Appleton Farm from the paddock
Wander past crop fields and cow pastures at one of the country’s oldest continuously operating farms.
Plan Your Visit
- Overview
- Ideas for Your Visit
- Admission & Hours
- Directions & Contact Info
- What You'll Find
- Facilities & Accessibility
- Venue Rental
- Property Map
- Regulations & Advisories
Overview
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. A gift of Colonel Francis R. Appleton, Jr., and his wife Joan, Appleton Farms is one of the oldest continuously operating farms in the country, established in 1638 and maintained by nine generations of the Appleton family. Dairy cows graze out on pasture and are milked each morning while our free-range grass-fed beef herd are found on the rolling hills of the Great Pasture. During the haying season, the farm produces enough hay to feed the livestock all winter, and farm waste is composted and turned out on our fields. The Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and Appleton Farm Store provide farm fresh products and locally sourced artisan goods all year long.
Appleton Farms is home to a diverse mosaic of plant and wildlife species. The grasslands provide habitat for one of New England’s largest populations of bobolinks and meadowlarks, while the wetlands provide important spring feeding stops for migrating marsh birds and are home to frogs and salamanders, including the rare blue- and yellow-spotted salamander. Deer, fox, coyote, and mink are found in the fields, while the elusive fisher is common in the woodlands. Fall brings migrating hawks, and pine stands shelter owls in winter.
We connect people to their local food systems through our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, providing a way to eat locally and experience a “taste” of farm life. You can support local farms and local food by joining our CSA at Appleton. Vegetable CSAs feature fresh, local, organic produce from June to October, and seasonal meat CSAs include 100% grass-fed beef and lamb and pasture-raised pork and chicken. Click here to see the current list of CSA options.
Ideas for Your Visit
Start your visit at the white farmhouse affectionately called the “Old House,” and easily find your way to our many hiking and walking trails. Follow the paths to Sunset Hill, Wilson’s Field, Briar Hill, The Great Pasture, The Plains, and beyond. Six miles of footpaths, bridle paths, and farm roads (easy walking and great for jogging strollers), some of which are part of the Bay Circuit Trail, crisscross the farm.
Programs and Events
Visit our busy events schedule online to sign up for guided tours, pasture walks, birding hikes, farmstead story hours, and our many other programs for all ages.
Education for All Ages
Check out our widely varied education programs, from activities for homeschoolers to afterschool programs and more.
Culinary Workshops
See our full list of exciting culinary workshops in our Farmhouse Kitchen or book your own private culinary class when available.
Winter Adventures
Winter is a perfect time to visit Appleton and it becomes a playground for winter activities whenever there is snow on the ground. Enjoy cross-country ski trails groomed by our partners at North Shore Nordic Association. The only cost is the parking fee for nonmembers. Or, rent snowshoes at the Farmhouse, available on Saturday and Sunday for two hour rentals from 10:00AM to 2:00PM, with the last rentals returned by 4:00PM. Advance booking is not available, rentals are first come/first serve.
Admission & Hours
Property is open daily, Sunrise to Sunset.
Nonmember parking fee: $6 weekdays/$10 weekends and holidays.
Members always park for FREE.
Advance TicketsFarm Store Hours:
Tues – Sat 10:00AM – 6:00PM
Sunday 10:00AM – 4:00PM
Winter Snowshoe Rentals (weather dependent) at the Farmhouse
10:00AM – 2:00PM (last rental at 2:00, returned by 4:00)
Directions & Contact Info
219 County Road
Ipswich, MA 01938
Telephone: 978.356.5728
Email: appletonfarms@thetrustees.org
From Rt. 128, take Exit 45B, Rt. 1A North. Travel about 6.5 miles north on Rt. 1A and turn left at the Appleton Farms entrance sign (about 1/4 mile after the entering Ipswich sign on your left). Once inside the property, after the welcome gate, bear to the left for the CSA barn and bear to the right for the farm offices, farm store curbside pickup, trails, and public events and programs.
What You'll Find
While you are here, order online from our Appleton Farm Store at and pick up your local dairy, produce, meats and pantry staples before you leave. Or, pick them up during your visit and enjoy a picnic in the gorgeous Stone Paddock across from the Carriage Barn or in one of our many idyllic open meadows.
Appleton Farm Store
Tuesday – Saturday 10:00am – 6:00pm
Sunday 10:00am – 4:00pm
There are two ways to place an order at Appleton Farm Store:
In Advance: Pre-order items prior to your visit and they’ll be ready when you arrive. If you are a CSA member, order in time for your CSA pickup.
On Property: Place an order while on the property and choose “Pick Up” at checkout – your order will be ready within an hour. You’ll receive an email or text when ready.
Facilities & Accessibility
Public restrooms are located in the Carriage Barn. During events and programs at the Farmhouse, restrooms in that building are also available.
Accessible Features
Accessible bathrooms for the general public at the Carriage Barn. During private events that use the Old House/Farm Offices, there are accessible bathrooms in that building for event attendees to use.
Accessible parking spots at both the Old House/Farm Offices and the Grass Rides. There are signs posted designating those parking spots. There are two of them at the Old House, right along the side of the building, close to the side door, and one of them at the Grass Rides, right near the pay station location.
Some trails might be considered wheelchair friendly. The ones on the Farmstead side of the property, around the Old House, Farm Store, and a few of the trails over our railroad bridge and onto the other side of the property are wide, flat, dirt roads.
Venue Rental
Appleton Farms, a one thousand-acre property located on the North Shore of Massachusetts, is known for its preserved New England charm. Spring events will be backdropped by blooming wildflowers, song birds and the deep greens of the working farm. In the fall, the venue will offer cascades of oranges and yellows when the Maple trees that line many of the fields change for the new season. Our pastoral vistas, historic farmhouse, hours of walking trails, and wide variety of programming provide an idyllic setting and immersive experience to celebrate any occasion.
Learn More
Property Map
More than six miles of footpaths, bridle paths, and farm roads, some of which are part of the Bay Circuit Trail, provide numerous opportunities to experience Appleton Farms’ stunning vistas and striking diversity of landscapes, both natural and man-made.
Another six miles of trails perfect for walking, hiking or running, are available at the connected Appleton Farms Grass Rides, where dog walking is also allowed.
Trails are open year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset, see map below. When visiting, allow a minimum of 2 hours, 3 hours if also visiting Appleton Farms Grass Rides. You can download a Property Trail Map here.
Paths you’ll find on the property trail map include:
The Plains Loop – accessible from the farmstead’s Old House/Farm Offices parking lot or the Grass Rides parking lot, this 1.8-mile loop features leisurely walking and stunning views across the farm.
Farmstead Loop – accessible from our Farm Store or Waldingfield Road parking lots, this 1.3-mile loop offers a chance to view some of our working farm’s operations and the beauty of the surrounding landscape.
Grass Rides Loop – accessible from the Grass Rides parking lot, this 2.0-mile loop takes you through the woodlands to Round Point, at the center of the Grass Rides.
C.L.A. Mile – named after Charles Lanier Appleton, this one-mile journey takes you through the woods, along the Great Pasture and past Pigeon Hill, which offers a spectacular view of the farm stretching out in front of you.
There are several additional maintained trails and roads which are available for walking, hiking, running, cross-country skiing or horseback riding. They will take you to historical spots like Briar Hill or across our cultivated fields, past wetlands and woodlands to the wide-open space of Williams Field.
We ask that you stay on marked paths and roads, observing which are for pedestrians and which for equestrians. Please note: Dog walking is allowed at the Grass Rides only.
While enjoying our trails, please remember that this is a working farm and respect livestock, farm equipment and electric fences. Vehicles are allowed on main entrance driveway and parking is permitted only in designated parking lots.
Regulations & Advisories
- Authorized seasonal bow hunting is allowed on this reservation with written permission for a limited number of hunters through a deer management program administered by The Trustees. Per MassWildlife regulations, hunting is permitted from the first Monday in October through December each year, from ½ hour before sunrise all day until ½ hour after sunset, Monday through Saturday. Hunting is not allowed on Sundays. Signage is posted at the property listing safety precautions and requirements. Learn more about hunting on Trustees properties. Any questions may be directed to The Trustees at info@thetrustees.org.
- Please do not open gates, disturb livestock, or interrupt farming operations.
- Please be aware of – and respect – electric fencing and lines.
- Dog walking is not permitted at Appleton Farms, but it is allowed at the adjacent Appleton Farms Grass Rides.
- The reservation closes at sunset.
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Bringing alcohol onto the property is not permitted without special permission.
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We are a carry-in/carry-out property, please take all trash with you.
- Public vehicles are allowed on main entrance driveways only.
- Please respect the speed limit and yield to pedestrians and animals.
- Please observe all posted signs.
- PHOTOGRAPHY: We ask that photographers or their clients become Supporting Level Members before conducting portrait sessions at this property. Click here for more information, and to request permission for any portrait sessions. The Trustees of Reservations reserves the right, and may give permission to its designated photographers and videographers, or to outside media, to photograph or video visitors and program participants at all its facilities and properties.
