NATURE
by Kezia Bacon
For the past few years, NSRWA’s Explore South Shore program has featured walking trails in its weekend posts. Since there are more than 200 public nature trails on the South Shore, in any given year we’re only able to highlight half of them. How many have you visited so far?
Know what pairs well with weekend walks? Doughnuts! This month’s article features nine trails to visit this fall. Consider stopping by a local doughnut shop as well. The chain stores have their fans, but this article focuses on smaller, locally-owned shops.
Harbor Walk + Coffee Shack
Fully-accessible and scenic throughout the year, Marshfield’s Harbor Walk extends for a mile along the salt marshes of the Green Harbor River, and offers on-site parking on Joseph Driebeck Way, across from Harbor Park. Just a hundred feet or so beyond the western terminus of the trail is the locally-renowned donut mecca, The Coffee Shack (259 Dyke Road, Route 139). To explore further, stroll down the Brant Rock Esplanade, along Island and Cherry Streets, and past the town pier before returning to your starting place.
Cavern Rock Park + Donut King
The refreshingly challenging 0.7-mile trail at Weymouth’s Cavern Rock Park is a superb place to walk off a caloric overload. How convenient, then, that longtime regional favorite, Donut King is just around the corner, at 411 Middle Street. In between, enjoy views of Whitman’s Pond, a headwater to the Weymouth Back River. Cavern Rock Park offers parking for 3 vehicles at 115 Westminster Road.
Wompatuck + Hornstra Farms
Have you visited Norwell’s Grove Street entrance to Wompatuck State Park? It’s an excellent starting place for exploring the southern portion of the 3500-acre park, in the Aaron River/Gulf River watershed. Around the corner on 246 Prospect Street, the farm store at Hornstra Farms offers freshly-baked apple cider doughnuts on Saturdays and Sundays, on a seasonal basis.
Whitney and Thayer Woods + Pour
You could spend all day at Cohasset’s Whitney and Thayer Woods! With 10 miles of trails and 824 acres, there’s a lot to explore, including Brass Kettle Brook, a headwater to the Gulf River. Fuel up in advance with a stop at Pour Coffee & Bagel. Co., right across the street at 190 King Street. Pour’s doughnuts are locally sourced, from the aforementioned Donut King. Whitney & Thayer Woods offers on-site parking at 380 Chief Justice Cushing Highway, Route 3A.
Knapp Town Forest + Hardly Saints Donuts
Stretching across 1,000 acres, the web of trails in and around Duxbury’s Knapp Town Forest might take a while to get to know. Start small, with the 2-mile Green’s Harbor Path and Kettle Hole Loop, which you can access behind the town offices at 842 Tremont Street in the Bluefish River watershed. Not far away, at 282 St. George Street, is Hardly Saints Donuts, which is open Wednesday through Sunday.
Folly Hill + Slacktide
Hanover has so many captivating conservation areas! Are you familiar with the Folly Hill and Bog Iron Trails, at 519 Broadway, in the Indian Head River watershed? The 130-acre property offers 3.6 miles of walking paths through woodlands and wetlands. Just down the street at 283 Columbia Road, Slacktide Coffee Roasters is known for the donuts it makes daily, from scratch.
McKenna Marsh + Union Square Donuts
The 2-mile loop trail through Hingham’s McKenna Marsh Conservation Area is a lovely place for a weekend walk. Enjoy views of Accord Brook, a tributary to the Weir River, along with forests and freshwater wetlands. The small on-site parking area at 130 Scotland Street is about 2 miles away from the Derby Street Shops, where an outpost of Somerville’s Union Square Donuts recently opened.
Dockside Donuts + Humarock Beach
Take a 3-mile walk on Humarock, Scituate’s expansive barrier beach, or enjoy river views along Central Ave. and River Streets, which run parallel to the water. In the off-season, you can park for free in the town lot on River Street, or near the beach entrance at 24 Marshfield Ave. A quick jaunt across the Sea Street Bridge gets you to Marshfield’s Dockside Donuts (17 Sea Street). Be sure to admire the South River as you cross the bridge!
Rockland Rail Trail + Hole in One
Rockland’s Rail Trail, is paved, wheelchair- and stroller-friendly, and scenic. It stretches all the way across town, for 3.5 miles, from the Hanover town line to Abington. It’s all within the watershed of French’s Stream and Cushing Brook, part of the Indian Head/North River system. There’s a parking area at 638 Market Street, and if you head west on the trail to #482, you’ll soon arrive at Hole in One, a donut shop with roots on Cape Cod. What a great combination!
If you enjoy the outdoors, be sure to check out NSRWA’s Explore South Shore program. Every morning, we highlight one of the region’s best public nature places on Facebook and Instagram. Every weekend, we feature long and a short walking trails. Not on social media? We’ve listed all the locations on our website as well!
Kezia Bacon’s articles appear courtesy of the North and South Rivers Watershed Association, a local non-profit organization devoted to protecting our waters. For membership information and a copy of their latest newsletter, contact NSRWA at (781) 659-8168 or visit www.nsrwa.org. You will also find thirty years of Kezia’s Nature columns there.