Waiting Hill Preserve - North and South Rivers Watershed Association

https://www.town.duxbury.ma.us/conservation-department/pages/north-hill-marsh

Owned By: Town of Duxbury

Duxbury’s Waiting Hill Preserve is a 120-acre preserve with trails through the woods, and around retired cranberry bogs. Waiting Hill is the second tallest hill in Duxbury. The extended trail network provides access to Frederick B. Knapp Town Forest, North Hill Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, Round Pond Conservation Area, Cherry Lane Bogs, Green’s Harbor Path & Kettle Hole Loop, and North Hill Country Club.

Features

Duxbury purchased this property in 1986 for aquifer protection. It is named for the second-tallest hill in town (140 feet above sea level). Captain’s Hill (180 feet) on Standish Shore is the tallest. In earlier times, Duxbury residents would climb Waiting Hill to search the eastern horizon for ships heading home. You’ll just have to imagine such a view now, as the hill is heavily forested.

This land is within the region of the Patuxet Wampanoag tribe, who for centuries have inhabited the area around the Jones River now known as Duxbury, Kingston and Plymouth. To learn more about local Native American tribes, we encourage you to interact with their members. The Mashpee Wampanoag and the Herring Pond Wampanoag share information on their websites.

Trail Description

There are 2.6 miles of trails within the Waiting Hill Preserve itself, but there’s plenty more in this area, as it’s directly adjacent to North Hill Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, Knapp Town Forest, and Green’s Harbor Path, plus the Round Pond Conservation Area and Cherry Lane Bogs (across Mayflower Street). Some trails are wide cart paths; others are narrow. Some areas are flat, but others involve significant elevation. Get your heart pumping on these high hills!

Note: The yellow-blazed trail that leads through the Knapp Town Forest and North Hill Marsh will eventually bring you to the Waiting Hill Preserve. A trail map is strongly recommended for this impressively large set of properties. North Hill Country Club is directly adjacent to this property as well.

Habitats and Wildlife

The property is primarily pine forest, with oak, holly and blueberry. Many trees have fallen but the trails remain clear. There are some retired cranberry bogs as well, with trails leading around them. West Brook flows out of the Waiting Hill Preserve and eventually into the Duck Hill River.

The Duck Hill River finds its source in West Brook and North Hill Pond. After flowing through the Cow Tent Hill Preserve, it meanders through the Duxbury marshes for quite a distance before flowing into Duxbury Bay.