27 APPLETON FARMS: Grass Rides Loop

KEY AT-A-GLANCE INFORMATION

LENGTH: 2.6 miles

CONFIGURATION: Loop

DIFFICULTY: Easy

SCENERY: Forested wetlands, view across a giant pasture of a farm granted to the original owner by the King of England

EXPOSURE: Mostly shaded

TRAFFIC: Light

TRAIL SURFACE: Packed earth and grass

HIKING TIME: 2 hours

SEASON: Year-round 8 a.m.–sunset

ACCESS: Free

MAPS: Posted at the entrance

FACILITIES: None

SPECIAL COMMENTS: Now managed by the Trustees of Reservations, Appleton Farms still operates as a working farm, producing high-quality hay, milk, meat, and produce.

WHEELCHAIR TRAVERSABLE: No

DRIVING DISTANCE FROM BOSTON COMMON: 30 miles

Appleton Farms: Grass Rides Loop

UTM Zone (WGS84) 19T

Easting: 346737

Northing: 4723579

Latitude: N 42° 38' 58"

Longitude: W 70° 52' 10"

Directions

From Boston, take MA 1 north to MA 128 north to Exit 20N and follow MA 1A north 4.5 miles. Turn left onto Cutler Road and follow it 2.2 miles. At the intersection with Highland Street, turn right. There is a parking area immediately on the right.

IN BRIEF

Grass Rides Loop explores the northwestern acres of Appleton Farms, following an old steeplechase course and trails through forested wetlands.

DESCRIPTION

In 1638 Samuel Appleton was granted a 460-acre parcel of land spreading between the towns of Ipswich and Hamilton. Over the centuries nine generations expanded and maintained what grew to be a magnificent 1,000-acre farm. Today Samuel Appleton would be delighted to know that though the property has passed from Appleton hands to the protective care of the Trustees of Reservations, its life as a productive farm continues. A full-time farm manager oversees a meat and dairy program in addition to a commercial vegetable and haying operation.

Starting at the parking area, cross the field, following the avenue of maples to an entrance to the Grass Rides located beyond a bog at the edge of the woods. Enter through a break in a stone wall to access trails cleared generations ago for the purpose of equestrian sport. Head immediately to the left and follow the path along the edge of the woods to where it meets another gap in the wall. Turn left again and continue uphill just beyond the shadows of the hemlocks and oaks to your right.

Over your left shoulder you will see the soft contours of the wide-open field known as the Great Pasture. Where the climb levels off a well-placed bench invites you to stop and scan this fabulously vast field. At 133 acres it is the largest grassland in northeastern Massachusetts. Looking through bushes that grow along its edges, you might meet the warm gaze of a cow or, then again in the fading light of dusk, you might spot a triad of coyotes making a stealthy retreat.

Leave the bench and continue along the pasture. Follow the path as it winds through trees, descends, then climbs, to the peak of Pigeon Hill, the highest point in Appleton Farms. Break from the path here and walk out into the Great Pasture. In the center of the hill, you will see a large granite pinnacle. Salvaged from Gore Hall of Harvard University, the pinnacle was placed on the hill to commemorate Colonel Francis Randall Appleton Jr. (1885–1974). Looking to the southeast from Pigeon Hill, it is possible to see as far as Hog Island and Crane Beach.

Continue along the edge of the Great Pasture to where the path eases southwest downhill and turns northwest. A commuter rail line slices through the property between wetlands on the southern border of the Great Pasture. Spilling off the hill the trail widens as it meets another route joining in from the right. This broad, even track once served as a steeplechase course. Riders atop hot-blooded thoroughbreds once tore through this turn heading into the speed zone of the avenue ahead.

Before long, the trail arrives at a four-way intersection. At this juncture, take a sharp left and continue westward. The trail is raised through here, forming a causeway between wetland on either side. Soon the trail bends to the left as it passes a small meadow surrounded by woods. Resuming a straight course, the path takes you to a second pinnacle positioned at the center of a clearing shaped like the hub of a wheel with trails radiating in all directions.

Stay your course walking south beyond the pinnacle to the next trail on the right and proceed northwest. Unlike the avenues radiating from the pinnacle, this new trail has curves. Look for the occasional swamp oak among more plentiful beech and shagbark hickory trees. Shortly you will reach a stand of exotic evergreens planted in clean rows on the left and right. Directly ahead, look for a stone wall and, beyond it, a lightly traveled road. Turn right to parallel the wall on your left.

Following alongside wetland once more, you will pass a trail on the right, but continue straight. Soon you will notice a brown house on the left across the dirt road beside the Grass Rides Trail. Follow the trail as it arrives at a three-pronged fork and continue up a short rise. Just beyond the rise, the trail arrives at another elegant avenue of cultivated evergreens.

Heading east now, the trail takes you downhill briefly over soft footing. Passing through another intersection the trail continues straight and crosses wetland via a short causeway. Just beyond this, the trail joins one of the avenues that leads to the second pinnacle off to your right. Across the avenue lies a small meadow.

Turn left to head northeast. Evergreens stand on either side of the trail, with wetlands behind them. Upon reaching another grove of conifers, turn right to travel northwest. At the next intersection bear right to cross a narrow causeway. Beyond this continue straight heading northeast. Following a dip, the trail rises again and forms a “T” with another path. Cross here, bearing slightly left following the trail as it heads upward beneath a canopy of hemlocks. When the trail reaches the next junction, turn left to arrive back at the hike’s starting point.