With restaurants, breweries, and stores closed now and for the foreseeable future, taking walks is the only game in town. Luckily, living on the South Shore of Massachusetts, there are many great spots to take a variety of walks. From the oceanside to the deep woods, this region has it all. Backyard Road Trips brings you ten walks for social distancing on the South Shore.
Even with the closures of many parks in Plymouth, there are still so many to choose from. This list covers ten of my favorite walks, and all of these are officially open at this time. They range from Quincy in the north to Plymouth in the south. Without further ado, here are ten walks for social distancing on the South Shore.
For each walk that has already been featured in Backyard Road Trips, a link to the original post with more information is included. The places that have never been featured before have a larger description. For more information about the history of these places and others, look for my new book, available in late June, A History Lover’s Guide to the South Shore.
Moswetuset Hummock- Quincy
A historic site in the present town of Quincy is Moswetuset Hummock. This was the base of the Massachusett tribe sachem, Chickatawbut. Sources say that “Moswetuset” is a variation of Massachusett, the name of the tribe and the future name for the Commonwealth. The hummock, which is a small earthen mound, is located at the northern end of Wollaston Beach and at the base or the southernmost part of the Squantum Peninsula. Moswetuset has also been translated as “place of the big house” or “place of the great chief.”
The park is located at the northern end of Wollaston Beach. It’s a small wooded area, but provides quite the views with the bay and marshes that surround. Parking can be found at East Squantum Street.
Clear Pond Conservation Area– Plymouth
With many of Plymouth’s parks and recreational areas closed, it’s time to be creative. I first stumbled upon this park last year. Park at the lot off of Surrey Drive in West Plymouth. The path takes you to, well, a clear pond. With the serene natural beauty of the pond and its isolated nature, you’ll feel you have the whole area to yourself. The path continues to a loop around a defunct cranberry bog.
Island Grove Park- Abington
For most visitors, Island Grove Park provides a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of its three major routes, all located close by, and the chugging of the train which seems to frequently pass by. Entering the park from the series of spaces on Park Street, the visitor encounters paths lined with pine trees. The paths meander through a small woodland with a pond in the middle.
This pond is used as a camp area in the summer. On the western side of the public parcel is an arch that was dedicated on the 200th anniversary of the town in 1912 in tribute to the soldiers who fought in the Civil War. The arch leads to a causeway over a dammed-up portion of the Shumatuscacant River (which translates to lower beaver brook). The park is popular with runners, fishermen, and dog walkers, most of whom do not know the importance of this piece of land.
Abolition at Island Grove
This park was an active location in the abolition movement of Massachusetts. The annual meetings known as the August 1st meetings (named for the date of meeting) took place here and were led by famed Boston abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison. The park was mentioned on numerous occasions in his influential newspaper The Abolitionist. The annual events were well attended, but with the advent of the Old Colony Railroad reaching Abington, attendance skyrocketed. These meetings took place until the Civil War. In addition to this, the site also housed industry and contained an amusement park. Today it is simply a pretty, secluded place to take a walk. Island Grove was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 2002. The parking area for Island Grove is on Parks Street and Lake Street.
Rockland Rail Trail- Rockland
The rail-trail traverses the town from east to west following the former route of the Hanover branch of the Old Colony Railroad. The 2.6-mile rail-trail connects Rockland with Abington and Hanover. Currently, the eastern terminus extends into Abington at the corner of Monroe and Birch Streets. Most of the trail is hard-packed dirt with some parts paved and with crushed stone; it’s good for biking, walking, and running. A nonprofit group rehabilitated the old rail line into a path for the public to enjoy. Access it from different places in town, but two popular parking lots are the one at the corner of East Water and Union Streets next to the Dunkin and the Banner bar/restaurant as well as parking at either Rockland High School or Memorial Park Elementary School.
Pilgrim Memorial State Park– Plymouth
Best known as the location of Plymouth Rock, this park is one of the few in Plymouth still open. The Pilgrim Memorial State Park is the land bordering the harbor on Water Street and whose most famous landmarks include the aforementioned rock as well as the Mayflower II. Other features of historical note include the statue of William Bradford, who served as the Plymouth Colony’s Governor for much of its early years, off and on from 1621 to 1657, although he was more on than off. Despite the fact that the park is a stop on the charter bus itinerary which means it is full of tourists ogling for a selfie in front of the rock, the Mayflower, or even the Bradford statue, the main focus of this trip is its natural beauty.
The land which is now this state park was renovated for the tercentennial of Plymouth in 1920. Prior to the construction of the columned portico which enshrines Plymouth Rock, (designed by the famous architecture firm of McKim, Mead, and White), the rock was at ground level. While today’s visitors to the rock know of its lore and importance, for many years the rock was neglected, chipped away, and even dropped! Today’s rock is a mere pebble compared to its original size.
A Versatile Park
For me, the park offers some of the best views in town. Walking along the waterfront, watching the boats meander in and out of the harbor brings a simple kind of joy and needed serenity. The view from the park is of the harbor and Long Beach, the peninsula at the horizon line. The wide expanse of grass is perfect for picnicking, letting kids run around, or visiting the sites of the Pilgrim’s trail. Although not as drastic as in the woodlands, each season stamps its own indelible mark on the waterfront park. Normally, in the summer it is the site of weekly concerts featuring top-notch regional performers, as well as a series of big band music and festivals throughout the season. Parking is available on Water Street.
John Little Conservation Area– Marshfield
One of the new walks I discovered in this age of social distancing, the John Little Conservation Area definitely makes the list of ten places for social distancing in the South Shore. It is located, along with a variety of other nature preserves, off beautiful Union Street in Marshfield. The walk winds through different terrain. Starting off as pasture, it dips into the woods under a pine forest, travels over a boardwalk, and eventually arrives at the river that leads to a long dock.
Tucker Preserve- Pembroke
Located across the Indian Head River from Luddam’s Ford, Tucker Preserve is another great spot for a social distancing walk on the South Shore. At first, the trail hugs the river providing picturesque waterside views. Eventually, the paths diverge. I chose the upper trail. Along with the path here, the Town of Hanover (right across the river) has many other choices for walking trails and conservation areas.
Marshfield Rail Trail
The trail follows the Old Colony Railroad train route that used to pass through Marshfield. The most accessible part of the trail begins in the south near Ocean Street, with direct access behind the CVS pharmacy. This segment of the trail passes over the South River eventually emptying out to South River Street. It crosses here and officially becomes the bridle trail. Look out for horses on this path. Other sections still exist too, including bits and pieces in more southerly areas of the town where it intersects with the Pilgrim Trail.
Wompatuck State Park– Hingham
Another state park, Wompatuck State Park, is truly massive. As the annex to the ammunition depot for much of the 20th century, this has been converted into a popular state park. Remnants of its past are still tangible as former bunkers, fences, and powerlines are still seen in and out of the woods. Even if the parking lot is intimidatingly crowded while trying to social distance, one note, this park is huge. This means there is much room to spread out once you’re inside it. With so much to explore, one suggestion would be to try bike riding here. Although popular, the expansiveness of this park makes the list of the top ten walks for social distancing on the South Shore.
Bare Cove Park- Hingham
Bare Cove Park was once part of the Hingham Naval Ammunitions Depot that manufactured the ordnance used in the guns of the warships. The land which was once the depot was acquired by the Navy from local residents in 1906. The first building campaign began five years later, as the area was used for Camp Hingham which lasted until 1925. During that year the camp structures were demolished save for the depot. The campus consisted of seventeen barracks, as well as a hospital, and was the training site for sailors.
At Its Height
The depot was in full swing during the World War II years. Ships would stock up on munitions here en route to or from the Charlestown Navy Yard. Munitions were manufactured and supplied here. At its peak in 1945, there were around 2400 people in the depot. This number is bigger than some towns! The depot was its own self-sufficient community which included a Howard Johnson’s restaurant, a store, a pool, their own basketball team, and their own jazz band. A neat fact is that acclaimed saxophonist John Coltrane was stationed at Hingham and played in the band. A picture of the band with him in it can be viewed at the Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot Memorabilia Display at the Dock House.
Although the base never received any direct combat, a calamitous event took place in May of 1944 when seventeen soldiers died. They were disposing of ammunition fifteen miles off the South Shore coast when an explosion ended their lives. The site also included underground bunkers and the Naval Handling Materials Laboratory which directed how to pack cargo for ships all over the Atlantic. In all there were roughly 100 buildings on the campus. It lasted until 1961 and was decommissioned a year later. The Navy kept control of the property until it was given to the town of Hingham in 1971.
Visitor Information
Bare Cove Park is located on 484 acres and is flanked by the Weymouth Back River. The park is a wildlife sanctuary that contains a variety of flora and fauna. Similar to Wompatuck, remnants of the former military infrastructure still exist, with forlorn roads and decrepit piers echoing its former use. It is best known as a popular spot for dog walking. Recently a leash law was enacted at the park; prior to this, it was not uncommon to see herds of dogs off-leash.
Not all of the former property is Bare Cove Park. It also consists of two museums, nearby condominium complexes, and the South Shore Conservatory, an arts and music center. The conservatory building was once the commandant’s house. On the Bare Cove property itself is the Dock House Museum whose contents include a variety of artifacts from its military use. It includes gas masks, many photographs, and ammunition shells.
It is located at 52 Bare Cove Road. Bare Cove Park today is another fascinating view of Hingham’s military past. In addition to this, the park offers visitors a great place to walk the dog, ride a bike, or go for a run. The coves of the Back River are gorgeous, with both land to explore and water views that encourage the visitor to stay awhile and escape the bombardment of modern life.
Here are ten walks for social distancing on the South Shore. Take your pick; they are all special in their own ways. Some have water views while others dive into deep woods. Many of these places include a bit of history to boot. Enjoy and be safe!
