Simon Hill and Bowker Street Conservation Area

190 Bowker St, Norwell, MA 02061, USA

Owned By: Town of Norwell

• Directions
• Trail Map

200 acres, including Burnt Plain Swamp. Simon Hill is a 27-acre conservation area managed by Norwell’s Conservation Commission and Water Department. Bowker Street Conservation Area is a 173-acre property managed by Norwell’s Water Department. Contiguous with Hatch Lots Conservation Area.

Features

Simon Hill was originally targeted for development. It is now preserved for water protection and passive recreation. As its name suggests, the terrain is hilly, and also rocky in some places, with an interesting footbridge bridge constructed of one very large split log.

Bowker Street Conservation Area is used for reserve drinking water wells and groundwater protection, as well as passive recreation. It too offers some hills and rocky terrain.

According to the Massachusetts Historical Commission, native tribes occupied the Simon Hill area through the Woodland, First Period and Colonial Period, and likely continued to occupy the site into the late 1700s.

In 2020, a connector trail was constructed between the Simon Hill/Bowker Street Conservation Area and the adjacent Hatch Lots Conservation Area, comprised largely of simple boardwalks through wetlands at the edge of Burnt Plain Swamp. It is marked with one small sign, with additional signage to come. It does not yet (2020) appear on maps.

This land is within the region of the Massachuseuk (or Massachusett) Native American tribe.

Trail Description

The main trail leads into the woods at the end of Simon Hill Road, to the top of Simon Hill, and down the other side. After traversing some wetlands at Burnt Plain Swamp, it continues into the Bowker Street portion of the property. Here there are some trail loops. The main trail continues to Bowker Street. In the Bowker Street area, look for a small sign pointing the way to Hatch Lots. This new (2020) connector trail is still under construction, but it is easy enough to follow and will extend your walk considerably.

The terrain here might not be suitable for everyone. It is very rocky in places, and often steeper than what one would expect to find in the area. Those seeking a little elevation will enjoy the hills. Step carefully, especially when fallen leaves cover the trails in the fall.

Habitats and Wildlife

The forest here is primarily beech. It can be absolutely stunning in the mid-to-late fall.  There are also numerous rock outcroppings. A stream runs through the property, plus there is a vernal pool and some Red Maple Swamp on the Bowker Street portion of the property. The connector trail to Hatch Lots Conservation Area passes along the edge of Burnt Plain Swamp.

Burnt Plain Swamp is a large (hundreds of acres) wetland complex. It is known as a watershed divide, meaning that the water in one portion of it flows to one watershed, while the water in another portion flows to a different watershed. The waters in Burnt Plain Swamp flow north across Grove Street toward the Aaron River Reservoir in Wampatuck State Park and also south into Hoop Pole Swamp, which eventually drains to Third Herring Brook.