According to a former supervisor of Wompatuck, there are three sites in Wompatuck State Park which are believed to have been used by Indigenous people. Recommended Trail Activities: Running, Walking, Hiking, Trail Biking The park features numerous seasonal campsites, plus fishing and non-motorized boating on the Aaron River Reservoir. Many cement bunkers were constructed and the area became a huge ammunitions storage depot. Accord Brook, which originates in Accord Pond, flows north along the parks border, from the Hingham-Norwell town line to S. Pleasant Street. Streams powered the Stockbridge Shingle Mill and water from Mt. This entrance features a new ADA trail that connects via a boardwalk and a crushed stone pathway to established trails within the park. The episode led the 100-member Friends group to christen their annual bike race fund-raiser the Landmine Classic. Approximately 400 campsites are open from late spring to early autumn. click for Fullsize. Some cool old bunkers (unfortunately some . Reserve a campsite Download a trail map Recommended hikes and rides . Theyd use them as echo chambers, recalled Friends member Steve Cobble of Quincy. I can comment on the 10+ miles of paved bicycle trails- gorgeous! Season: Any time between late spring and late fall. What a treat! The 1.5mile long Whitney Spur Rail Trail was constructed in 2003 on land owned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation from the MBTA Cohasset Commuter . In their absence, the land was not utilized and the forest started to reclaim it. For mountain bikers, the park is home to one of the longest section of switchbacked singletrack in the state. Explosives such as TNT-loaded depth charges, bombs, fuses, projectiles, and cartridges were produced and stored here. . Wompatuck State Park has six entrances. This park is said to contain approximately 600 acres. Located at the northern end of the park, the 200-acre closed area includes a few contaminated buildings where munitions such as torpedoes were assembled for shipping to a Navy depot at what is now Bare Cove Park in Hingham. The dam that holds the reservoir in place was constructed from 1976-1978. Scattered throughout the property are over 100 decommissioned military bunkers, which were used to store ammunition. Many of these roads go back to colonial times. a recent history walk sponsored by FOW, Looking at a 1950s map of Wompatuck next to an old military bunker. In the 1700s, early settlers and ship captains held title to the area, but the land was never extensively developed. . In their absence, the land was not utilized and the forest started to reclaim it. South Pleasant Street runs east from Main Street in Hingham to Union Street in Wompatuck State Park. "Bears run; they . Wompatuck is quickly becoming recognized as an . yes it was declared a superfund site, and their 2 reasons why. Most hotels are fully refundable. Land and water creatures abound in the park. Ammo Dump remains in Wompatuck State Park. This section was opened to the public in 2014. Thus, any way you choose will be a great hike. Much of the park is undeveloped and is heavily wooded. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. Follow the paved trail to NN7 into Whitney and Thayer Woods. Explosives such as TNT loaded depth charges, bombs, fuses, projectiles, and cartridges were produced and stored along with the assembly of rocket motors. Constant cracks and creeaks and I was on foot. It turns east into the park and flows north into and beyond Triphammer Pond and into the Weir River. In 1655 he deeded the land we now call Hingham so that others could enjoy the land as he did. I'm sorry to point out that this is incorrect but not far off. Dogs Allowed. Now a federal project to clean up the burning grounds at Wompatuck is expected to conclude a decades-long effort by the Army Corps of Engineers to resolve all the parks contamination issues dating to its history as an ammunition storage and weapons development site. Blue Spring, Transfer Gate. From route 3 take exit 35 heading north on route 228. . Visit the MBTA website for further information. PO Box 43 as the gemtlemen said ina previous post be careful how far you poke around you may run into some bad stuff. Some cool old bunkers (unfortunately some graffiti - seems like it is a trend around the area to tag historical stuff - such a shame) Date of experience: March 2020 Ask debbies556 about Wompatuck State Park All sites have a picnic table, grill, and fire ring. giving a history tour of Wompy, Walking though the park during REGIONAL TOURISM COUNCILS GREATER BOSTON CONVENTION VISITORS BUREAU 1 888-733-2678 wwwBostonUSAcom NORTH OF BOSTON CONVENTION VISITORS BUREAU 2 978-465-6555 northofbostonorg The Mount Blue Spring is currently closed. Parking: The water is tested frequently for safety. Thank you! Wompatuck State Park- Main Entrance204 Union Street, Hingham, Ma 02043, Size: 3,526 acresHiking: 40 miles of trailsParking: Along Union Street, Visitor Center area, Orchard Triangle, Mt. It was reactivated for the Korean conflict and once again went into full military operation. You can also download the Wompy map onto your phone which provides a GPS locator and map. - Trail Map (PDF) - Recommended Spring '22 Hikes (PDF) Season: Camping Season is mid-May through mid-October. with this post, location or person. Begun three years ago, the project to study and propose solutions for the contaminated area, about one to two acres, where the military disposed of old munitions and weapons materials during and after World War II, raises hope that all of the parkland property acquired by the state more than 40 years ago will finally be open to the public. On January 1, 2004, a 125 acre parcel off of Leavitt Street was added to the park. I used to skateboard in the correct spot to the northeast with my friends in the 80's when I was a teen. In 1941, the U.S. Navy acquired from private landowners all of the property in order to expand the already existing Hingham Naval Ammunitions Depot. Fish commonly found in the 136-acre Aaron River Reservoir include bass, pickerel, sunfish, and perch. You can find it in a shed with an adjacent parking area, on Union Street in the park, between markers E14 and E1, not far from the Transfer Station area. Land was acquired from private homeowners for the purpose of expanding the Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot nearby (now Bare Cove Park). Wompatuck bunkers. Is N-9 different than the other bunkers? Fax: 781.659.7915 February 27, 2023 equitable estoppel california If you have, please let us know if you saw the abandoned buildings. That could range from a minimal cost to hundreds of thousands of dollars, she said. This 3,500-acre Massachusetts state park served as the Hingham Naval Ammunition Annex from 1941 to 1965. Dogs: Dogs must be leashed at all times. English settlers purchased the land from Wompatuck in 1655. DCR maintains the former Navy ammunition depot annex where old bunkers and the remains of an extensive railroad are still evident. Most of it was never developed or utilized until the 1800s when families began using the land to graze their farm animals and harvest woodlots. Blue Spring was commercially bottled. Primarily located in Hingham, Massachusetts, Wompatuck State Park also extends into the nearby towns of Cohasset, Norwell, and Scituate. Wompatuck State Park is covered by the Cohasset, MA US Topo Map quadrant. The Wompatuck Trail is ADA accessible. Take the red trail on the right and follow it until it becomes red and yellow. Additional parking at the Main Entrance, Leavitt Street in Hingham, and Doane Street in Cohasset. anyways you go in through the main gate and then the first parking area on the left is the trailhead to the old buildings that are left.. you gotta jump a fence now, I was there last week and they fixed the opening that had been there since i started going there.. just follow the old roads to get around and theres also some nice old rail lines to follow. But the new rail trail is a trail to nowhere, the Friends say, because it is blocked by the wire fence around the closed area. Wompatuck State Park is located in Hingham, MA - just 35 minutes from downtown Boston. However, I fell in love with Wompatuck very quickly and found that if I memorized a couple of the upcoming intersections, I would not have to look at the map so often. Corps officials are studying a report received in May on the projects analysis of the contamination and a range of proposed solutions, which range from removing contaminated soil to simply posting warning signs and taking down the wire fence that bars people from the site, not far from the parks campground. 43 reviews of Wompatuck State Park "Wompatuck State Park is a huge (something like 4000 acre?) We said if you rode the race, you had a blast, Bill Boles, president of the Friends of Wompatuck, said of the fund-raising event. Hingham, with its immaculately preserved homes from a bygone era lining Main Street, Central Street and the town center, seems worlds away from nuclear ammunition, bunkers and machine gun shells. subject to the rules of our, THIS STORY HAS BEEN FORMATTED FOR EASY PRINTING, Report: Warrant Issued for Roggies Bar Owner, Boston Pops Concert Move Keeps the Beach Boys, Ditches Joey McIntyre, Lawmakers pass compounding pharmacy oversight bill, Follow this list on Twitter: @BostonPopular. The park itself opened in 1969. Below the dam, the river continues to flow on to Lilly (formerly Scituate) Pond. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream. Wildflowers and flowering shrubs also grow in abundance. Chief Wompatuck sold the land to settlers in 1655 who went on to use it to harvest timber needed for shipbuilding. There are many rocky outcroppings and glacial erratic boulders throughout the park. A section of the now-aging chain link fencing that once demarcated the parks boundaries can be found a short distance down the trail. Explosives such as TNT-loaded depth charges, bombs, fuses . Scoop the poop! It has stands of White Atlantic cedar, American holly, chestnut oak, shagbark hickory, mountain laurel, pink dogwood, white pine, American Beech, and hemlock, some estimated to be 175 years old. When World War II ended, this area reverted to maintenance status only. Trails in Wompatuck State Park consist of wide non-motorized paved roads, paved bike paths, and dirt foot trails. Until 1775 Cohasset was part of Hingham, referred to as the second parish. Twelve miles of paved bicycle trails, in addition to miles of wooded bridle paths and hiking trails, offer lots of riding options. Doane Street was created at the initiative of Doane to make it easier for second parish residents to attend Hingham town meetings at the corner of Leavitt and East Streets. In 1967 the Massachusetts Department of Natural Resources purchased the 3496 acres to convert it to a public park. The ammo dumps (bunkers) are to the north and east and have been completely destroyed. Soon after it exits the pond, it flows into the Weir River. You will receive your first email soon. Find cheap hotels near Old Ship Church in Plymouth County with real guest reviews and ratings. The materials disposed of consist of small arms ammunition, machine gun bullets, flares, incendiaries, irritants (gases), and grenades, Charette said. Common species include: muskrat, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, skunk, painted turtle, bullfrog, coyote, deer, bobcat, fisher cat, red & grey fox, yellow spotted salamander, yellow spotted turtle, box turtle, woodcock, bass, pickerel and sunfish. The land was originally the property of Native American chief Josiah Wompatuck, who deeded the land to English settlers in 1655. Blue Spring was commercially bottled. Water from Mt. Scattered throughout Wompatuck State Park are remnants of bunkers, railroad tracks, fences, and light posts. Dogs: Dogs must remain on leash. 2023 North & South Rivers Watershed Association. Turkey Hill is north of the park in Cohasset. Common species include: muskrat, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, skunk, painted turtle, bullfrog, coyote, deer, bobcat, fisher cat, red & grey fox, yellow spotted salamander, yellow spotted turtle, box turtle, woodcock, bass, pickerel and sunfish. Rich in history, this land was originally the property of Indian chief Josiah Wompatuck who deeded the land to English Settlers in 1665. Our main concern is public safety, he said. [8] The station opened with the rest of the Greenbush Line on October 31, 2007. You can also join our Abandoned States of America Facebook group and share any of the photos you have. There is a rail spur track at each of the sites linked to the Greenbush Line. Both park users and officials look forward to a time when the burning grounds will be declared safe and the closed area will be open. Since then, 725 acres have been added. In 1966 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts took possession of the Cohasset Annex property. In 1655 he deeded the land we now call Hingham so that others . During WWII and the Korean War, it served as an ammunitions depot for the U.S. military. This area was known as the Cohasset Annex. The Wompatuck Trail, accessible from the Main entrance in Hingham, is ADA accessible. I jetted ASAP and will go back when I have someone else with me. yea, i believe N-9 was made specifically to hold a certain anti-aircraft or anti-tank missile or something dont quote but something along those lines, RUR-5 ASROC, an anti-sub rocket. The 1.5-mile Whitney Spur Rail Trail now connects the Cohasset MBTA station to Wompatuck State Park. Conservation and recreation officials, however, said the deteriorating military buildings pose significant safety concerns to the public. A hike here is as spooky as it is fascinating. Zimmerman said his department is unable to say when the closed area will be opened. Once on N11, turn right to stay on N11. The path will connect to N11 again. Get Directions . At this time, the agency is reviewing these concerns and is also exploring possible alternatives that would establish recreational access while being cost-effective, Zimmerman said. This map is centered on the presently in-use state park camping area. 1h 18m. Wompatuck State Park Trails is a 10.5 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Hingham, MA that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Half the sites have electricity and half do not. Most hotels are fully refundable. you will need a lock pick or cutter to get in but thats doable. Search. A rail spur, the Whitney Spur, once connected the Ammunition Depot to the Old Colony Railroads Greenbush Line. 43 reviews of Wompatuck State Park "Wompatuck State Park is a huge (something like 4000 acre?) There are several old military buildings on the property, as well as an extensive network of abandoned railroad tracks. English settlers purchased the land from Wompatuck in 1655. . Stay right on the path and follow the Pond edge. Other Hingham entrances . Typically, the Mt. those are great photos. The Mount Blue Spring is currently closed. However, they do run out frequently so it is best to print a map prior to leaving. The Wompy map also provides information about areas to visit within the park and highlights several of the mountain bike trails. Read Expedia's guide to find out everything you need to know about visiting South Shore Art Center! This entrance features occasional benches and interpretive signs. Wompy's trails can be wet in early spring. Blue Spring is open seasonally, featuring water drawn directly from a natural aquifer. There are ponds for fishing, and hunting is permitted in season. Compare 2,301 hotels, room rates, hotel reviews and availability. The USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) publishes a set of the most commonly used topographic maps of the U.S. called US Topo that are separated into rectangular quadrants that are printed at 22.75"x29" or larger. Wednesday: 9:00am-5:00pm The brook continues north to Triphammer Pond and ultimately flows into the Weir River. Massachusetts prohibits the transportation of firewood into or out of any DCR campground. Offering an over 250 site campground, 12 miles of non-motorized roads and 40 miles of forest trails, the park is a great place to get into nature. Other access points include: Main Entrance, Hingham Leavitt Street Entrance, Hingham Triphammer Pond Conservation Area, Hingham Whitney Spur Rail Trail, Cohasset Whitney & Thayer Woods, Cohasset Doane Street Entrance, Cohasset Aaron River Reservoir and Dam, Cohasset Brass Kettle Conservation Area, Cohasset Prospect Street, Norwell Mt. Explosives such as TNT-loaded depth charges, bombs, fuses, projectiles, and . It joins with Brass Kettle Brook and eventually empties into the Gulf River in North Scituate. You will find Eastern White Pine, Hemlock, Maple, Oak, Cedar, Birch, and many more types of trees. Wompatuck State Park $17 for MA resident / $54 for non-resident; PLUS $6 electric hookups (if applicable). This 3,500-acre Massachusetts state park served as the Hingham Naval Ammunition Annex from 1941 to 1965. Waterbody/Watershed: Aaron River (Gulf River watershed), NSRWA Office It remained in use until 1965, and served both World War II and the Korean Conflict. Wompatuck State Park is popular state park south of Boston and the trails are popular with a variety of user groups. Remnants of buildings can often be found clustered near abandoned rail spurs. Families maintained woodlots to heat their homes. Entering from the Leavitt Street cul-de-sac the route goes straight past trail marker NN3 uphill to marker NN11 and turns left. One would hope this [the project] is coming to the end of a very long process, Boles said. Most buildings have had their roofs and windows removed and are open to the elements. Via Car Use the address of Faneuil Hall as a guide for GPS directions: 1 Faneuil Hall Square, Boston, MA 02109. For mountain bikers, the park is home to one of the longest sections of switchbacked singletrack in the state. The rest of the park contains a great many hiking trails. The loop trail connecting these two points to S11-S14 crosses the Aaron River twice. After leaving Uber amid scandals in 2017, Kalanick sailed around Tahiti in a $70 million The way the park is set up, you choose your own adventure. Park at the lot across from the visitor center. Stop in the Visitor Center to see more. Wompatuck State Park is a state-owned, public recreation area of about 3,500 acres in size located primarily in the town of Hingham with portions in the neighboring towns of Cohasset, Norwell, and Scituate, Massachusetts, in the United States. Wompatuck State Park Trails. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Federal engineers also discovered the land mine area of suspected unexploded ordnance buried near a bike trail, Boles said. The route continues on the road straight past NN10 and turns right onto a dirt trail. hiking trails of abington. Wompatuck State Park welcomes everyone. There are 12 miles of paved bike paths, plus off-road trails for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. We utilized this park as an economical . Avoid riding on the trails in wet conditions. The park is built on the former Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot Annex (known by natives as the "Cohasset Annex"), which was in use from 1941 until 1965. Circa 1617, there was a major outbreak of disease from European settlers that decimated an estimated 90% of the native population in New England, including the Massachusett and Wampanoag tribes that inhabited this area. Blue Spring . I was able to locate all the areas that appear pn the satellite views. This vast expanse of woods was named for its prior owner, Josiah Wompatuck, who was chief of the Mattakeessett and grandson of Chief Chickatawbut. The park features approximately 400 seasonal campsites, plus fishing, non-motorized boating and seasonal ice skating on the Aaron River Reservoir. In 1986 the Park acquired an additional 600 acres from the government. If you need assistance, please Learn About DCR| Mass.gov. According to the website, there's 262 campsites (140 w/ electricity) though I can't comment on the camping since I have yet to camp here. 6 ft. . A low risk may warrant limited use controls - trails could go through the area, but no digging would be permitted, and signs would be posted to warn the general public not to disturb the soil. This park is also the site of a glacial erratic, the Burbank Boulder. What a treat!! The terrain of the park is extensively shaped by the glacial period. If you are lucky, you may see a deer or fox. In 1941, the United States government established the Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot Annex (known by locals as the Cohasset Annex). 451 trails on an interactive map of the trail network. Here's a map of the entire state park grounds. Encompassing 3,500 acres (1540 in Hingham), this heavily wooded park is one of the towns greatest conservation assets. There are several hills to explore, boulders to be amazed by, and areas along the waters edge to soak up Wompatucks natural beauty. This state park was previously owned by the Native American chief Josiah Wompatuck. Union Street, the main road through the park, begins in Hingham and extends south, all the way through the park, becoming Mount Blue Street as it enters Norwell. Wompatuck State Park is located south of Boston in a small town called Hingham. It stretches into four towns Hingham, Cohasset, Scituate and Norwell. Whether youre bringing a tent, R.V., or trailer, you'll find plenty of space to enjoy the outdoors. The land at Wompatuck State Park was commonly used by the Massachusett tribe, led by Chief Josiah Wompatuck. In 1655, Chief Josiah Wompatuck, leader of the tribe, deeded the land, we now call Hingham and Cohasset, to the settlers from England. You can find it in a shed with an adjacent parking area, on Union Street in the park, between markers E14 and E1, not far from the Transfer Station area. The park has a large number of paved roads remaining from its use as a Naval Ammunition Depot. It could have just been some junk making it look like two areas. The easiest way to access union street is to exit off of MA-228 onto Middle Street, which turns into Union Street. Certain ruins can even be found along a trail in a forest preserve or state park, adding a certain level of spookiness to a hike. Among the most common are Swamp Azalea, Solomon's Seal, While Geranium, ladies slipper, and Sheep Laurel. The park's campground offers 262 campsites, 140 of which have electrical service. 2023 North & South Rivers Watershed Association. Water from Mt. Much of the park is undeveloped and is heavily wooded. In 1986 the Park acquired an additional 600 acres from the government. Explosives such as TNT loaded depth charges, bombs, fuses, projectiles, and cartridges were produced and stored along with the assembly of rocket motors. 42.2063963191386-70.8453369140625 13 satellite. Take mass transit into the city. (Until 1775 when Cohasset was established as a separate town, it was part of Hingham.) Offering an over 250 site campground, 12 miles of non-motorized roads and 40 miles of forest trails, the park is a great place to get into nature. hi guys ive been to the wampatuck resivation and there were many explorable bunkers and sites to check out 10 years ago. It is fairly quiet with a significant amount of trails to explore. In 1969 the park opened for limited outdoor recreational use, and in 1973 it was dedicated as Wompatuck State Park. In 2003, the DCR sold the land for the Cohasset commuter rail station and parking lot to the MBTA, in exchange for the construction of a rail trail on the former rail spur. 1941 Navy acquired the land for an ammunition depot. Wompatuck kind of spoiled us a bit, as it was our first introduction to RV camping at a state park. There are 12 miles of paved bike paths, plus off-road trails for hiking, dog walking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. I've worked in the entertainment industry for much of my adult life and I love photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world! During the 1800s, families maintained woodlots and grazing lands here, and the streams powered the Stockbridge Shingle Mill. The park itself is quiet and wooded. This land that we call Wompatuck State Park was originally the property of the Wampanoag Tribe. During World War II the Depot was the main ammunition supply for the North Atlantic naval forces. The area of the Leavitt Street entrance is characterized by Leavitt Street and the Whitney Spur Rail Trail. From there Bound Brook flows north along the Cohasset-Scituate border to Cohasset Harbor. Camping season typically runs from early May until Columbus Day weekend. After years of requests, demolition of the buildings began in April 2014. Many never returned. Tickets cost $6 - $11 and the journey takes 30 min. Another option is to create your own hike. Soon after it exits the pond, it flows into the Weir River. The ammunition depot closed in 1965 allowing the State of Massachusetts to purchase the land. 0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. Water from Mt. For some off-road fun, explore the many single-track trails through the woods. The Friends say the state promised years ago to clean up or secure those buildings so the public can make use of a new bike trail. A third watershed in Wompatuck is Brass Kettle Brook which flows from the base of Turkey Hill to the east along the north border of Wompatuck to Lilly Pond and on to Bound Brook. Plymouth & Brockton operates a bus from Boston South Buses to Park & Ride Lot, Rte 3 & 228 hourly. The trail system is well marked and the trail map is a very good representation of the park. The route continues past the foundation of another warehouse on the right. This alternate and unofficial entrance to Wompatuck State Park is located on Prospect Street in Norwell, very close to the Hingham town line. The Friends of Wompatuck have made it a little easier to navigate with a downloadable map on your device that has a GPS locator. Its helpful to know that the trail from the parking lot leads to marker S27. The trail system is well marked and the trail map is a very good representation of the park. However, a gate blocked access from the trail to the northwest section of the park, which still had several dangerous abandoned buildings. There are water spigots throughout the campground. Be on the lookout for a dirt path that goes downhill on the left-hand side. Every winter, the sailing vessel Noorderlicht is intentionally frozen into Tempelfjorden. brought back to life again :P, last time i was there biking most of them were sealed but i found about three way out of the way ones that were opend to pansy to go inside (i was by my self), Here's whats left (and theres not much) of the old Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot Annex located in Wompatuck State Park. Most buildings have had their roofs and windows removed and are open to the elements. In addition to a large campground and an extensive trail system, the park is noted for the free spring water that can be obtained at Mt. This rock, a remnant of the glacial period, balances itself at three points equally distant from each other. Stroller-friendly in some sections. In 1986 the Park acquired an additional 600 acres from the government. Take a left and head towards NN12, Follow N12 which is a dirt trail until it merges with the Wompatuck Bikeway (You will cross one paved trail).