Favorite New England Walks
Where does the path lead? That’s one of my favorite all-time questions. There’s nothing like the first time exploring a new preserve, being excited to find out what is around the corner. With these following walks, there is no theme. They are not the toughest walks, nor the most scenic, nor do they flow into some kind of geographic order. They are simply walks of all different kinds that I enjoy taking. So where does the path lead? Come along to find out.
Cow Tent Hill Preserve, Duxbury, MA
Cow Tent Hill Preserve is a small preserve operated by the Wildlands Trust located on Route 3A close to the center of Duxbury. The trail consists of a steep loop. Although the uphill climb can be strenuous, wait for the descent! The walk is one of the favorites for my kids to launch themselves down the steep decline.
Grace Trail, Plymouth, MA
The Grace Trail, or Seaside Rail Trail, connects the former factory complex of Cordage Park to Nelson Park, along Plymouth’s waterfront district. This rail trail is relatively short at 1.2 miles, but it is flat and serene with great water views along the way. Take diversions to Holmes Reservation beach or the beach at Cordage Park to enhance your journey. The trail is paved in parts and has packed dirt with loose stone in others. It’s popular for walking, jogging, and biking. It is one of my favorite places to go for a run.
Stewart/Person Preserve, Kingston, MA
Another Wildlands Trust property, the Stewart/Person’s main path loops around a picturesque pond, Sylvia Place Pond. One of my favorite features is the fish ladder. Kids and adults will enjoy investigating the fish ladder. Although there is an initial climb from the parking lot, most of the path around the pond is flat. The preserve is located close to the sprawling Indian Pond development but feels worlds away from civilization. The parking lot is off Sylvia Place Road.
Weir Farm, Hingham, MA
Part of the Trustees’ properties, Weir Farm showcases the bygone days of the agricultural South Shore. Wander along paths of the farmland between stone walls and catch glimpses of the Boston skyline. The centerpiece of it is a working farm that houses animals such as pigs, horses, and cows. Walking the grounds is free, but if you’d like to venture into the barnyard, there is a fee. It is definitely one of my favorite places to see animals on the South Shore.
Stowe Rec Path, Stowe, VT
For a relatively flat, paved path alongside gorgeous scenery, look no further than Stowe’s Rec Path. This follows the west branch of the Little River on a 5.3-mile journey. It is ever the popular destination for Green Mountain walkers, joggers, and bikers. The path meanders back and forth over the river, spanned by wooden bridges. It is also a perfect way to access many of Stowe’s fine eateries and other establishments. Look for offshoots of the rec path such as the Quiet Path.
Ammonoosuc Lower Falls, Carroll, NH
With all of the mountain climbing and deep woods rambles that can be done in the White Mountains, one of my favorites, especially with kids, is the Ammonoosuc Lower Falls. This is located in Carroll, close to the Omni Mount Washington Resort. Access it by Lower Falls Road which is basically two ends of a parking lot. The road is now the path only accessible to two feet or two wheels. The Ammonoosuc River rushes through the rock-strewn landscape creating cascades. It’s not a dramatic drop but instead a continuous rushing landscape of cascades which are beautiful. It’s not a long walk for little feet too, and closer to the eastern parking lot, the river is calm enough to climb on the rocks and splash through the crystal clear mountain water.
Lowthorpe Meadows, Norwich, CT
Growing up in Norwichtown, one of the most beautiful places to ramble is the Lowthorpe Meadow. It is adjacent to the Old Burial Ground but consists of protected fields, with streams and a pond that makes for a gorgeous walk in any season. Park behind the Meadows Shopping Center or behind United Community and Family Services on East Town Street for access.
Kent Falls, Kent, CT
Kent Falls State Park is one of the most popular in the Connecticut state park system, with good reason, because it is a stunning cascade of flowing water. Sure, you can view it from the parking lot or even the base but for a real treat, scale the steps on the path which goes up and around the falls for an up-close view. Lovely in any season, but fall is transcendent.
Mine Hill Preserve, Roxbury, CT
Mine Hill represents nature’s overtaking industry. As old-growth forests were cleared to make room for farmland or in this case, industry, time has reclaimed it in the name of nature. What is now a preserve was once a thriving industrial site, mining iron from the hills of the Litchfield Hills. What is left are towering blast furnaces that you can explore up close. Maps on-site show what was formerly in certain locations. Mine Hill was once a profitable mining site of iron in the mid-1800s with the village of Chalybes rising alongside it. It included a railway, blast furnaces, and other town buildings. What remains is a series of furnaces, which are well-preserved and immense. The parking area is located off the aptly named Mine Hill Road. Mine Hill is one of many protected parcels of land under the tutelage of the Roxbury Land Trust. Footing can be tricky in parts, so the ability to get up close to the furnaces may be difficult for those visitors with stability issues. Notice the Shepaug River as it winds its way near the former village of Chalybes.
Forges Field, Plymouth, MA
A bit different than the rest, Forges Field is a large complex of athletic fields in Plymouth. It is situated in a secluded setting with plenty of foliage separating the many fields, unlike most athletic complexes. One of my favorite features of it is the storybook walk that takes place on a path to the left of the playground and the main parking lot. Follow the book page by page alongside this path as the story unfolds. The park is also popular for walking dogs on its many walkways.
Dogtown, Gloucester, MA
Ready for an off-road adventure? Let’s head to Gloucester on the North Shore of Massachusetts. A former village, Dogtown reached its population peak in the mid-18th century as 100 families called it home. Dogtown had a town square. The square is currently delineated and so are the home plots of the former houses. As the village declined, the land became known for its outcasts, derelicts, and witches allegedly taking residence here. In 1845, the last building in Dogtown was razed. The Dogtown settlement originated in 1693. Some say the name “Dogtown” derived from dogs that were prevalent in town and owned by women whose husbands were away fighting in the American Revolution. Another speculation is that the name refers to the feral dogs that roamed the grounds when their owners passed on.
Dogtown is best known for its giant boulders, which not only are tangible evidence of how hard it was to farm this land, but in the 1930s, philanthropist Roger Babson employed workers to carve inspirational sayings into the boulders of Dogtown. Phrases such as “Help Mother,” “If Work Stops, Values Decay,” and “Be Clean” adorn boulders of all sizes within Dogtown. Known as the Babson Boulders, there is a map to help search for the boulder route. The primary entrance for Dogtown is on Dogtown Road, a now dead end that was the primary thoroughfare of the village. Look for the sign that says “Dogtown Common” on Cherry Street in Gloucester. After parking, follow the main trail past the gate, by the sandpit, and soon you’ll come to the numbered house plots. Afterward, the Babson Boulder Trail veers right. Other sites such as Whale’s Jaw are on various trails.
Home
Sometimes my favorite paths are literally just a backyard road trip away. On a nice day, catching an ocean breeze at my house in Plymouth suits me just fine, even if there is not much hiking involved.
Conversely, ever since I was young, exploring the paths, or pseudo-paths of the swampland behind my house in Norwich, CT has always tickled my adventurous self. Not that these two are available for guests but it just goes to show that sometimes the path leads right to our own backyard.
Where does the path lead? Well hopefully this has been answered and the answer is everywhere! No matter where you call home, there is a path worth rambling down. For me, these trails are some of my favorite hikes, especially at this point in my life while traveling with young kids. No two are alike; some by the sea and some in the mountains, some uphill through the woods and some paved and flat. Where does your personal path lead?
