The Nook Preserve - North and South Rivers Watershed Association

Wildlands Trust - The Nook Preserve, 66 Howlands Ln, Kingston, MA 02364, USA

Owned By: Wildlands Trust

Small property with 1/2 mile of woodland trails and beautiful views of the Jones River.

Features

Located close to the mouth of the tidal Jones River. In earlier times this property was favored by Native American settlers for summer encampments. The Patuxet, members of the Wampanoag tribe, made their home in the area now known as Duxbury, Kingston and Plymouth. More recently it was employed as farmland and pasture by European settlers. Old stone walls still stand at the perimeter, and at the edge of the marsh. The property was donated to the Wildlands Trust in 1992 by Mary C. Cherry.

Diagonally across the street is a historic memorial for John Howland, a Pilgrim.

Trail Description

A trail leads for about 1/3 mile through the woods to the edge of the marsh. About halfway down, there is a loop that includes a wooden bench with a beautiful view the Jones River. The medium-width trail is relatively flat and easy to follow.

Habitats and Wildlife

Maple and red cedar trees abound at this small but engaging property on the banks of the Jones River. There are also some very large pine trees, plus up-close views of the salt marsh. Look for wild geranium, an uncommon plant that is present here, perhaps because of the calcium-rich soil.

The Jones River finds its source at Silver Lake and other brooks and springs in Pembroke, Halifax and Kingston. It flows for 7.5 miles through Kingston, and drains into the Atlantic Ocean at Kingston Bay just downstream of this property. Follow the Jones River Watershed Association for more information.