Our Smaller State Parks: 15 Local Adventures

If you live on the South Shore, chances are you’ve been to Wompatuck State Park -- 3500+ acres of woods, wetlands, meadows, and waterways that extend across Hingham, Cohasset, Norwell and Scituate. Its campsites, fishing areas, and numerous trails make it an inviting place to visit at any time of year. 

Perhaps you’re also aware of other state-owned lands nearby, such as the 26.5-acre Nantasket Beach Reservation, the 700-acre Ames Nowell State Park, the 7,000-acre Blue Hills Reservation, and the 12,400-acre Myles Standish State Forest. In terms of land mass, these five properties make up the majority of our local state park acreage. But they’re really just the tip of the iceberg.

 

Ready to expand your horizons and explore some of the commonwealth’s smaller, lesser-known properties? You’re in for a treat! Use the overview below to plan your next adventure. For more information, consult the detailed listings we’ve prepared for each locale in the Get Outdoors section of our website. 

Myles Standish Monument State Reservation

Duxbury

While the driveway and tower at the 28-acre Myles Standish Monument State Reservation are only open seasonally, you can hike up Captain’s Hill anytime to explore this 28-acre property overlooking Kingston Bay. Located on Crescent Street, with limited on-site parking.

Creedon Memorial Park

Stodder's Neck

Hingham

Located on the Back River in the Hingham Shipyard development, the tiny Creedon Memorial Parkoffers expansive views and historical context. Enjoy the breeze while learning about Hingham’s role in WWII. On-site parking at 192 HMS Halsted Drive. Just around the corner, part of the Back River Reservation, is Stodder’s Neck – 23 waterfront acres with river views. Very popular with dog walkers, it has a large on-site parking lot at 457 Lincoln Street (Route 3A).

Fort Revere Park

Hull

Located atop Telegraph Hill with a spectacular view of Boston Harbor, the 8.9-acre Fort Revere Park is a fascinating place to explore. With the remains of a US military fortification as its centerpiece, the property features a water tower, a small museum, and a picnic area. Limited on-site parking at 60 Farina Road. 

 

National Monument to the Forefathers

Pilgrim Memorial State Park

Ellisville Harbor State Park

Plymouth

The largest freestanding solid-granite monument in the United States stands atop Allerton Hill, overlooking Plymouth Harbor. The National Monument to the Forefathers is located at 72 Allerton Street, with ample parking. Pilgrim Memorial State Park is just down the road, on the waterfront, with concrete trails and the iconic Plymouth Rock. On-site parking at 79 Water Street, with no fee from December through March. Or head to South Plymouth, where Ellisville Harbor State Park offers a half-mile trail with views of Cape Cod Bay. Large on-site parking lot at 1861 State Road.

Caddy Memorial Park

Quincy Quarries Reservation

Squantum Point Park

Neponset Landing Park

Moswetuset Hummock

Quincy

Quincy Shores Reservation spreads across several different properties, including Wollaston Beach and Caddy Memorial Park, a tree-shaded playground with views of the salt marshes along Black’s Creek (Quincy Shore Drive). The city’s southwestern corner is home to the intriguing Quincy Quarries Reservation (Ricciuti Drive), where you can hike up and around giant outcroppings of granite. Or head to Squantum to enjoy views of the Neponset River at Squantum Point Park (552 Victory Road) and Neponset Landing Park (2 Hancock Street). And don’t miss Moswetuset Hummock, a small historic property with stunning views (440 E Squantum Street).

Cushing Memorial State Park

Scituate

“Wait, what? There’s a state park in Scituate?” Yes indeed! Two short trails and views of a North River salt marsh enhance the appeal of Cushing Memorial State Park, the 4.8-acre burial site of an early US Supreme Court Justice. On-site parking at the end of Cushing Park Road.

Webb Memorial State Park

Abigail Adams Park

Weymouth

Situated on a peninsula between the Fore and Back Rivers, the 36-acre Webb Memorial State Parkoffers a mile of easy, stroller-friendly walking trails and breathtaking views. Ample on-site parking at 361 River Street. Nearby, the 7.6-acre Abigail Adams Park features a 0.7-mile paved trail with additional Back River views. Ample on-site parking at 770 Bridge Street.

 

If you enjoy the outdoors, be sure to check out NSRWA’s Explore South Shore. Every morning, we highlight one of the region’s best nature places on Facebook and Instagram. Not on social media? We’ve listed all the locations on our website as well!

https://www.nsrwa.org/get-outdoors/explore-south-shore-2025/

by Kezia Bacon

 

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/

 

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/