WHITNEY SPUR RAIL TRAIL:
COHASSET, MASSACHUSETTS
WOMPATUCK STATE PARK:
HINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: May 14, 2023
Length: Whitney Spur Rail Trail; 1.4 to 1.9 miles (officially 1.6 miles)
Wompatuck SP Outer Loop Trail; 4.3 miles
Wompatuck SP Inner Loop Trail; 2.7 miles
Wompatuck SP South Loop Trail; 2.4 miles
Wompatuck SP paved Bike Trails; 12 miles
Difficulty: Whitney Spur Rail Trail; Easy. Flat stone-dust rail trail.
Wompatuck SP Loop Trail; Easy to Moderate. Old wide paved roads. Hilly in spots, could be tough for kids on bikes.
Directions:
Whitney Spur Rail Trail/Wompatuck State Park Loop:
Starting from the Cohasset Train Station in Cohasset [Northern End]; Follow Route 3A south from Quincy through North Weymouth and Hingham. Less then 0.5 miles after crossing into Cohasset look left for the entrance to the MBTA station. This is where the trail crosses the road. Enter the parking lot. Free, 4 hr trail parking is located immediately on your right.
You may also access this trail from the MBTA's Greenbush Line. For information about taking your bike on the subway visit; MBTA-BIKE .
Wompatuck State Park:
Starting from Wompatuck State Park in Hingham; Follow Route 3A south from Quincy through North Weymouth to the harbor in Hingham (just before the rotary). Turn right on Water St and follow the Main St. Head left. Cross Route 228 (Short St) and continue along Middle St which turns into Union St, Follow Union St into the park entrance. This will bring you to the Wompatuck State Park Visitor Center and parking lot.
The Whitney Spur Rail Trail follows an abandoned rail spur off the Old Colony RR; Greenbush Line which served to facilitate the transfer of ammunition, stored in cement bunkers at the Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot 1941-1965 (now Wompatuck State Park), to the Depot at the Hingham Shipyard. It travels from the Cohasset MBTA station through WHITNEY & THAYER WOODS and into WOMPATUCK STATE PARK where you can access miles of old roads that were part of the old Ammunition Depot. The 3,500-acre park stretches into four towns, Hingham, Cohasset, Scituate and Norwell, and features numerous seasonal campsites, plus fishing and non-motorized boating on the Aaron River Reservoir. There are 12 miles of paved bike paths, plus 40 miles off-road trails for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing.
I rode the Whitney Spur Rail Trail into Wompatuck State Park where I completed a Loop through the park, then back to the Whitney Spur Rail Trail. You may also start from the Wompatuck State Park Visitor Center where you can access many miles of old paved roads. See; WHITNEY SPUR RAIL TRAIL .
Whitney Spur Rail Trail/Wompatuck State Park Loop:
Starting from the Cohasset Train Station parking lot in Cohasset [Northern End]; The Rail Trail parking area is located next to the South Station entrance. The Whitney Spur Rail Trail essentially starts from the northern parking lot next to the Handicap parking area.
Note; Left, a sidewalk brings you past the Cohasset Train Station and across the North Station entrance out to East St after 0.2 miles. The official trail runs from East St to Wompatuck State Park, however, this section is just a sidewalk and not particularly worth it. Also, at the southern end of the trail you can continue into Wompatuck State Park along the old rail bed to an intersection which most people would do, thus extending the trail length.
Heading right the paved Whitney Spur Rail Trail travels South across an access road through the woods and out to Route 3A. A cross-light takes you over to a Map Board. the trail becomes stone-dust as you head into thick woodlands. Almost immediately you enter Whitney & Thayer Woods reservation. Travel through the "Great Swamp" before coming to your first intersection after 0.7 miles. This should be Trail Marker 15 [on Map A]. A slight upgrade from here. You'll cross other woods trails along the way including Trail Marker 26 where you'll find another Map Board. You enter Wompatuck State Park and Hingham at 1.4 miles and come to Junction NN7 where the trail is paved. This is the official end of the trail, however, the old rail bed continues through the park. Come to Junction NN9.
Note; Using the Wompatuck State Park Map B, most road and trail intersections are numbered. Just refer to Map B to find out where you are. When you are facing the sign, you are facing North. Junctions are named after their respective park areas: N-North, NN-North Corner, NS-Nature Study, C-Central, R-Reservoir, NW-Northwest, W-West, E-East, S-South, MH-Mount Hope.
Continuing straight you'll come to *Junction NN13 at 1.9 miles. I believe the old rail bed continues straight. I would consider this to be the end of the Whitney Spur Rail Trail.
Note; You can continue through Wompatuck State Park, Looping back to here via paved old roads.
Travel right following the "Visitor Center" sign to Junction NN12.
Note; Straight leads to the Leavitt Street Park Entrance.
Head left along the old, wide paved road. Come to Junction N11 at 2.5 miles and continue straight up a slight hill to Junction N10 and cross Union Street, parking lot A here.
Note; Right along Union St leads to the Main Park Entrance.
Continue straight to a paved trail on your left. This will bring you to the Wompatuck State Park Visitor Center after 2.8 miles. Parking lot, BIKE STATION, water fountain, Bike Maps, picnic tables and restrooms located here.
Wompatuck State Park:
Outer Loop Trail:
Starting from the Wompatuck State Park Visitor Center along the Outer & Inner Loop Trails; BIKE STATION, water fountain, Bike Maps, picnic tables and restrooms located here. [Re-zeroing Mileage] Head out to the small traffic circle and exit to Union St. Travel right to the Union Street, parking lot B on your left and travel through the lot to Gate N1. Travel along the old road, slightly down hill to Junction N3 and head left to **Junction N12 at 0.4 miles.
Note; For the Inner Loop Trail [I haven't checked out this trail] continue straight 0.8 miles all the way to **Junction N29 where you'll continue left along the Outer Loop Trail.
Turn right to Junction N13 and head left. You'll cross over some old RR tracks still embedded in the old road and again just past Junction C7. Wildcat Pond marsh on your left before coming to ***Junction C8 at 1 mile.
Note; For the South Loop Trail [I haven't checked out this trail] head right along a paved trail. You quickly come to Junction C9. Another paved trail crosses here. Continue straight to Junction E13 at 0.08 miles and head left along Beachwood St. The road splits at 1.1 miles, bear right. Come to Junction E16 at 1.8 miles. Straight leads to Boat Launch for Aaron River Reservoir. Head left crossing a causeway and come to Junction E17. Head right keeping straight, passing by Heron Pond before coming to ***Junction C14 at 2.4 miles and the end of the South Loop Trail. Continue straight along the Outer Loop Trail.
Continue left following the old road straight and you'll cross over more old RR tracks. Come to ***Junction C14 [South Loop Trail] after 1.8 miles, Map Board. Head left, staying straight to Junction NS1 at 2.2 miles.
Note; Right leads to the Doane Street Park entrance.
Head left staying straight the whole way, passing by **Junction N29 [Inner Loop Trail] on your left at 2.8 miles. Here, both the Outer & Inner Loop Trails continue straight. Come to *Junction NN13 [Whitney Spur Rail Trail] at 3.4 miles.
Note; Both the Outer & Inner Loop Trails continue straight, while the Whitney Spur Rail Trail heads right. See; Whitney Spur Rail Trail/Wompatuck State Park Loop above.
HH
CLICK HERE FOR WHITNEY & THAYER WOODS/WHITNEY SPUR RAIL TRAIL MAP A
CLICK HERE FOR WOMPATUCK STATE PARK MAP B
CLICK HERE FOR WHITNEY SPUR RAIL TRAIL & WOMPATUCK SP LOOP MAP
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT
