Wildlife Identification Walk
Join Ranger Robert for a one-hour easy-paced wildlife identification hike at Bartholomew’s Cobble. Learn how to identify the animals that live in the area by examining tracks, scat, fur, bones, game trails, and other signs of wildlife activity found throughout the landscape. During the program, participants will explore the ecology… Read More
Castle Hill Tour: Cupola with a View
This is our most Instagram-able tour experience and a particular treat for those interested in the architecture of the Great House and its surrounding property. You’ll gain insight into the architectural choices made by David Adler as he designed and built the Great House, the second home the Cranes built… Read More
CraneOutdoors: The Castle Hill Hike
Come explore the lesser-visited corners of Castle Hill and its surroundings with us. This hike is a CraneOutdoors guide favorite because it’s got a little bit of all the things that make the Crane Estate such a special place… A stroll along the spine of Castle Hill, starting at the… Read More
CraneOutdoors: Choate Island Kayak and Hiking Adventure
Kayaking the pristine, sheltered waters of the Essex River Basin offers one of the top on-the-water experiences to be had in Northeast. Add to that a hike on the area’s largest island and you have the makings of an epic adventure. This combined outdoor trip in the Crane Wildlife Refuge—home… Read More
CraneOutdoors: Kayak Adventure on the Castle Neck River
One of the best ways to enjoy the natural beauty of the Massachusetts North Shore is kayaking the placid waters of the Great Marsh—the largest continuous stretch of salt marsh in New England, extending from Cape Ann to New Hampshire. The Castle Neck peninsula on the Crane Estate is a… Read More
CraneOutdoors: Sunset Kayak in the Crane Wildlife Refuge
There are few places on the North Shore that more reliably enjoy spectacular sunsets than the back side of Crane Beach, overlooking Essex Bay. On this outing into the… Read More
CraneOutdoors: Kayak Adventure on the Castle Neck River
One of the best ways to enjoy the natural beauty of the Massachusetts North Shore is kayaking the placid waters of the Great Marsh—the largest continuous stretch of salt marsh in New England, extending from Cape Ann to New Hampshire. The Castle Neck peninsula on the Crane Estate is a… Read More
CraneOutdoors: Sunset Kayak in the Crane Wildlife Refuge
There are few places on the North Shore that more reliably enjoy spectacular sunsets than the back side of Crane Beach, overlooking Essex Bay. On this outing into the… Read More
CraneOutdoors: Juneteenth Choate Island Kayak and Hike
The land that is now the Crane Estate has been shaped by many stories, some that are well known, and some that have yet to be shared. One important story that has been obscured is the story of enslaved people on Choate Island, including Jane and Violet, two enslaved girls… Read More
Old Growth Forest Walk with Adventure East
Join Adventure East for a guided woodland walk at the William Cullen Bryant Homestead in Cummington, MA. This walk explores one of Western Massachusetts’ most remarkable forest landscapes. Your naturalist guide will introduce the area’s towering white pines, ancient hemlocks, and diverse hardwoods while sharing the natural history, forest ecology,… Read More
Self-Guided Tour of the William Cullen Bryant Homestead
Explore the first floor of the William Cullen Bryant Homestead, the beloved home of one of the most important Americans of the 19th century. The home still contains the original collections of the Bryant family. Pack a picnic to enjoy outside and don’t miss the chance to hike… Read More
Fern Walk
Join Ranger Robert for a 45-minute guided fern identification walk along the 1.5-mile Ledges Trail at Bartholomew’s Cobble. Explore one of the region’s richest fern habitats and discover more than 53 fern species growing among the Cobble’s unique limestone rock formations and alkaline soils. This easy-paced hike will introduce participants… Read More