Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/976908
When it comes to hiking, the North Shore might not have soaring mountains to scale or vast deserts to trek. But what we lack in scale, we make up for in variety, history, and stunning beauty. So if you feel like exploring, lace up those hiking boots, grab a bottle of water, and hit one of these local hiking hot spots. 111 IPSWICH RIVER WILDLIFE SANCTUARY Topsfield THE E XPERIENCE: With 12 miles of easy and moderate trails winding past vernal pools, along its namesake river, and through forests and meadows, the sanctuary is the ideal place to spend an entire day immersed in the natural world. WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE: Along some trails, chickadees will eat birdseed from your hand. TRAIL TO TRY: Rockery Trail. e rockery, constructed in 1905, offers stone caves, grottos, and passageways to explore. NUTS AND BOLTS: Members admitted free; nonmember adults $4; children $3. Perkins Row, Topsfield, massaudubon.org. APPLETON FARMS GRASS RIDES Hamilton and Ipswich THE EXPERIENCE: Originally created for horseback riding and carriage driving, this property's 5.5 miles of wide, serene paths—or "grass rides"—meander between woods and meadows. is former farmland gives you a chance to see the progress of the natural land regenerating after the original old-growth forests were clear-cut in the 17th century. WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE: Four carved stone pinnacles, donated by the Appleton family stud the area, adding unexpected touches of art and history. TRAIL TO TRY: e Great Pasture Trail runs along a stone wall with a forest on one side and a pasture dotted with grazing cows on the other. NUTS AND BOLTS: Free for members; $5 parking fee for nonmembers. Highland Street, Hamilton, 978-356-5728, thetrustees.org. BALD HILL RESERVATION AND BOXFORD STATE FOREST Boxford THE E XPERIENCE: Together, these adjacent properties offer 19 miles of trails across