{"id":9078,"date":"2018-10-23T15:55:19","date_gmt":"2018-10-23T19:55:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/?page_id=9078"},"modified":"2023-07-28T22:56:31","modified_gmt":"2023-07-29T02:56:31","slug":"enjoying-the-great-outdoors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/zero-waste-main-page-2\/enjoying-the-great-outdoors\/","title":{"rendered":"Enjoying the Great Outdoors"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Get Out and Enjoy the Great Outdoors – You’ll Be Glad You Did<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Have you explored all these trails right in our own backyard?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Town of Needham<\/strong><\/p>\n

Interested in helping keep the Town trails in good shape? Find out about volunteer opportunities<\/a>,\u00a0 including the trails steward program.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Ridge Hill Reservation<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is the largest nature preserve in Needham, with open fields, red maple swamps, and mixed forests located on over 400 acres.\u00a0 The main entrance for the Ridge Hill is located on Charles River Street, in the northwest portion of Needham. The 9.4 miles of trails are rated light\/rolling — moderate.\u00a0 <\/strong>A favorite trail is the Esker Trail, which begins near the 2nd<\/sup> parking area off the main park road, where a map is posted in a kiosk.\u00a0 An esker is a winding ridge of gravel & boulders deposited from a melting glacier. At marker #9 there is a wooden boardwalk built recently to protect the wetland; if you walk to its end, turn left to come up near the buildings and main driveway of Ridge Hill.\u00a0 Read more …<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 Trail Map \u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a><\/strong>Town Forest<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are many paths to explore in this 200 acres of rolling woodlands and forested wetlands. Horsford Road is the main trail running the length of the property. A highlight is the scenic view offered from the \u201cHigh Rock,” a high (about 250 feet) prominence hidden in the trees and accessed in the southeastern part of the Town Forest off High Rock Street. The main entrance and parking area for the Town Forest is located on Central Avenue, across from the RTS. You can also park along High Rock Street to enter. \u00a0\u00a0 Trail Map<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Reservoir Trail<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Reservoir Trail, newly restored and improved in 2017-2018, is a gem. Entered from the parking area of the Public Services Administration Building at 500 Dedham Avenue, this lovely trail is fully accessible to all persons.\u00a0 The mostly shaded path and boardwalk around the Reservoir is \u00bd mile long and takes you through a red maple swamp and woods. There are benches about every 1\/10 mile. There are also two lookout\/fishing piers where you might see turtles, ducks, or a great blue heron.\u00a0\u00a0 Read more …<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Trail Map <\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>\u00a0Newman School Trail (Eastman Conservation<\/strong> Area)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Perfect for families with young children or for anyone with a half hour to spend in nature. (Please use it only when school is not in session, however.) The trails loop around a small pond and over several boardwalks and bridges.\u00a0 A spur trail on the western side of the pond follows the crown of an upland peninsula surrounded by red maple swamps.\u00a0\u00a0Step-downs are in place to bring visitors closer to nature. The 1\/3 mile Eastman Conservation trail, with hard packed surface and boardwalks, is accessible to all.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Sudbury Aqueduct Trail<\/strong><\/p>\n

Built in the 1870\u2019s, the Aqueduct can carry water from Farm Pond in Framingham to the Chestnut Hill Reservoir in times of emergency. In Needham there are several segments of wide, level, tree-lined trails along the Aqueduct. A new mile-long section, which passes through the Eliot School, begins at Echo Bridge,\u00a0 which incorporates a pedestrian walkway with views of the old mill complex in Newton Upper Falls.\u00a0 Continue through Wellesley to reach the western section on the campuses of Olin College and Babson College. A map of the path can be found on the Trailforks website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Bay Colony Rail Trail<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here’s a pleasant way to spend time outdoors. Thanks to a grassroots effort, an abandoned railway that once ran to Medfield has been transformed into a smooth, crushed stone 1.7 mile walking and cycling path. The wooded trail passes by the Needham Town Forest and ends with looped paths through the meadow at the Charles River Peninsula<\/a>, a Trustees of Reservations property. Parking (and a boat launch) is available at Red Wing Bay on the south side of Fisher Street, and there is also access from High Rock Street. The Bay Colony Rail Trail website<\/a> has information about the project, which includes sections in Newton, Medfield and Dover.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Trail Map<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Rosemary Lake Trails<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the heart of Needham, these linear trails are about 1 mile in length and run through the 37 acres of mixed woodlands and forested wetlands that make up the Rosemary Lake area. Trails provide access to varied terrain, with some views of Rosemary Lake and the adjacent wetlands and streams. Difficulty is rated at light\/rolling — moderate\/steep. An entrance to this trail, marked by large boulders, is part way down the new road off Rosemary Street that leads to the Rosemary Recreation Complex on Rosemary Lake. Pedestrian access is available on May St. and Nehoiden St.\u00a0 Trail map<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mitchell Woods Trails\u00a0 <\/strong>A 1\/4 mile loop with narrow but well-used paths offers a chance for a fun exploration of this mini-woodland. The trails are available after school hours and are located on Brookline Street west of Mitchell Elementary School. The woods are adjacent to the school fields and playground, and can also be accessed from trail heads on Brookline Street and James Avenue. Parking for three vehicles is available at the end of the James Avenue cul-de-sac.\u00a0 Additional parking is located at Mitchell School.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Trail Map<\/a><\/p>\n

Greendale Avenue Trails\u00a0 <\/strong>1.5 miles of linear trails run parallel to Greendale Ave. and Rte. 128 (Interstate 95) in the narrow 40-acre buffer between the highway and Greendale Ave. There is now an easement behind the Modera Housing complex that keeps the trail connection. Trail map.<\/a><\/p>\n

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State Owned Trails<\/h3>\n

Cutler Park<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/a>The largest freshwater marsh on the middle Charles River is protected by this 700-acre state-owned nature park just east of Route 128 (Interstate 95) in Needham and Dedham. The marshland and the small lake attract over 100 species of birds. Cutler Park\u00a0 offers a variety of experiences, from a leisurely 1.5-mile loop around beautiful Kendrick Pond (a favorite walk with children and dogs) to exploration of longer paths. Paths can be muddy after wet weather. (For the pond loop, parking is available off of Kendrick Street, and just beyond the Newton border where Kendrick St. becomes Nahanton St. is a canoe rental.) An access point to the marshy end of the park is on Needham Street in Dedham, just east of Rte. 128.\u00a0 Read more…<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Trail map<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Hemlock Gorge<\/h4>\n
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Echo Bridge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The lovely Hemlock Gorge<\/a>, with a path of slightly less than a mile, gives access to Echo Bridge.<\/p>\n

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Check out Trails in Nearby Towns<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Dedham<\/strong>‘s Wilson Mountain Trail is a favorite, with panoramic views Boston. Get information about this trail at the\u00a0 MA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation website.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Wilson Mountain Trail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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Wellesley<\/strong> has 43 miles of trails. Their trails website has a wealth of information and trails maps.<\/p>\n

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Fuller Brook Path<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Town of Wellesley Trails<\/a><\/p>\n

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Newton<\/strong> has many walking trails, including Nahanton Park, on the Charles River across Nahanton Street from Cutler Park.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Newton Conservators<\/a><\/p>\n

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The Town of Dover<\/strong> has some lovely trails, including the popular Noanet Woods, a Trustees of Reservations property.<\/p>\n

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Noanet Woods<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Open Space for Walking in Dover<\/a><\/p>\n

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A Short List of Organizations Which Protect Our Natural Areas<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n