from the ‘Shed Contest.

New for 2025! Check Out These 9 Places to Enjoy the Outdoors

Happy New Year, fellow nature enthusiasts! It’s January, which means it’s time for me to write about the new trails, paddling spots and public parks that have been established on the South Shore in the past year. I always look forward to this article. It’s exciting to see our local communities continue to prioritize the protection of open space! Below you’ll find 9 new places to explore. Some are truly new, and some are just new to me!

 

Is nine not enough? Then I hope you will visit the Get Outdoors section of NSRWA’s website. It’s such a fantastic resource, with detailed information about 500 public spots on the South Shore where the public can enjoy the natural world. Each property has its own listing, with parking information, trail maps, and much, much more.

 

Would you enjoy a daily suggestion for a local place to enjoy the outdoors? We’d love it if you’d follow “Postcards From the ‘Shed” our Explore South Shore program for 2025. This year, in addition to inspiring photos and access information, we’re including 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! 

 

Red Gold Farm, Marshfield

Marshfield’s newest conservation area, Red Gold Farm features about 2.5 miles of wide flat trails that wind around ponds, wetlands, and active cranberry bogs. The Green Harbor River flows through the property. Informal parking for 6 vehicles can be found in the unpaved roadside pull-off at 611 Webster Street, across from the Green Harbor Golf Club. Do not block the access road or any private driveways.

Valley Swamp Conservation Area, Norwell

Valley Swamp is among the many headwaters of the North River. Norwell’s Valley Swamp Conservation Area offers the opportunity to experience this freshwater wetland first-hand. There are two distinct trail networks — with a total of 1.3 miles of woodland trails. Look for access at the end of Shady Lane, at the end of Beers Ave. Limited roadside parking at both spots.

Beals Park, Weymouth

North Weymouth’s newly-renovated Beals Park has something for everyone, including a large playground, an 18,000-square-foot skate park, paved trails, and pickleball courts, along with a basketball half-court, benches, and a shade pavilion. There are two 9-space parking areas -- at 35 Athens Street, and on Sea Street opposite Pearl Street. The property is situated within the watershed of the Fore River.

Moswetuset Hummock, Quincy

In the 1620’s and early 1630’s, Moswetuset Hummock — located in the Squantum section of Quincy — was the summer seat of Chickatawbut, Chief Sac’hem of the Ponkapoag band of the Massachusett Native American tribe. This small historic property features a 0.4-mile woodland trail and spectacular views of Quincy Bay and the Squantum Marshes. It is located within the bounds of DCR’s Quincy Shores Reservation, with limited on-site parking lot at 440 E Squantum Street. 

 

Quincy Riverwalk

While in Quincy, also check out the Quincy Riverwalk, which extends for 2 miles along the Neponset River, from Squantum Point Park, through Neponset Landing Park, to the gazebo at the Adams Inn. This trail had been on my “To Visit” list for years. Last spring, I finally got there, and I encourage you to do the same. The trail offers views of beaches, wetlands, marshes, woodlands, and meadows ... and also the Boston Skyline! There is ample on-site parking at Squantum Point Park, at the end of Victory Road in Quincy. For further inspiration, follow the Neponset River Watershed Association, which was established in 1967!

Rocky Point Preserve, Plymouth

Take a short walk at this new property on the coast of Plymouth. It features a 0.4-mile trail through forest and freshwater wetlands, with a real treat at the end ... an overlook from a high bluff with a view the ocean. On a clear day, you may be able to see Saquish, Duxbury Beach, or even the Outer Cape! Part of the Cape Cod Bay watershed, it offers limited on-site parking at 302 Rocky Hill Road, Plymouth.

Darby Pond Well Water Protection Land, Plymouth

Hooray! West Plymouth has a new conservation property! The 197-acre Darby Pond Well Water Protection Land offers a 1.25-mile out-and-back trail through forest and reclaimed cranberry bogs. At the very end, you can enjoy views of Darby Pond, which drains to the Winnetuxet River, and is part of the Taunton River watershed. There is limited roadside parking at 266 Plympton Road in Plymouth.

 

Mordecai Lincoln Mill & Homestead, Scituate

This isn’t exactly a new property. The Town of Scituate has been working on it, behind the scenes, for a while now. Some exciting developments have taken place in the past year or so, including the establishment of a canoe and kayak launch on Bound Brook, along with a half mile of walking trails. The scenery at this property is gorgeous. Stop by if only to enjoy the view. The grounds — which feature stone walls, rocky outcroppings, and gardens — are open to the public, and restoration work is underway for the house and outbuildings. Limited parking at the top of the property's entrance drive, near the house, at 68 Mordecai Lincoln Road.

 

Fogg Forest/Carleton Property, Norwell

Just outside Norwell Center, the combined Fogg Forest and Carleton Property provide 154 acres of contiguous conservation land, views of Trout Brook, and at least 2 miles of trails... including a brand-new one known as the Cow Path. You can see it from the intersection of Main and Lincoln Streets – a long strip of grass bordered with stone walls, with a boardwalk at the end. Do yourself a favor and visit this sprawling, diverse property. Additional trail connections are scheduled for later this year. For access, look for the trailhead at rear of the field at 625 Main Street, at the edge of the woods. 

by Kezia Bacon

January 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. Visit the NSRWA website for more information about Explore South Shore 2025.