Its an excellent access point for a hike to the top of Prospect Hill. At trail marker NN6 the route turns right onto another trail. Days stayed: 5. hookup & dumping. . The feedback will only be used for improving the website. Before that can happen, another restricted area no longer in federal hands must be restored to public use. 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 . Facilities available at the Main Entrance include the Visitors Center, 400 campsites, boat ramp, paved bike paths, picnic areas, restrooms & showers, Trailer/R.V. Most buildings have had their roofs and windows removed and are open to the elements. Email: info@nsrwa.org, Public Office Hours: Wompatuck State Park is a fantastic place to take kids bike riding. Land and water creatures abound in the park. The park itself is quiet and wooded. For mountain bikers, the park is home to one of the longest section of switchbacked singletrack in the state. it is quite spread out and goes on for miles. yea, i believe N-9 was made specifically to hold a certain anti-aircraft or anti-tank missile or something dont quote but something along those lines, RUR-5 ASROC, an anti-sub rocket. In 1967 the Massachusetts Department of Natural Resources purchased the 3496 acres to convert it to a public park. Save on popular stays in Accord, Hingham from 138,946. The trail system is well marked and the trail map is a very good representation of the park. It has multiple entrances in each of these places. For this hike, you will also go outside the park to Triphammer Pond and Whitney & Thayer Woods. It stretches into four towns Hingham, Cohasset, Scituate and Norwell. 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. Turn right on the rail trail and take the next trail to the left into the woods. To get there, follow the trail from Marker S32 to S33 to S 34, and then onward to S3 and S4. The dam that holds the reservoir in place was constructed from 1976-1978. 6 ft. . Wompatuck State Park is covered by the Cohasset, MA US Topo Map quadrant. Directions giving a history tour of Wompy, Walking though the park during The rest of the park contains a great many hiking trails. 1665 Chief Josiah Wompatuck deeded the land to settlers. 1,321 ft. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. A large bunker with a loading dock off Union Street, known as N-9, was recently restored by three Eagle Scouts to preserve a piece of munitions history. 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! There are 12 miles of paved bike paths, plus off-road trails for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. You can find it in a shed with an adjacent parking area, on Union Street in the park, between markers E14 and E1, not far from the Transfer Station area. - Trail Map (PDF) - Recommended Spring '22 Hikes (PDF) Season: Camping Season is mid-May through mid-October. Stop in the Visitor Center to see more. 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. Thus, there are no real designated loops outside of the 1-mile Heart Healthy Loop. This entrance features a new ADA trail that connects via a boardwalk and a crushed stone pathway to established trails within the park. A boat ramp allows access to Aaron River Reservoir for non-motorized boating. The materials disposed of consist of small arms ammunition, machine gun bullets, flares, incendiaries, irritants (gases), and grenades, Charette said. You cant beat that. 1h 18m. Many never returned. The hiking trails at Ames Nowell State Park are plentiful. In their absence, the land was not utilized and the forest started to reclaim it. Wompatuck State Park has 262 wooded campsites; 140 of them offer electricity. it may still hold areas of intrest to the bunkergang. . Friday: 9:00am-5:00pm. Typically, the Mt. This state park was previously owned by the Native American chief Josiah Wompatuck. its amazing how nature takes back abandoned buildings and spaces in no time. It remained in use until 1965, and served both World War II and the Korean Conflict. This boulder which balances itself at three points equally distant from each other, was left on the earths surface by glaciers. Compare 2,301 hotels, room rates, hotel reviews and availability. as the gemtlemen said ina previous post be careful how far you poke around you may run into some bad stuff. Home / Hiking / Wompatuck State Park Grove Street Entrance (Norwell), https://www.mass.gov/locations/wompatuck-state-park. Wompatuck State Park is a state-owned, public recreation area of about 3,500 acres (1,400ha) 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. 2023 North & South Rivers Watershed Association. anonymously (anonymous users cannot post links). English settlers purchased the land from Wompatuck in 1655. . The ammo dumps (bunkers) are to the north and east and have been completely destroyed. Soon after it exits the pond, it flows into the Weir River. 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 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. We've since visited many, MANY other state parks in various states and can say with certainty that Wompatuck is a winner. I know I am dredging up an old post, but we just visited Wompatuck and had our camera with us. Turkey Hill is north of the park in Cohasset. The Wompatuck Trail is ADA accessible. Menu Back. During WWII and the Korean War, it served as an ammunitions depot for the U.S. military. You can also download the Wompy map onto your phone which provides a GPS locator and map. There are 12 miles of paved bike paths, plus off-road trails for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. new york state standard deduction 2022; Sign Up. It turns east into the park and flows north into and beyond Triphammer Pond and into the Weir River. hi guys ive been to the wampatuck resivation and there were many explorable bunkers and sites to check out 10 years ago. 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. Hours: Sunrise to sunset, plus overnight camping with reservation. Water from Mt. This 3,500-acre Massachusetts state park served as the Hingham Naval Ammunition Annex from 1941 to 1965. 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This all came to an end in 1962. The nice thing about this park is that there is an abundance of trail types from wide paved paths to dirt and rocky hiking trails to choose from. Scattered throughout the property are over 100 decommissioned military bunkers, which were used to store ammunition. This rock, a remnant of the glacial period, balances itself at three points equally distant from each other. The park is popular with campers and has more than 250 wooded campsites (some with electricity). Approximately 400 campsites are open from late spring to early autumn. This is an excellent alternative to the unofficial Prospect Street entrance, around the corner, which lacks sufficient parking. 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. Explosives such as TNT-loaded depth charges, bombs, fuses, projectiles, and . On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. . 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 . Larson added that a bear sighting wasn't a public safety threat. The trail leads to a paved road, which is Leavitt Street, at marker NN12. 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. Wompatuck State Park in Hingham, Massachusetts: 33 reviews, 24 photos, & 8 tips from fellow RVers. Friday: 9:00am-5:00pm. Other Hingham entrances . There are water spigots throughout the campground. 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 ammo dumps (bunkers) are to the north and east and have been completely destroyed. The trails can be quite wet in the spring. 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. In winter, the trails are perfect for cross . Wompatuck State Park is built upon land that once belonged to a former ammunition depot and several abandoned buildings remain on the property today. From what I could see through the door it might be two rooms? View campsite map, availability, and reserve online with ReserveAmerica. Book hotels from Trip.com and get fantastic deals and exclusive discounts! The water is tested frequently for safety. Scattered throughout Wompatuck State Park are remnants of bunkers, railroad tracks, fences, and light posts. Zimmerman said his department is unable to say when the closed area will be opened. You will find Eastern White Pine, Hemlock, Maple, Oak, Cedar, Birch, and many more types of trees. The rail spur connected the two sites by way of the Greenbush Rail Line. One would hope this [the project] is coming to the end of a very long process, Boles said. Leavitt Street, which continues into Doane Street and into Cohassets Beechwood area. Blue Spring was commercially bottled. Find cheap hotels near Verizon Authorized Retailer - GoWireless in Plymouth County with real guest reviews and ratings. The sites are mostly wooded and spacious. Many never returned. Wompatuck State Park. The park lies largely in the town of Hingham, but also touches parts of Cohasset, Norwell and Scituate. During the civil war, many of the men in the area left to serve in the war and never returned. The park features numerous seasonal campsites, plus fishing and non-motorized boating on the Aaron River Reservoir. However, a gate blocked access from the trail to the northwest section of the park, which still had several dangerous abandoned buildings. Please let us know how we can improve this page. The trail offers a number of activity options and is. However, I fell in love with Wompatuck very quickly and found that if I memorized a couple of the upcoming intersections, I would not have to look at the map so often. Fish commonly found in the 136-acre Aaron River Reservoir include bass, pickerel, sunfish, and perch. 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. Constant cracks and creeaks and I was on foot. On January 1, 2004, a 125 acre parcel off of Leavitt Street was added to the park. Until 1775 Cohasset was part of Hingham, referred to as the second parish. For mountain bikers, the park is home to one of the longest section of switchbacked singletrack in the state. The Gulf River flows into the ocean at Cohasset Harbor. In the 1700s early settlers and ship captains held title to the area, but the land was never extensively developed. This entrance features occasional benches and interpretive signs. Most buildings have had their roofs and windows removed and are open to the elements. . u have to see it to belive how big it is. 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. The U.S. Navy deactivated the Cohasset Annex in 1963 and declared the land surplus. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts took possession of the land in 1966, and began developing it as a public park the following year. the pictures up here are amazing, but they dont do the place justice. Get Directions . Distance. The road will take a deep turn to the left and the State Park will be on the right. images and you can see alot has been knocked down over the years. In 1969, Wompatuck State Park opened to the public. In 1966 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts took possession of the Cohasset Annex property. Doane Street was created at the initiative of Doane to make it easier for second parish residents to attend Hingham town meetings at the corner of Leavitt and East Streets. Date of experience . Is N-9 different than the other bunkers? 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. 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. Land and water creatures abound in the park. Twelve miles of paved bicycle trails, in addition to miles of wooded bridle paths and hiking trails, offer lots of riding options. The road continues to the right past another foundation and follows a trail to the right. park that's mostly in hingham, but jets out into parts of Norwell and Cohasset. Trails in Wompatuck State Park consist of wide non-motorized paved roads, paved bike paths, and dirt foot trails. Wompatuck State Park, an unusual site in Hingham. As always, let's all help to maintain and preserve this park by not littering and treating this natural area with care. it is a wonderful place . Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream. The red train shop was always my favorite spot anyway, good to see it's still around. The Mount Blue Spring is currently closed. 3,526 acres, 262 wooded campsites, 12 miles of paved bicycle trails. Some cool old bunkers (unfortunately some . 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 fishing. Love Massachusetts? Our main concern is public safety, he said. The park features approximately 400 seasonal campsites, plus fishing, non-motorized boating and seasonal ice skating on the Aaron River Reservoir. Hingham Historical Society Presents a Waves of Change Presentation:Lasting Imprints of WWI and WWII:Bare Cove Park and WompatuckCamp Hingham and the Munition. 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 . The way the park is set up, you choose your own adventure. The easiest and cheapest thing to do is to board up the asbestos-contaminated buildings and put up warning signs, Boles said. Home / Hiking / Wompatuck State Park Prospect Street/Norwell Entrance, https://www.mass.gov/locations/wompatuck-state-park. But if you wandered off the trail, you might have a blast of another kind.. The tall trees were used for masts and stone walls were built to denote survey and boundary lines. hey - how come you guys havenet been to Wompatuck state park at teh intersection of Norwell, Hingham, Scituate etc, in MA? In 1969 the park opened for limited outdoor recreational use, and in 1973 it was dedicated as Wompatuck State Park. This map is centered on the presently in-use state park camping area. Ancillary Activities: Horses (permission may be required), Birding, Hunting (permission may be required), Camping (permission may be required), Snowmobiles, Historic Sites. For more Wompatuck history check out our newsletters. Wompatuck State Park Grove Street Entrance (Norwell), Count Fish Online South River, Marshfield, Dumpster Maintenance and Waste Materials Checklist. The U.S. Navy deactivated the Cohasset Annex and in 1963 the land was declared surplus by the Navy. But the conclusion of the burning grounds decontamination project will not by itself open the whole park to the public, the Friends say. However, they do run out frequently so it is best to print a map prior to leaving. 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. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Federal engineers also discovered the land mine area of suspected unexploded ordnance buried near a bike trail, Boles said. You will receive your first email soon. Wildflowers and flowering shrubs also grow in abundance. Ames Nowell State Park. 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. Thanks for the info, we'll just have to add it to our ever growing list. A lock icon ( Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state, Read the rules for hunting in state parks. It is located within one mile of the ocean. 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. When World War II ended, this area reverted to maintenance status only. 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. 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. 1941 Navy acquired the land for an ammunition depot. Robert Knox can be reached at rc.knox2@gmail.com. All trails in this park are wonderful and varied. It will be unmarked. 43 reviews of Wompatuck State Park "Wompatuck State Park is a huge (something like 4000 acre?) OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Stroller-friendly in some sections. The land was originally the property of Native American chief Josiah Wompatuck, who deeded the land to English settlers in 1655. Search. The Wompatuck Trail, accessible from the Main entrance in Hingham, is ADA accessible. 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. Take the red trail on the right and follow it until it becomes red and yellow. 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. During the 1800s, the land was used by the local residents. Some cool old bunkers (unfortunately some graffiti - seems like it is a trend around the area to tag historical stuff - such a shame) Date of experience: March 2020 Ask debbies556 about Wompatuck State Park The main entrance is located on Union Street in Hingham. 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 . The Whitney Spur Rail Trail was built as part of the Greenbush Commuter Rail reconstruction project in 2003. In 1969 the park opened for limited outdoor recreational use, and in 1973 it was dedicated as Wompatuck State Park. I was able to follow the roads to the other area where there are more buildings. Exploring some building ruins. 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. Length: 3.9 mi Est. In addition to the beauty here, the trail will lead you to numerous . Informational kiosk, bench. For mountain bikers, the park is home to one of the longest sections of switchbacked singletrack in the state. A few other pics from the Annex from this spring. Much of the park is undeveloped and is heavily wooded. In addition, Accord Brook flows northward along the western edge of the park, eventually into Triphammer Pond. Note: VirtualGlobetrotting is an entertainment website is and is not associated Several routes around the area lead to the park, but the main entrance is located on Union Street. Blue Spring, which has been in operation since the mid-19th century. Yes, dogs are allowed in Wompatuck State Park. It could have just been some junk making it look like two areas. When the Civil War broke out all the local men were swept into the fight. Explosives such as TNT-loaded depth charges, bombs, fuses, projectiles, and cartridges were produced and stored here. Jim R., the FOW historian Campers may choose from an extensive array of trails for biking, hiking, horseback riding, and ski touring. In their absence, the land was not utilized and the forest started to reclaim it. Streams powered the Stockbridge Shingle Mill and water from Mt. Wompatuck kind of spoiled us a bit, as it was our first introduction to RV camping at a state park. The park site served as the Cohasset Annex until 1962. Many of these bunkers have been backfilled, but some remain exposed. The trail system is well marked and the trail map is a very good representation of the park. 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. [7] Several old military buildings can be found on park property as well as an extensive network of abandoned railroad. We utilized this park as an economical . With no vehicle access, it is not recommended for those wishing to use the parks campground. Soon after it exits the pond, it flows into the Weir River. Prospect Hill, near the southwest corner of the park, is the highest point in Hingham at 240 above sea level. Eight to 10 acres were examined and then narrowed to the smaller, currently fenced-off site. Or you can just get in contact with the local Boy Scouts troop down there. I'm sorry to point out that this is incorrect but not far off. The area of the Leavitt Street entrance is characterized by Leavitt Street and the Whitney Spur Rail Trail. Sorry, we Whether youre bringing a tent, R.V., or trailer, you'll find plenty of space to enjoy the outdoors. Many of the roads inside the park are . hiking trails of abington. There are still bunkers all over the property, but most are locked up. This allows for no two hikes to be the same.