The Little-Known Beach In Massachusetts You Can Only Reach By Hiking This 2-Mile Trail, This Secluded Cave In Massachusetts Is So Worthy Of An Adventure, The Easy And Enchanting Hike Everyone In Massachusetts Should Take This Winter, The East Head Pond Trail In Massachusetts Completely Transforms In The Winter Months, This Trail Leading To A Large Canyon Is Often Called The Grand Canyon Of Massachusetts, The One-Of-A-Kind Trail In Massachusetts With Arched Bridges And A River Is Quite The Hike, Theres A Glowing Pumpkin Trail Coming To Massachusetts And Itll Make Your Fall Magical, A Mysterious Woodland Trail In Massachusetts Will Take You To The Original Eyrie House Ruins, Abandoned States of America Facebook group. The brook continues north to Triphammer Pond and ultimately flows into the Weir River. DCR maintains the former Navy ammunition depot annex where old bunkers and the remains of an extensive railroad are still evident. However, a gate blocked access from the trail to the northwest section of the park, which still had several dangerous abandoned buildings. Book hotels from Trip.com and get fantastic deals and exclusive discounts! Avoid riding on the trails in wet conditions. Blue Spring was commercially bottled. Parking: Soon after it exits the pond, it flows into the Weir River. could not find your e-mail or password. Approximately 100,000 people visit the park each year. Certain ruins can even be found along a trail in a forest preserve or state park, adding a certain level of spookiness to a hike. The Visitor Center is accessible from the Union Street entrance. its amazing how nature takes back abandoned buildings and spaces in no time. It is a place that transports you away from the stresses of life and allows you to just be. Much of the park is undeveloped and is heavily wooded. Explore South Shore Art Center when you travel to Cohasset. Were looking to complete the remedial investigation for the site, Charette said. Good to see there's still something there. The railroad tracks fan out throughout the property from what is now known as the Whitney Spur Rail Trail at the northwest corner of the park. Please let us know how we can improve this page. white dog with black eye patch names; southside legend strain certified; birmingham legion fc players salary. There are many rocky outcroppings and glacial erratic boulders throughout the park. Please limit your input to 500 characters. The Aaron River is relatively close to this entrance. Explosives such as TNT loaded depth charges, bombs, fuses, projectiles, and cartridges were produced and stored along with the assembly of rocket motors. There are 12 miles of paved bike paths, plus off-road trails for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. There is a rail spur track at each of the sites linked to the Greenbush Line. Some motor pool and factory buildings remain north-north-east but the asbestos abatement has reduced them to mere hulks. With so many trails, a map is definitely needed to navigate. The Gulf River flows into the ocean at Cohasset Harbor. While there is plenty of natural beauty to explore around the Bay State, there are also fascinating ruins to be found as well. Visit Massachusetts State Parks Locations, Snowmobile Trails in State Parks Locations, Includes level, packed-surface campsite, pedestal grill, accessible picnic table. Or you can just get in contact with the local Boy Scouts troop down there. In 1969, Wompatuck State Park opened to the public. I was able to locate all the areas that appear pn the satellite views. Recommended Trail Activities: Running, Walking, Hiking, Trail Biking Camping is open from mid-April until mid-October. The Annex was connected to the Ammunition Depot on the Back River, at what is now Bare Cove Park by railroad. There are numerous woodland trails for hiking, dog-walking, horseback riding, cycling, and cross-country skiing. Wompatuck State Park, Hingham: See 119 reviews, articles, and 40 photos of Wompatuck State Park, ranked No.2 on Tripadvisor among 20 attractions in Hingham. We utilized this park as an economical . Located at the northern end of the park, the 200-acre closed area includes a few contaminated buildings where munitions such as torpedoes were assembled for shipping to a Navy depot at what is now Bare Cove Park in Hingham. In 1941, the United States government established the Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot Annex (known by locals as the Cohasset Annex) on the site. Blue Spring is open seasonally, featuring water drawn directly from a natural aquifer. The trail winds through the woods, passing rock outcroppings and loops back to the Whitney Spur Rail Trail at marker NN8. The nearly 3,600-acre park contains more than 110 now-filled storage bunkers, including - according to the sites historians - one that housed parts of the Navys first nuclear depth charge. Blue Spring . There are over 250 bird species in the park, including: blue jay, great blue heron, gosshawk, red tail hawk, woodcock, yellow warbler, ruffed grouse, and quail. Many cement bunkers were constructed and the area became a huge munitions storage depot. The Friends of Wompatuck are great stewards of the land and encourage you to report downed trees. (214 South Street) a little known fact that many dont know about. Corps officials are studying a report received in May on the projects analysis of the contamination and a range of proposed solutions, which range from removing contaminated soil to simply posting warning signs and taking down the wire fence that bars people from the site, not far from the parks campground. Wompatuck State Park spans 3,526 acres of forest, streams and ponds. Other major rivers are Aaron River and Bound Brook which originate near the Norwell border and flow east along Hinghams borders with Norwell and Scituate into Aaron River Reservoir. Note: VirtualGlobetrotting is an entertainment website is and is not associated 19ms. The Aaron Reservoir Dam was constructed from 1976-1978. You cant beat that. This 3,500-acre Massachusetts state park served as the Hingham Naval Ammunition Annex from 1941 to 1965. those are great photos. Constant cracks and creeaks and I was on foot. For mountain bikers, the park is home to one of the longest section of switchbacked singletrack in the state. Monday: 1:00-5:00pm The U.S. Navy deactivated the Cohasset Annex in 1963 and declared the land as surplus. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts took possession of the land in 1966, and began developing it as a public park the following year. Blue Street, Norwell. In winter, the trails are perfect for cross . When World War II ended, this area reverted to maintenance status only. The Wompatuck Trail, accessible from the Main entrance in Hingham, is ADA accessible. For information on the Wompatuck State Park Big Loop Trail, head to the AllTrails website. LEGAL INNOVATION | Tu Agente Digitalizador; LEGAL3 | Gestin Definitiva de Despachos; LEGAL GOV | Gestin Avanzada Sector Pblico PO Box 43 Find Wompatuck State Park camping, campsites, cabins, and other lodging options. Wompatuck State Park mountain bike trail map. Thus, any way you choose will be a great hike. Wompatuck State Park, an unusual site in Hingham. Most hotels are fully refundable. u have to see it to belive how big it is. A lock icon ( Distance. It remained in use until 1965, and served both World War II and the Korean Conflict. It remained in use until 1965, and served both World War II and the Korean Conflict. Wompatuck State Park is popular state park south of Boston and the trails are popular with a variety of user groups. Wednesday: 9:00am-5:00pm Scattered throughout the property are over 100 decommissioned military bunkers, which were used to store ammunition. Maps are provided at many of the kiosks by the Friends of Wompatuck. Stroller-friendly in some sections. Below the dam, the river continues to flow through Cohasset. Find cheap hotels near Verizon Authorized Retailer - GoWireless in Plymouth County with real guest reviews and ratings. It joins with Brass Kettle Brook and eventually empties into the Gulf River in North Scituate. . Its also great spot to begin a mountain bike ride through the park. Never enough time. The land at Wompatuck State Park was commonly used by the Massachusett tribe, led by Chief Josiah Wompatuck. iam gointo do do some traveling there soon, because its been so long and the last time i was there i didnt have my digi cam. There will be signs for Wompatuck State Park along the way. In addition to the beauty here, the trail will lead you to numerous . Check out some of the older satt. 1665 Chief Josiah Wompatuck deeded the land to settlers. Scattered throughout the property are over 100 decommissioned military bunkers, which were used to store ammunition. Many never returned. The Mount Blue Spring is currently closed. The water is tested frequently for safety. Since then, 725 acres have been added. This allows for no two hikes to be the same. The Mount Blue Spring is currently closed. Acquired by the state in 1967, the park offers some 40 miles of wooded mountain bike and hiking trails, 12 miles of paved bicycle trails, more than 250 campsites, and open water for boating and . Once on N11, turn right to stay on N11. Much of the park is undeveloped and is heavily wooded. Families maintained woodlots to heat their homes. Federal engineers also discovered the land mine area of suspected unexploded ordnance buried near a bike trail, Boles said. For more Wompatuck history check out our newsletters. Tweet. Zimmerman said his department is unable to say when the closed area will be opened. Scoop the poop! In the spring some of the trails can be muddy so be prepared. Common species include: muskrat, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, skunk, painted turtle, bullfrog, coyote, deer, bobcat, fisher cat, red & grey fox, yellow spotted salamander, yellow spotted turtle, box turtle, woodcock, bass, pickerel and sunfish. One of Wompy's trails leads right into Whitney Thayer, and covering both areas on the same day would make for a very lengthy ride. Fax: 781.659.7915 it is quite spread out and goes on for miles. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Most buildings have had their roofs and windows removed and are open to the elements. Among the most common are Swamp Azalea, Solomons Seal, While Geranium, ladies slipper, and Sheep Laurel. and some of the bunkers are still visible. Habitats include semiconserved oak-conifer transitional forest, hemlock groves, ponds, palustrine wooded swamps and early successional shrubland. Blue . Search. According to the parks historians, the Navy also tested missile parts there in the early years of the Cold War and experimented with rocket fuels. In 1655 he deeded the land we now call Hingham so that others . Blue Spring is open seasonally, featuring water drawn directly from a natural aquifer. . The Friends of Wompatuck have made it a little easier to navigate with a downloadable map on your device that has a GPS locator. Wompatuck State Park Trails. If you have, please let us know if you saw the abandoned buildings. The Annex was known by locals as the Cohasset Annex. It was reactivated for the Korean conflict and once again went into full military operation. You can also download the Wompy map onto your phone which provides a GPS locator and map. 1h 18m. In the west, Prospect street in Norwell and residential property east of Prospect, Charles, Lazell and Free Streets; Triphammer Woods and Triphammer Pond Conservation Land; and a mix of residential and conservation land north of Triphammer Pond, in Hingham and Cohasset form the boundary. The land at Wompatuck State Park was commonly used by the Massachusett tribe, led by Chief Josiah Wompatuck. The Burbank Boulder is located in the northeast area of the park near Whitney Thayer Woods. Cleaning up contamination resulting from ammunition and fuel storage and disposal has been a long story for the park, Boles said. Land was acquired from private homeowners for the purpose of expanding the Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot nearby (now Bare Cove Park). Camping season typically runs from early May until Columbus Day weekend. Only 35 minutes from Boston, Wompatuck State Park is a gem that will make you forget that you are in Eastern Massachusetts. anonymously (anonymous users cannot post links). Date of experience . Check out these highly recommended hotels in Accord for 2023! You can come from Boston on the train and use the trail - until you get to the border of Wompatuck and theres a big fence, Boles said. Begun three years ago, the project to study and propose solutions for the contaminated area, about one to two acres, where the military disposed of old munitions and weapons materials during and after World War II, raises hope that all of the parkland property acquired by the state more than 40 years ago will finally be open to the public. Offering an over 250 site campground, 12 miles of non-motorized roads and 40 miles of forest trails, the park is a great place to get into nature. This rock, a remnant of the glacial period, balances itself at three points equally distant from each other. It could have just been some junk making it look like two areas. Many of the roads inside the park are . Camping at Wompatuck State Park is $17/night for Massachusetts residents and $54/night for non-residents. [10] The northwest section opened in November 2014 and the gate was removed. But if you wandered off the trail, you might have a blast of another kind.. Difficulty (Grade/Surface): Easy, Moderate In addition to a large campground and an extensive trail system, the park is noted for the free spring water that can be obtained at Mt. Wompatuck State Park spans 3,526 acres of forest, streams and ponds. The tall trees were used for masts and stone walls were built to denote survey and boundary lines. This land that we call Wompatuck State Park was originally the property of the Wampanoag Tribe. The road loops past 2 trails on the right and another building foundation at trail marker NN10. Wompatuck State Park. The trail system is well marked and the trail map is a very good representation of the park. Wompatuck State Park is covered by the Cohasset, MA US Topo Map quadrant. Wompatuck State Park in Hingham, Massachusetts: 33 reviews, 24 photos, & 8 tips from fellow RVers. This left most of the land untouched until 1941. The way the park is set up, you choose your own adventure. Both park users and officials look forward to a time when the burning grounds will be declared safe and the closed area will be open. A few other pics from the Annex from this spring. In addition, Accord Brook flows northward along the western edge of the park (including the section abutting Prospect Street), eventually into Triphammer Pond. There are over 250 bird species in the park, including : blue jay, great blue heron, goshawk, red tail hawk, yellow warbler, ruffed grouse, and quail. I thought i heard they dont do tours but who the hell knows. The 1.5-mile Whitney Spur Rail Trail now connects the Cohasset MBTA station to Wompatuck State Park. It was reactivated for the Korean conflict and once again went into full military operation. Wompatuck State Park has six entrances. From route 3 take exit 35 heading north on route 228. The water is tested frequently for safety. Debee Tlumacki . You will receive your first email soon. Many are intended for mountain bikes, but are also ideal for hiking. The rail spur entered the ammunition depot at its northern boundary near Leavitt Street and served military warehouses, a cluster of which were in the area of the spur and Leavitt Street. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. The hiking trails at Ames Nowell State Park are plentiful. There are still descendants of these original inhabitants living on the South Shore today, and they are known as theMattakeesett Tribe of the Massachusett Indian Nation, theMassachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag, andMashpee Wompanoag Tribe. It is a wonderful place to spend a weekend exploring. You will have access to toilets and showers at the campground. the dog but I have also ridden a great deal of the mountain bike trails.The trail system is well marked and the trail map is a very good . hookup & dumping. theres a path up to it, this place is well worth the trip. The Corps fenced off and thoroughly examined several acres before pronouncing it safe. Land and water creatures abound in the park. 43 reviews of Wompatuck State Park "Wompatuck State Park is a huge (something like 4000 acre?) The loop trail connecting these two points to S11-S14 crosses the Aaron River twice. images and you can see alot has been knocked down over the years. Trails in Wompatuck State Park consist of wide non-motorized paved roads, paved bike paths, and dirt foot trails. In the 1700s, early settlers and ship captains held title to the area, but the land was never extensively developed. English settlers purchased the land from Wompatuck in 1655. Have you hiked or biked the loop at Wompatuck State Park? kinda freaky out there when you're on your own. The area to the Northeast is completely destroyed except for a few smaller standing structures. Trees include Atlantic white cedar, American holly, chestnut oak, shagbark hickory, mountain laurel, pink dogwood, white pine, American beech, and hemlock some estimated to be 175 years old. Suggestions are presented as an open option list only when they are available. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts took possession of the Annex, in 1966, and later turned the 3,500 acres (14 km 2) into the present day Wompatuck State Park. Yes, dogs are allowed in Wompatuck State Park. The park's campground offers 262 campsites, 140 of which have electrical service. Via Car Use the address of Faneuil Hall as a guide for GPS directions: 1 Faneuil Hall Square, Boston, MA 02109. Fish commonly found in the 136-acre Aaron River Reservoir include bass, pickerel, sunfish, and perch. The trail leads to a paved road, which is Leavitt Street, at marker NN12. In the 1700s, early settlers and ship captains held title to the area, but the land was never extensively developed. For mountain bikers, the park is home to one of the longest sections of switchbacked singletrack in the state. Take a left and head towards NN12, Follow N12 which is a dirt trail until it merges with the Wompatuck Bikeway (You will cross one paved trail). The red train shop was always my favorite spot anyway, good to see it's still around. Each varies in length from 1 mile to 25 miles. This area was known as the Cohasset Annex. The park features numerous seasonal campsites, plus fishing and non-motorized boating on the Aaron River Reservoir. Throughout Wompatuck State Park are remnants of the ammunition depot such as bunkers, railroad tracks, old fire hydrants, and many other fixtures. The easiest and cheapest thing to do is to board up the asbestos-contaminated buildings and put up warning signs, Boles said. In addition to a large campground and an extensive trail system, the park is noted for the free spring water that can be obtained at Mt. Thus, there are no real designated loops outside of the 1-mile Heart Healthy Loop. The ammo dumps (bunkers) are to the north and east and have been completely destroyed. This map is centered on the presently in-use state park camping area. a recent history walk sponsored by FOW, Looking at a 1950s map of Wompatuck next to an old military bunker. Book hotels from Trip.com and get fantastic deals and exclusive discounts! [9] The 1.5-mile (2.4km) Whitney Spur Rail Trail opened from the station to the park around the same time. The 1.5mile long Whitney Spur Rail Trail was constructed in 2003 on land owned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation from the MBTA Cohasset Commuter . Located within the boundaries of four towns - Cohasset, Hingham, Norwell, and Scituate - Wompatuck State Park was once part of the Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot Annex, used from 1941 until 1965. This park is also the site of a glacial erratic, the Burbank Boulder. Take mass transit into the city. Now a federal project to clean up the burning grounds at Wompatuck is expected to conclude a decades-long effort by the Army Corps of Engineers to resolve all the parks contamination issues dating to its history as an ammunition storage and weapons development site. During World War II the Depot was the main ammunition supply for the North Atlantic naval forces. Wompatuck kind of spoiled us a bit, as it was our first introduction to RV camping at a state park. Wompatuck State Park is located in eastern Massachusetts, just half an hour south of Boston. There is one campground at Wompatuck State park with 260 sites. Whether youre bringing a tent, R.V., or trailer, you'll find plenty of space to enjoy the outdoors. Some motor pool and factory buildings remain north-north-east but the asbestos abatement has reduced them to mere hulks. Many of these bunkers have been backfilled, but some remain exposed. Fish commonly found in the 136-acre Aaron River Reservoir include bass, pickerel, sunfish, and perch. Blue Spring was commercially bottled.When the Civil War broke out all the local men were swept into the fight. Weather at the park is on the cool side - average temperatures can get down into the 20s in the . I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. 1,321 ft. Wompatuck State Park is a state-owned, public recreation area of about 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) in size located primarily in the town of Hingham with portions in the neighboring towns of Cohasset, Norwell, and Scituate, Massachusetts, in the United States. The park is very popular with trailer campers: electric hookups, a dumping station, and potable water are all available. Much of the park is undeveloped and is heavily wooded. (Until 1775 when Cohasset was established as a separate town, it was part of Hingham.) Explosives such as TNT-loaded depth charges, bombs, fuses, projectiles, and . - Trail Map (PDF) - Recommended Spring '22 Hikes (PDF) Season: Camping Season is mid-May through mid-October. The rest of the park contains a great many hiking trails. Blue Street, Norwell. In 1969 the park opened for limited outdoor recreational use, and in 1973 it was dedicated as Wompatuck State Park. Every winter, the sailing vessel Noorderlicht is intentionally frozen into Tempelfjorden. Explosives such as TNT loaded depth charges, bombs, fuses, projectiles, and cartridges were produced and stored along with the assembly of rocket motors. Turkey Hill is north of the park in Cohasset. I've worked in the entertainment industry for much of my adult life and I love photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world! Visit the MBTA website for further information. Samples from the grounds will determine whether excavation is required. Because there are 40 miles of trails on 3500 acres, there are many intersections. Being adjacent to the rail access point to the Ammunition Depot Annex, the area features remnants to many depot structures and abandoned railroad tracks fanning out from the spur track. Home / Hiking / Wompatuck State Park Grove Street Entrance (Norwell), https://www.mass.gov/locations/wompatuck-state-park. In 2003, the DCR sold the land for the Cohasset commuter rail station and parking lot to the MBTA, in exchange for the construction of a rail trail on the former rail spur. The materials disposed of consist of small arms ammunition, machine gun bullets, flares, incendiaries, irritants (gases), and grenades, Charette said. Most buildings have had their roofs and windows removed and are open to the elements. Explosives such as TNT-loaded depth charges, bombs, fuses, projectiles, and cartridges were produced and stored here. The trail offers a number of activity options and is. The park has a large number of paved roads remaining from its use as a Naval Ammunition Depot. The Braintree T (train/subway/ferry) station is about 20 min from the . Email: info@nsrwa.org, Public Office Hours: The route continues on the road straight past NN10 and turns right onto a dirt trail. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state, Read the rules for hunting in state parks. Circa 1617, there was a major outbreak of disease from European settlers that decimated an estimated 90% of the native population in New England, including the Massachusett and Wampanoag tribes that inhabited this area. subject to the rules of our, THIS STORY HAS BEEN FORMATTED FOR EASY PRINTING, Report: Warrant Issued for Roggies Bar Owner, Boston Pops Concert Move Keeps the Beach Boys, Ditches Joey McIntyre, Lawmakers pass compounding pharmacy oversight bill, Follow this list on Twitter: @BostonPopular. US Topo Map. For thousands of years, the land that encompasses what is today Norwell was inhabited by indigenous people. In their absence, the land was not utilized and the forest started to reclaim it. Directions The land at Wompatuck State Park originally belonged to Wampanoag chief Josiah Wompatuck. Wompy's trails can be wet in early spring. Land and water creatures abound in the park. Find cheap hotels near Plymouth County Weir River Farm from AUD 168 with real guest reviews and ratings. With over 40 miles of trails, some paved and some dirt foot trails, there is enough room to have a quiet moment alone at a cove along the Aaron River Reservoir on a busy Saturday in July. Still some stuff there, but you can see that they are systematically taking it all down. it is a wonderful place . Norwell MA 02061, Phone: 781.659.8168 Wompatuck State Park welcomes everyone. The easiest way to access union street is to exit off of MA-228 onto Middle Street, which turns into Union Street. If you get to the small brook, then you have gone too far. There are 12 miles of paved biking trails in the park, and many more miles . I was able to follow the roads to the other area where there are more buildings. Parking: Two informal roadside parking areas, each for 3-4 vehicles, on Prospect Street in Norwell, close to the Hingham town line. Historic site. There are over 250 bird species in the park, including: blue jay, great blue heron, gosshawk, red tail hawk, yellow warbler, ruffed grouse, and quail. Outside the parktrail/gate entrances -Rt3A Cohasset Rail Station toWhitney Spur trail, and Doane St, Cohasset gate. Theyd use them as echo chambers, recalled Friends member Steve Cobble of Quincy. It joins with Brass Kettle Brook and eventually empties into the Gulf River in North Scituate. Thanks for the info, we'll just have to add it to our ever growing list. The dam that holds the reservoir in place was constructed from 1976-1978. From what I could see through the door it might be two rooms? February 27, 2023 equitable estoppel california Accord Brook, which originates in Accord Pond, flows north along the parks border, from the Hingham-Norwell town line to S. Pleasant Street. It stretches into four towns Hingham, Cohasset, Scituate and Norwell. You can also join our Abandoned States of America Facebook group and share any of the photos you have. A section of railroad, the Whitney Spur, once connected the Ammunition Depot to the Old Colony Railroads Greenbush Line. Wompatuck State Park Grove Street Entrance (Norwell), Count Fish Online South River, Marshfield, Dumpster Maintenance and Waste Materials Checklist. By Steve Maas Globe Correspondent,August 22, 2013, 12:00 a.m. Ann and Ray Coughlan of Quincy visited the ammunition depot museum at Bare Cove Park in Hingham earlier this summer.