Groton Family Hikes

There is a surprisingly large amount of conservation land in and around Groton Massachusetts.  However, many residents seem to be unaware of what's available right in their own town. 

I try to lead a hike occasionally featuring something of interest in and around Groton. 

The Groton Recreation department is sponsoring these hikes, so unless otherwise stated these are official town events. 

General Info and Rules

The following points apply generally to all these hikes, except as noted in the individual descriptions:

• Open to the public - There is no need to register, just show up.  Please don't call me to tell me you're coming. 

• Family hikes - These hikes are family oriented, so kids 5 and up are welcome to hike along, but must be accompanied by a responsible adult.  This also means we hike at kids pace. 

• Experience - Some hikes are a few miles long.  Any kids hiking along must have previously hiked at least two miles (or more if specified in the hike listing).  Please make sure that anyone hiking along is up to it. 

• Bring water and usually lunch.  Most hikes are deliberately over lunch time on Sundays.  Especially in the summer, we plan on getting to some pretty spot to eat and maybe hang out and enjoy the place a bit. 

• On Time - These hikes start at the time they are listed.  I don't believe in waiting "a few minutes" for stragglers to show up.  That would reward those that are late at the expense of those that were on time, which eventually encourages everyone to come late. 

Email List

These hikes will hopefully be listed in the local Groton papers, and of course this web page.  I also send out a notice to an email list a week or two before each hike.  Send me email at olin@embedinc.com if you'd like to be added or dropped from this list. 

Upcoming and Scheduled

McClain Woods and Fitch's Woods, 20 October 2002 at 11:30am

Come see New England woods in their autumn splendor.  We will explore some of the newest additions to Groton's trail system, see wooded upland and lowland terrain, and a historical site.  Bring water and lunch. 

From Groton center, take Hollis street.  Go .8 miles, then left onto Longley Road, 1.1 miles then right onto Nashua Road, .3 miles then right onto Reedy Meadow, .2 miles then right onto McClain Woods Drive.  Park at end of road. 

Not Yet Scheduled

This is mostly a list of ideas for upcoming hikes, although they haven't been finalized yet.  Suggestions are welcome.  Send them to olin@embedinc.com.  Generally I'm looking for nice loops to do during the winter months when nobody wants to hang out someplace to eat lunch.  In the summer it's more acceptable to do an out and back.  Of course, some locations require particular times of the year.  They may be too wet in spring, particularly beautiful in winter, etc. 

Past events

Click on this heading to see where we've been in the past. 

• To my hikes main page
• New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF)
• Groton Conservation Trust
• To my nature photos page
• Send me email