BACK RIVER TRAIL:
WEYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
BARE COVE PARK:
HINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: October 12, 2013
Length: Back River Trail; 2 miles
Bare Cove Path; 1.7 miles
Indian Point Loop; 3.1 miles
Stodders Neck Reservation Loop; ? miles I haven't checked out this trail yet.
Abigail Adams State Park Loop; ? miles I haven't checked out this trail yet.
Webb Memorial SP Loop; ? miles (plus x miles on-road) I haven't checked out this trail yet.
Difficulty: Back River Trail; Moderate to Difficult. Hilly, old abandoned paved road. A couple of very steep hills. Not recommended for kids on bikes.
Bare Cove Path; Easy. Relatively flat, abandoned paved road.
Indian Point Loop; Moderate. Hilly, abandoned paved roads with a some hard packed dirt roads.
Directions:
From Route 3A in Quincy head east to North Weymouth.
For Abigail Adams State Park parking lot; Just before you cross the bridge over the Weymouth Back River turn left into the State Park. Turn right to park.
For the Great Esker Park parking lot; Just before you cross the bridge over the Weymouth Back River turn right into the shopping plaza and immediately turn left to a small parking lot.
For the Stodders Neck Reservation parking lot; Continue across the bridge over the Weymouth Back River to Hingham. Turn left into the State Park.
For the Beal Street parking area; Continue across the bridge over the Weymouth Back River to Hingham. Turn right on Beal St. Take your first right to a parking area where an old road starts (now blocked by a fence). Bare Cove Path starts here. There is also a main parking lot located in Bare Cove Park. To access continue along Beal St/West St and bear right along Fort Hill St. Take your first right along Bare Cove Park Dr to the Bare Cove Park parking lot.
The Back River Trail follows the west side of Weymouth Back River, while the Bare Cove Park Trails follows the east side of Weymouth Back River. They are both accessed from the north at Route 3A. You may connect between these 2 trails via Route 3A (0.5 miles on-road or a narrow sidewalk along this busy road). North of Route 3A you can link together 3 Parks (Abigail Adams State Park & Webb Memorial SP in Weymouth and Stodders Neck Reservation in Hingham) on-road. All 5 Parks have their own parking lots. Because Route 3A is a dangerous bike ride I chose two different starting points. For Abigail Adams SP, Webb Memorial SP and the Back River Trail I started from the Abigail Adams SP parking lot. For Stodders Neck Reservation and Bare Cove Park I started from the Stodders Neck Reservation parking lot.
Starting from the Abigail Adams State Park parking lot; The paved Abigail Adams SP Trail starts from the South Shore Yacht Club boardwalk next to the Weymouth Back River. The trail then travels west along the floodplain to a traffic circle. From here you have Two Options:
A To check out the Back River Trail head south out the parks entrance to Route 3A where a cross-light gets you across this busy road. Head left along a paved road to the Great Esker Park parking lot after 0.2 miles. See Below.
B To continue through Abigail Adams SP/Webb Memorial SP continue straight. See Below. I haven't checked out this trail yet.
Back River Trail:
The Back River Trail follows an abandoned road through Great Esker Park which follows the west side of Weymouth Back River (a tidal River). An esker is formed by a stream or river in a tunnel underneath a glacier. It is made up of the sediments dropped by that stream or river. When the glacier retreats, the deposits remain, exposing a long, winding hill where the stream or river used to be. The park features the highest esker in North America. It ends at Osprey Overlook Park.
Starting from the Great Esker Park parking lot; A Porto-Potty is located here. Travel past the green gate along an old paved road. You travel along the road past the commercial district on your right and into the woods. After 0.5 miles you begin a steep climb up a short hill. Travel along the esker with steep drop offs along both sides. Fleeting glimpses of the river. Travel down a steep hill to river level at 1.4 miles. Puritan Road parking area here with Porto-Potty. Open views of the river. Pass by a boardwalk and travel along an inlet before the road takes a sharp left around the end of this inlet at 1.8 miles.
Note; The road then travels north between the inlet and the river to a small island. The road ends after 2.1 miles at a gravel beach overlooking the river. Across the river is Bare Cove Park. I believe you can loop arounf the island back to the trail, but not sure if a bike would work.
A paved path on your right leads to the old landfill, which is now Osprey Overlook Park. The paved trail then travels out to the Wharf Street parking lot at 2 miles.
Abigail Adams SP/Webb Memorial SP:
Starting from the Abigail Adams State Park parking lot; I haven't checked out this trail yet. The paved Abigail Adams SP Trail starts from the South Shore Yacht Club boardwalk next to the Weymouth Back River. The trail then travels west along the floodplain to a traffic circle. To be continued.
Stodders Neck Reservation:
Stodders Neck Reservation is a peninsula at the mouth of the Weymouth Back River.
Starting from the Stodders Neck Reservation parking lot; I haven't checked out this trail yet. The hard packed dirt & grass trail heads north through the park. To be continued.
Note; To access the Bare Cove Path in Bare Cove Park head out the entrance and follow a narrow sidewalk left alongside busy Route 3A. Not recommended for kids on bikes. Come to a cross light over Route 3A and head right along another narrow sidewalk to Beal St. Head left and turn right to the Beal Street parking area after 0.3 miles. See Below.
Bare Cove Park:
Bare Cove Park is located along the east banks of the Weymouth Back River (a tidal river). Prior to 1906, the land was privately owned. The site was acquired by the U.S. Navy and used as an ammunition depot until 1971. In 1972, Bare Cove Park was set aside as a wildlife sanctuary and a place for public recreation. The old abandoned roads now form a network of trails throughout the park. Bare Cove Path forms the main trail from the Parks parking lot to Beal Street by Route 3A. Indian Point Loop consists of several paths combined to form a loop trail along the southern portion of the park around Indian Point. There are many paths to choose from. For more information visit; BARE COVE PARK .
Bare Cove Path
Starting from the Beal Street parking area; Just past the fence the Bare Cove Path follows an old road which leads you to the Weymouth Back River. A dirt path on your left leads to the Bunker Alley Path. Here you'll find Map G, as noted on the map. The trail travels south alongside the river. Pass by the Bunker Alley Path and you'll come to Sheltry Path on your left. Here you'll find Map B.
Note; The Sheltry Path leads to Lynch Fields and another parking lot off Beal Street.
The trail travels around a Cove before briefly turning inland. Come to a green building along the river after 0.8 miles (USS YF-415 Memorial; The Naval ship USS YF-415 was operating out of the Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot at the time. While conducting a routine dump of obsolete ammunition 14 miles off Nahant, an accident aboard the ship cost the lives of 17 men.). Picnic tables here. The trail turns inland again passing by Beal Cove. Come to the "Median Garden" and intersection after 1.5 miles.
Note; The Indian Point Loop starts here. See Below.
Continue straight and you'll come to the Bare Cove Park parking lot after 1.7 miles. Map A.
Indian Point Loop
Starting from Bare Cove Park parking lot; You'll find Map A located just past the gate. Bare Cove Path starts here and follows the old road west. You'll quickly come to the start of the Indian Point Loop on your left. Turn left past the "Median Garden" and follow to an intersection. Here you'll find Map C, as noted on the map, on a short post. These maps are located throughout the park. Head left along Conservatory Path. There are many side trails and intersecting trails. Keep left at all road intersections as this loop travels the outer edge of the park. Some small hills along this route. Pass an outdoor amphitheatre. Continue left along Fresh River Path at 0.8 miles. Continue staying left and soon you'll be traveling alongside the Fresh River floodplain and Indian Point. This old road ends at a rocky beach overlooking the Weymouth Back River. Across the river is the Back River Trail . Head back along the road and take your first left along a hard packed dirt path. This brings you past a scenic knoll with a picnic table overlooking the river and out to Indian Point Path. Head left along this old road which affords nice views of the river. At your next intersection continue straight to an open intersection. Here you'll find Map F. Head left along wide Bridges Path which brings you to the Back River Path. Here you'll find Map E. Turn left and follow this road back to the Conservatory Path. Here you'll find Map C again. Turn left and complete your loop by returning to the Bare Cove Path after 3.1 miles.
HH
CLICK HERE FOR BACK RIVER TRAIL MAP
CLICK HERE FOR BARE COVE PARK MAP
CLICK HERE FOR BARE COVE PARK ROUTE MAP
CLICK HERE FOR ABIGAIL ADAMS SP/WEBB MEMORIAL SP/STODDERS NECK ROUTE MAP
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT