The Bay Circuit Trail

Beginning at Plum Island in Newburyport and ending at Kingston Bay in Duxbury, the Bay Circuit Trail encompasses more than 230 miles of trails open to hiking, biking, snowshoeing, and more.

South Shore

Pint-sized Shattuck Reservation, in Medfield, is comprised of an oak and pine forest overlooking a wet meadow and red maple swamp. Not only does Shattuck link with the BCT, but the reservation is part of a network of Trustees properties by the Charles River, forming a paddling trail in the summer.

Look for a trail extension across Causeway Street to connect to Noon Hill. Noon Hill rises gently through a trail and ridge dotted with pine, beech, birch, and hemlock. Stop for a snack and a view of Holt Pond, created in 1764 when the nearby Sawmill Brook was dammed to create a mill pond.

Known as the “Gates of the Charles,” Rocky Narrows in Sherborn became The Trustees’ first reservation in 1897. Traverse the extensive trail system, including the BCT and the Sherborn Town Forest. A canoe landing starts a two-mile loop trail to the Rocky Narrows Overlook, a stunning ledge with views of the namesake Narrows along the Charles River.

Metro West

Moving Northwest to Concord, find yourself at The Old Manse. Approach through Minute Man National Park and spend some time exploring the grounds or taking a themed house tour highlighting the revolutionary and transcendental history of the space.

North Shore

Continue North and find yourself at Charles Ward Reservation in North Andover. Explore 15 miles of easy to moderate trails with a diverse ecological landscape. On top of Holt Hill, the highest point in Essex County, you’ll find the “Solstice Stones,” a compass-like arrangement of stones set up to mark the sunset on the longest and shortest days of the year.

In Ipswich, find two adjoining properties intersecting with the trail. Appleton Farms and Appleton Farms Grass Rides. Rolling grasslands, grazing livestock, stone walls, vegetable crops, and historic farm buildings comprise this 1,000-acre pastoral landscape, offering a rare glimpse into New England’s agricultural past. The Grass Rides, originally designed for horseback riding, include a central meeting point that traverses the Bay Circuit.

A Trustees reservation ends the Bay Circuit Trail at Old Town Hill in Newbury. Follow a three-mile network of trails and pathways through thriving wetlands, ascending to landscape-level views of a corridor of protected open space along the Parker River. The Ridge Trail climbs moderately, affording vistas to the south, east, and north. You can also meander along The River Trail, a short and family-friendly scenic loop.