Home / Hiking / Wompatuck State Park Grove Street Entrance (Norwell), https://www.mass.gov/locations/wompatuck-state-park. There are several hills to explore, boulders to be amazed by, and areas along the waters edge to soak up Wompatucks natural beauty. Union Street, the main road through the park, begins in Hingham and extends south, all the way through the park, becoming Mount Blue Street as it enters Norwell. The Gulf River flows into the ocean at Cohasset Harbor. [8] The station opened with the rest of the Greenbush Line on October 31, 2007. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. 110+ underground bunkers stored munitions. cache 6h 0m Blue Spring, Transfer Gate. Informational kiosk, bench. The Friends of Wompatuck have made it a little easier to navigate with a downloadable map on your device that has a GPS locator. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. Wompatuck State Park Trail Map; Wompatuck State Park Trail Reports; Share. Many of the roads inside the park are . Land was acquired from private homeowners for the purpose of expanding the Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot nearby (now Bare Cove Park). Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state, Read the rules for hunting in state parks. During the 1800s, families maintained woodlots to heat their homes. The route turns right, passing an open field on the left and continues past trail marker NN11 to the Leavitt Street entrance. In 1967 the Massachusetts Department of Natural Resources purchased the 3496 acres to convert it to a public park. The easiest way to access union street is to exit off of MA-228 onto Middle Street, which turns into Union Street. Wompatuck State Park comprises 3,000 acres of eastern transitional forest and various other habitats. I'm sorry to point out that this is incorrect but not far off. From route 3 take exit 35 heading north on route 228. Fax: 781.659.7915 I can comment on the 10+ miles of paved bicycle trails- gorgeous! Park at the lot across from the visitor center. 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 Rail Station parking lot to Wompatuck State Park. Book hotels from Trip.com and get fantastic deals and exclusive discounts! Most of it was never developed or utilized until the 1800s when families began using the land to graze their farm animals and harvest woodlots. View campsite map, availability, and reserve online with ReserveAmerica. Compare 2,301 hotels, room rates, hotel reviews and availability. Sounds a bit more legal than bolt cutters. Waterbody/Watershed: Accord Brook (Weir River watershed) and Aaron Brook (Gulf River watershed), NSRWA Office Wompatuck State Park $17 for MA resident / $54 for non-resident; PLUS $6 electric hookups (if applicable). Fax: 781.659.7915 The park is popular with campers and has more than 250 wooded campsites (some with electricity). The ammo dumps (bunkers) are to the north and east and have been completely destroyed. There are 12 miles of paved bike paths, plus off-road trails for hiking, dog walking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. Save on popular stays in Accord, Hingham from 138,946. It is a wonderful place to spend a weekend exploring. The farmers used the fields to graze their horses, sheep, and oxen. The Aaron River finds its source within Wompatuck State Park and flows northeast to the Aaron River Reservoir. Thank you! This map is centered on the presently in-use state park camping area. The farmers used the fields to graze their horses, sheep, and oxen. Massachusetts prohibits the transportation of firewood into or out of any DCR campground. Primarily located in Hingham, Massachusetts, Wompatuck State Park also extends into the nearby towns of Cohasset, Norwell, and Scituate. Monday: 1:00-5:00pm The trails can be quite wet in the spring. I was able to follow the roads to the other area where there are more buildings. In 1966 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts took possession of the Cohasset Annex property. giving a history tour of Wompy, Walking though the park during . Typically, the Mt. Firewood must be purchased at the campground. Here you can locate several hikes that will also provide a GPS navigator. During World War II the Depot was the main ammunition supply for the North Atlantic naval forces. PO Box 43 Land and water creatures abound in the park. 2023 North & South Rivers Watershed Association. Fish commonly found in the 136-acre Aaron River Reservoir include bass, pickerel, sunfish, and perch. Distance. English settlers purchased the land from Wompatuck in 1655. To get there, follow the trail from Marker S32 to S33 to S 34, and then onward to S3 and S4. A section of railroad, the Whitney Spur, once connected the Ammunition Depot to the Old Colony Railroads Greenbush Line. Among the most common are Swamp Azalea, Solomons Seal, While Geranium, ladies slipper, and Sheep Laurel. 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. Norwell MA 02061, Phone: 781.659.8168 The ammunition depot closed in 1965 allowing the State of Massachusetts to purchase the land. In 1969 the park opened for limited outdoor recreational use, and in 1973 it was dedicated as Wompatuck State Park. Blue Spring was commercially bottled. Land and water creatures abound in the park. In the 1700s, early settlers and ship captains held title to the area, but the land was never extensively developed. 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. Due to the number of trails, a map is necessary to explore the park. Follow the red and yellow trail until the yellow trail takes a sharp left- take that, Follow the yellow trail until the blue trail intersects on the left, The blue trail will break off into a side trail on the left- follow this to Bigelow Boulder, At Bigelow Boulder there will be a 5-way intersection- continue on the trail closest to the blue but on your right side (not the blue trail), Continue this trail through the yellow/blue intersection and through the yellow intersection, It will lead to Rooster Rock and Odens Den, Follow the trail until it intersects with the yellow trail then take a left at the yellow trail, You will follow this until you get to NS7 and back into Wompatuck State Park, Take NS9 to Burbank Boulder then bear left to continue onto trail NS3, Follow the reservoir edge in a counterclockwise direction, The trail will lead to a paved trail take right onto paved trail, Park in the parking lot across the road from the Visitor Center. There are many rocky outcroppings and glacial erratic boulders throughout the park. The trail offers a number of activity options and is. 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. The tall trees were used for masts and stone walls were built to denote survey and boundary lines. Avoid parking directly in front of the gates.Noise level: You will hear a few cars in the distanceDogs: YesDay Hiking OnlyCamping: Designated campground with 260 sites; tent and RV; with and without electricity. From Cohasset, you can access the park via Doane Street or Whitney Woods. Camping season typically runs from early May until Columbus Day weekend. 2000 ft. Map by Lars Ahlzen / FOW Data from OSM , MassGIS and USGS . I jetted ASAP and will go back when I have someone else with me. Although you can hike here, mountain biking is also quite popular. Wompatuck is quickly becoming recognized as an . . It will be unmarked. You can find a map of Whitney and Thayer Woods Here, For a map of this route check out Mapy.cz. Accord Brook is the main waterway through Wompatuck Park. In 1969 the park opened for limited outdoor recreational use, and in 1973 it was dedicated as Wompatuck State Park. It should be open. It turns east into the park and flows north into and beyond Triphammer Pond and into the Weir River. 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. 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. The U.S. Navy deactivated the Cohasset Annex and in 1963 the land was declared surplus by the Navy. Wednesday: 9:00am-5:00pm But the conclusion of the burning grounds decontamination project will not by itself open the whole park to the public, the Friends say. In addition, Accord Brook flows northward along the western edge of the park (including the section abutting Prospect Street), eventually into Triphammer Pond. Don't worry, if you die.We'll make it. [11] With the trail now serving as usable access to the park, 20 spaces in the station lot were dedicated for park users.[12][13]. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. Tweet. I did not make it far into the other area, for I believe that I saw some people out there and it was only a few days ago that it was confirmed that homeless people had been living there. The park features numerous seasonal campsites, plus fishing and non-motorized boating on the Aaron River Reservoir. Love Massachusetts? English settlers purchased the land from Wompatuck in 1655. Site Number: K003. On the south residential property north of Mount Hope Street west of Mount Blue Street and north of Grove Street in Norwell form the boundary. Wompatuck State Park abuts Cohasset's Whitney Thayer Woods, a Trustees of Reservations property that allows mountain biking on a network of well maintained gravel paths. Zimmerman said his department is unable to say when the closed area will be opened. old post . Some motor pool and factory buildings remain north-north-east but the asbestos abatement has reduced them to mere hulks. click for Fullsize. There are over 250 bird species in the park, including : blue jay, great blue heron, goss hawk, red tail hawk, yellow warbler, ruffed grouse, and quail. The USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) publishes a set of the most commonly used topographic maps of the U.S. called US Topo that are separated into rectangular quadrants that are printed at 22.75"x29" or larger. Lastly, Beechwood Street ran east from Union Street through the site of Aaron River Reservoir to Beechwood Street in Cohasset until the reservoir was formed by a dam in 1976-1978. Park trails include 12 miles of paved bicycle routes as well as trails for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. 43 reviews of Wompatuck State Park "Wompatuck State Park is a huge (something like 4000 acre?) The Wompy map also provides information about areas to visit within the park and highlights several of the mountain bike trails. Read more. The Friends of Wompatuck are great stewards of the land and encourage you to report downed trees. + -. Blue . In 1941, the United States government established the Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot Annex (known by locals as the Cohasset Annex) on the site. Until 1775 Cohasset was part of Hingham, referred to as the second parish. The Friends say the state promised years ago to clean up or secure those buildings so the public can make use of a new bike trail. Not all maps have been updated to include this entrance. Stay right on the path and follow the Pond edge. There will be signs for Wompatuck State Park along the way. This entrance features a new ADA trail that connects via a boardwalk and a crushed stone pathway to established trails within the park. hiking trails of abingtonAmes Nowell State Park. This park is said to contain approximately 600 acres. This land that we call Wompatuck State Park was originally the property of the Indian chief Josiah Wompatuck. During the civil war, many of the men in the area left to serve in the war and never returned. Because there are no designated loops the ideal way to tackle Wompatuck State Park is to look at a map before leaving and find points that you might like to see along the way. The trail system is well marked and the trail map is a very good representation of the park. In 1969, Wompatuck State Park opened to the public. Prospect Hill, near the southwest corner of the park, is the highest point in Hingham at 240 above sea level. What a treat!! The terrain of the park is extensively shaped by the glacial period. This section of the park, and many of the waterways elsewhere in the park, drain to the Aaron River, which flows northeast to the Aaron River Reservoir. Wompatuck kind of spoiled us a bit, as it was our first introduction to RV camping at a state park. In 1941, the U.S. Navy acquired from private landowners all of the property in order to expand the already existing Hingham Naval Ammunitions Depot. Close to the Norwell entrance to the park is the highest point in Hingham: Prospect Hill. Ancillary Activities: Horses (permission may be required), Birding, Hunting (permission may be required), Camping (permission may be required), Snowmobiles, Historic Sites. The spring was closed when we were there and we did not explore the park much. [5] Upland game bird hunting is allowed in season in the South Field area. Waterbody/Watershed: Aaron River (Gulf River watershed), NSRWA Office The Mount Blue Spring is currently closed. For this hike, you will also go outside the park to Triphammer Pond and Whitney & Thayer Woods. Wompatuck State Park. The Mount Blue Spring is currently closed. It was reactivated for the Korean conflict and once again went into full military operation. Is N-9 different than the other bunkers? Some motor pool and factory buildings remain north-north-east but the asbestos abatement has reduced them to mere hulks. Remnants of buildings can often be found clustered near abandoned rail spurs. Wompatuck State Park is one of the closest campgrounds to Boston, where you can find a weekend getaway and get back to nature without having to travel too far. Scattered throughout Wompatuck State Park are remnants of bunkers, railroad tracks, fences, and light posts. Note: VirtualGlobetrotting is an entertainment website is and is not associated Many never returned. You can find it by navigating to S30 and S31 on the trail map. You will pass a raised area, which is the foundation for an old warehouse on the left side and follow the road as it turns to the left and stays left at a fork in the road. The sites are mostly wooded and spacious. Rich in history, this land was originally the property of Indian chief Josiah Wompatuck who deeded the land to English Settlers in 1665. I know I am dredging up an old post, but we just visited Wompatuck and had our camera with us. It contains over 100 decommissioned military bunkers, many of which have been backfilled, but some of which remain exposed, including one which housed parts of the Navy's first nuclear depth charge in the 1950s. 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. For mountain bikers, the park is home to one of the longest sections of switchbacked singletrack in the state. Edit this map Wompatuck State Park trail map near hingham, ma. Twelve miles of paved bicycle trails, in addition to miles of wooded bridle paths and hiking trails, offer lots of riding options. Nightly rate: $30. On the east Brass Kettle Conservation Area and residential land west of Doane and Church Streets in Cohasset and west of Summer Street and north of Clapp Road in Scituate form the boundary. 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. Typically, the Mt. Since then, 725 acres have been added. Once on N11, turn right to stay on N11. Explosives such as TNT-loaded depth charges, bombs, fuses, projectiles, and . There are numerous woodland trails within the park for hiking, dog-walking, horseback riding, cycling, and cross-country skiing. Never enough time. In their absence, the land was not utilized and the forest started to reclaim it. Stroller-friendly in some sections. Mount Hope is in the southeast corner of the park, north of Mount Blue, which is south of the park in Norwell. The state last estimated its bear population at between 4,000 and 4,500 - up from about 100 in the early 1970s. Wompatuck State Park mountain bike trail map. Recommended Trail Activities: Running, Walking, Hiking, Trail Biking (Until 1775 when Cohasset was established as a separate town, it was part of Hingham.) This park is the site of the Burbank Boulder. For mountain bikers, the park is home to one of the longest section of switchbacked singletrack in the state. Wompatuck State Park has six entrances. It was reactivated for the Korean conflict and once again went into full military operation. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. In 1969 the park opened for limited outdoor recreational use, and in 1973 it was dedicated as Wompatuck State Park. Among the most common are Swamp Azalea, Solomon's Seal, While Geranium, ladies slipper, and Sheep Laurel. In 1969 the park opened for limited outdoor recreational use, and in 1973 it was dedicated as Wompatuck State Park. When the state restored the Greenbush line, local mitigation for building a new Cohasset station included constructing a rail trail from the station through the Whitney Thayer Woods to Wompatuck. The route turns right on the rail trail and left onto a road with an open area on the right after the turn. The red train shop was always my favorite spot anyway, good to see it's still around. Approximately 400 campsites are open from late spring to early autumn. Some motor pool and factory buildings remain north-north-east but the asbestos abatement has reduced them to mere hulks. A hike here is as spooky as it is fascinating. Ammo Dump remains in Wompatuck State Park. Here's a map of the entire state park grounds. 42.2063963191386-70.8453369140625 13 satellite. In 1986 the Park acquired an additional 600 acres from the government. brought back to life again :P, last time i was there biking most of them were sealed but i found about three way out of the way ones that were opend to pansy to go inside (i was by my self), Here's whats left (and theres not much) of the old Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot Annex located in Wompatuck State Park. Camping at Wompatuck State Park is $17/night for Massachusetts residents and $54/night for non-residents. Thus, there are no real designated loops outside of the 1-mile Heart Healthy Loop. This is an excellent alternative to the unofficial Prospect Street entrance, around the corner, which lacks sufficient parking. Scoop the poop! On the north, Whitney and Thayer Woods and Town land in Cohasset form the boundary. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. Wompatuck State Park Wompatuck State Park is a state-owned, public recreation area of about 3,500 acres 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. With no vehicle access, it is not recommended for those wishing to use the parks campground. Scoop the poop! The Annex was known by locals as the Cohasset Annex. Entering from the Leavitt Street cul-de-sac the route goes straight past trail marker NN3 uphill to marker NN11 and turns left. Throughout Wompatuck State Park are remnants of the ammunition depot such as bunkers, railroad tracks, old fire hydrants, and many other fixtures. Such great history!!! I can comment on the 10+ miles of paved bicycle trails- gorgeous! Check out these highly recommended hotels in Accord for 2023! images and you can see alot has been knocked down over the years. Water features include Cohassets Aaron River Reservoir which was created by damming the Aaron which flows east from Holly Pond. embed Pump Track trail on your website; By Hornblower7 . Half the sites have electricity and half do not. Thanks for the info, we'll just have to add it to our ever growing list. There are still bunkers all over the property, but most are locked up. 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. Scattered throughout Wompatuck State Park are remnants of bunkers, railroad tracks, fences, and light posts. Difficulty (Grade/Surface): Easy, Moderate Much of the park is undeveloped and is heavily wooded. 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. Park supervisor Steve Gammon, who has overseen the site since the 1970s, said, We would like to see the whole park opened.. Tickets cost $6 - $11 and the journey takes 30 min. A rail spur, the Whitney Spur, once connected the Ammunition Depot to the Old Colony Railroads Greenbush Line. hiking trails of abington. Robert Knox can be reached at rc.knox2@gmail.com. In 1986 the Park acquired an additional 600 acres from the government. Trail Map; This alternate and unofficial entrance to Wompatuck State Park is located on Prospect Street in Norwell, very close to the Hingham town line. Accord Brook, which originates in Accord Pond, flows north along the parks border, from the Hingham-Norwell town line to S. Pleasant Street. u have to see it to belive how big it is. There is one campground at Wompatuck State park with 260 sites. This section was opened to the public in 2014. After leaving Uber amid scandals in 2017, Kalanick sailed around Tahiti in a $70 million Families maintained woodlots to heat their homes. 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. Leavitt Street, which continues into Doane Street and into Cohassets Beechwood area. I was slightly irritated when I first looked at the state park trail map because I did not want to hike in an area where I would need to pull out my map so frequently. Parking: With so many trails, a map is definitely needed to navigate. There are 12 miles of paved bike paths, plus off-road trails for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. You will have access to toilets and showers at the campground. Wildflowers and flowering shrubs also grow in abundance. 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.