Simon Hill and Bowker Street Conservation Area

190 Bowker St, Norwell, MA 02061, USA

(781) 659-8022

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.

This land is within the region of the Massachusett (or Massachuseuk) Native American tribe. For thousands of years, the land that today is known as Norwell was inhabited by indigenous people who grew crops, foraged, hunted, and fished in the Assinippi and North River areas. Circa 1617, a major outbreak of disease decimated an estimated 90% of the native population in New England, including the Massachusett and Wampanoag tribes that inhabited the South Shore. There are still descendants of these original inhabitants living here today. They are known as the Mattakeesett Tribe of the Massachusett Indian Nation , the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag, and the Mashpee Wampanoag 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 connector trail 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 Wompatuck State Park and also south into Hoop Pole Swamp, which eventually drains to Third Herring Brook.

Third Herring Brook is a major tributary to the North River. Its headwaters are located north of Jacobs Pond in Norwell, in the southern portion of Valley Swamp. Third Herring Brook exits the pond from the southern side, at the dam. (Watch for a fish ladder here in 2024!) The brook forms the border between Norwell and Hanover, and flows past Historic Sylvester Field, and into the North River downstream of the old stone bridge on Washington Street.

The Aaron River finds its source within Wompatuck State Park and flows northeast to the Aaron River Reservoir. The dam that holds the reservoir in place was constructed from 1976-1978. Below the dam, the river continues to flow through Cohasset. It joins with Brass Kettle Brook and eventually empties into the Gulf River in North Scituate. The Gulf River flows into the ocean at Cohasset Harbor.