Note: VirtualGlobetrotting is an entertainment website is and is not associated During WWII and the Korean War, it served as an ammunitions depot for the U.S. military. . (Until 1775 when Cohasset was established as a separate town, it was part of Hingham.) 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. 19ms. Exploring some building ruins. Explosives such as TNT-loaded depth charges, bombs, fuses, projectiles, and . hi guys ive been to the wampatuck resivation and there were many explorable bunkers and sites to check out 10 years ago. It remained in use until 1965, and served both World War II and the Korean Conflict. Many cement bunkers were constructed and the area became a huge ammunitions storage depot. Wildflowers and flowering shrubs also grow in abundance. Privacy Policy DisclaimerTerms and ConditionsAccessibility Statement, Fall In Love with Kanopolis Lake Hiking Trails Ellsworth, Kansas, Buffalo Track Canyon Trail Kanopolis State Park, Kansas, Hiking Burrage Pond Wildlife Management Area- Hanson, MA, 3 Epic Hiking Trails in Myles Standish State Forest- Carver, MA, Cave-like shelter between N32 and N33 close to the missile test building, Stone paving circles used as a floor near the Aaron River Reservoir, Another cave-like shelter is located on the right-hand side of NS10 when entering from the northeast direction, It is also believed that Burbank Boulder at NS9 could be a Native American sacred perched boulder, Union Street and 100 on either side of the street, Doane Street (from the Cohasset gate to the power line). Blue Spring, which has been in operation since the mid-19th century. This all came to an end in 1962. The park is popular with campers and has more than 250 wooded campsites (some with electricity). During World War II the Depot was the main ammunition supply for the North Atlantic naval forces. Massachusetts prohibits the transportation of firewood into or out of any DCR campground. Date of experience . Wompatuck State Park Trails. A lock icon ( Many of these roads go back to colonial times. Wompatuck State Park has six entrances. The water is tested frequently for safety. You will come to the Whitney Spur Rail Trail at marker NN7. PO Box 43 What a treat!! Blue . (214 South Street) u have to see it to belive how big it is. A section of the now-aging chain link fencing that once demarcated the parks boundaries can be found a short distance down the trail. I was able to locate all the areas that appear pn the satellite views. The route turns left at a paved road and quickly turns left again down another trail which is an old rail bed so you may notice railroad ties in the trail. theres a path up to it, this place is well worth the trip. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream. Blue Street, Norwell. Streams powered the Stockbridge Shingle Mill and water from Mt. 451 trails on an interactive map of the trail network. The dam that holds the reservoir in place was constructed from 1976-1978. Wompatuck State Park, an unusual site in Hingham. Blue Spring . There are still descendants of these original inhabitants living on the South Shore today, and they are known as theMattakeesett Tribe of the Massachusett Indian Nation, theMassachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag, andMashpee Wompanoag Tribe. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Due to the number of trails, a map is necessary to explore the park. This land is within the region of the Massachuseuk (or Massachusett) Native American tribe. The sites are: Read the full Friends of Wompatuck Newsletter to learn more about Native American stonework in Eastern Massachusetts. Taking a trip out thursdayanyone want to join or give advice? When the Civil War broke out all the local men were swept into the fight. Much of the park is undeveloped and is heavily wooded. 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 Grove Street, Norwell Mt. Maps are provided at many of the kiosks by the Friends of Wompatuck. Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The park itself opened in 1969. This all came to an end in 1962. During World War II the Depot was the main ammunition supply for the North Atlantic naval forces. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The episode led the 100-member Friends group to christen their annual bike race fund-raiser the Landmine Classic. Jim R., the FOW historian In 1655 he deeded the land we now call Hingham so that others . Much of the park is undeveloped and is heavily wooded. There are over 250 bird species in the park, including : blue jay, great blue heron, goss hawk, red tail hawk, yellow warbler, ruffed grouse, and quail. Dogs: Dogs must be leashed at all times. Waterbody/Watershed: Aaron River (Gulf River watershed), NSRWA Office Lastly, Beechwood Street ran east from Union Street through the site of Aaron River Reservoir to Beechwood Street in Cohasset until the reservoir was formed by a dam in 1976-1978. It turns east into the park and flows north into and beyond Triphammer Pond and into the Weir River. In 1967 the Massachusetts Department of Natural Resources purchased the 3496 acres to convert it to a public park. Scattered throughout the property are over 100 decommissioned military bunkers, which were used to store ammunition. park that's mostly in hingham, but jets out into parts of Norwell and Cohasset. Still some stuff there, but you can see that they are systematically taking it all down. The Corps fenced off and thoroughly examined several acres before pronouncing it safe. There are 12 miles of paved biking trails in the park, and many more miles . But if you wandered off the trail, you might have a blast of another kind.. REGIONAL TOURISM COUNCILS GREATER BOSTON CONVENTION VISITORS BUREAU 1 888-733-2678 wwwBostonUSAcom NORTH OF BOSTON CONVENTION VISITORS BUREAU 2 978-465-6555 northofbostonorg Or you can just get in contact with the local Boy Scouts troop down there. Wednesday: 9:00am-5:00pm The Gulf River flows into the ocean at Cohasset Harbor. The state park was formerly a munitions depot during WWII. Zimmerman said his department is unable to say when the closed area will be opened. Camping season typically runs from early May until Columbus Day weekend. Wompatuck State Park is a fantastic place to take kids bike riding. Site Number: K003. Thank you for your website feedback! Sorry, we Fax: 781.659.7915 You will receive your first email soon. In 1969, Wompatuck State Park opened to the public. You will find Eastern White Pine, Hemlock, Maple, Oak, Cedar, Birch, and many more types of trees. . Tickets cost $6 - $11 and the journey takes 30 min. 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. In the 1700s, early settlers and ship captains held title to the area, but the land was never extensively developed. Plymouth & Brockton operates a bus from Boston South Buses to Park & Ride Lot, Rte 3 & 228 hourly. . For mountain bikers, the park is home to one of the longest section of switchbacked singletrack in the state. Wompatuck Trail Map. [11] With the trail now serving as usable access to the park, 20 spaces in the station lot were dedicated for park users.[12][13]. According to the parks historians, the Navy also tested missile parts there in the early years of the Cold War and experimented with rocket fuels. anonymously (anonymous users cannot post links). On the east Brass Kettle Conservation Area and residential land west of Doane and Church Streets in Cohasset and west of Summer Street and north of Clapp Road in Scituate form the boundary. 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. Ancillary Activities: Horses (permission may be required), Birding, Hunting (permission may be required), Camping (permission may be required), Snowmobiles, Historic Sites. iam gointo do do some traveling there soon, because its been so long and the last time i was there i didnt have my digi cam. Scattered throughout the property are over 100 decommissioned military bunkers, which were used to store ammunition. Home / Hiking / Wompatuck State Park Prospect Street/Norwell Entrance, https://www.mass.gov/locations/wompatuck-state-park. The farmers used the fields to graze their horses, sheep, and oxen. Park supervisor Steve Gammon, who has overseen the site since the 1970s, said, We would like to see the whole park opened.. With so many trails, a map is definitely needed to navigate. Wompatuck State Park is a state-owned, public recreation area of about 3,500 acres (1,400ha) 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. Campers may choose from an extensive array of trails for biking, hiking, horseback riding, and ski touring. 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 Little-Known Beach In Massachusetts You Can Only Reach By Hiking This 2-Mile Trail, This Secluded Cave In Massachusetts Is So Worthy Of An Adventure, The Easy And Enchanting Hike Everyone In Massachusetts Should Take This Winter, The East Head Pond Trail In Massachusetts Completely Transforms In The Winter Months, This Trail Leading To A Large Canyon Is Often Called The Grand Canyon Of Massachusetts, The One-Of-A-Kind Trail In Massachusetts With Arched Bridges And A River Is Quite The Hike, Theres A Glowing Pumpkin Trail Coming To Massachusetts And Itll Make Your Fall Magical, A Mysterious Woodland Trail In Massachusetts Will Take You To The Original Eyrie House Ruins, Abandoned States of America Facebook group. The path will connect to N11 again. Wompatuck State Park is one of the closest campgrounds to Boston, where you can find a weekend getaway and get back to nature without having to travel too far. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. Approximately 400 campsites are open from late spring to early autumn. 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. You can also join our Abandoned States of America Facebook group and share any of the photos you have. Wompatuck State Park mountain bike trail map. [4] The park is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation[5] which protects forests of the northeastern coastal forests ecoregion.[6]. Email: info@nsrwa.org, Public Office Hours: Conservation and recreation officials, however, said the deteriorating military buildings pose significant safety concerns to the public. Be on the lookout for a dirt path that goes downhill on the left-hand side. Constant cracks and creeaks and I was on foot. The trail leads to a paved road, which is Leavitt Street, at marker NN12. Explosives such as TNT loaded depth charges, bombs, fuses, projectiles, and cartridges were produced and stored along with the assembly of rocket motors. Wompatuck State Park is located south of Boston in a small town called Hingham. The easiest way to access union street is to exit off of MA-228 onto Middle Street, which turns into Union Street. a recent history walk sponsored by FOW, Looking at a 1950s map of Wompatuck next to an old military bunker. Monday: 1:00-5:00pm I can comment on the 10+ miles of paved bicycle trails- gorgeous! This 3,500-acre Massachusetts state park served as the Hingham Naval Ammunition Annex from 1941 to 1965. Have you hiked or biked the loop at Wompatuck State Park? (214 South Street) There are numerous woodland trails for hiking, dog-walking, horseback riding, cycling, and cross-country skiing. The tall trees were used for masts and stone walls were built to denote survey and boundary lines. Many cement bunkers were constructed and the area became a huge munitions storage depot. The land was later granted back to the state of Massachusetts to create the state park. Campsite fee is $17/night for Mass . View campsite map, availability, and reserve online with ReserveAmerica. Take the Green line to Haymarket and walk south toward Faneuil Hall. Approximately 100,000 people visit the park each year. Copyright 2011 Globe Newspaper Company. You can come from Boston on the train and use the trail - until you get to the border of Wompatuck and theres a big fence, Boles said. Blue Street, Norwell. While we remain anxious to restore full use of that land, we want to continue to work with the Army Corps to ensure an environment that is safe to the public, said Reginald Zimmerman, a spokesman for the states Department of Conservation and Recreation, which manages the park. hiking trails of abingtonAmes Nowell State Park. The U.S. Navy deactivated the Cohasset Annex and in 1963 the land was declared surplus by the Navy. The red train shop was always my favorite spot anyway, good to see it's still around. Other water features include: Mount Blue Spring, a source of potable spring water, and Woodpecker, Wildcat, and Heron ponds. That could range from a minimal cost to hundreds of thousands of dollars, she said. What a treat! It is located within one mile of the ocean. 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. In 1966 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts took possession of the Cohasset Annex property. those are great photos. Water from Mt. Directions In 1986 the Park acquired an additional 600 acres from the government. Wompatuck State Park has 262 wooded campsites; 140 of them offer electricity. Stroller-friendly in some sections. Wompatuck State Park is located in Hingham, MA - just 35 minutes from downtown Boston. There are several hills to explore, boulders to be amazed by, and areas along the waters edge to soak up Wompatucks natural beauty. Wompatuck State Park abuts Cohasset's Whitney Thayer Woods, a Trustees of Reservations property that allows mountain biking on a network of well maintained gravel paths. You can also download the Wompy map onto your phone which provides a GPS locator and map. Wompatuck State Park is located south of Boston in a small town called Hingham. Wompatuck State Park Prospect Street/Norwell Entrance, Count Fish Online South River, Marshfield, Dumpster Maintenance and Waste Materials Checklist, Mattakeesett Tribe of the Massachusett Indian Nation. Reply #3 on: April 29, 2004, 02:54:39 PM . 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. 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. This is an excellent alternative to the unofficial Prospect Street entrance, around the corner, which lacks sufficient parking. All the other bunkers I've seen over there are just one room but maybe they have some special setup for special cases. To get there, follow the trail from Marker S32 to S33 to S 34, and then onward to S3 and S4. Wompatuck State Park is covered by the Cohasset, MA US Topo Map quadrant. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state, Read the rules for hunting in state parks. Wompatuck State Park Address: 204 Union St., Hingham MA 02043 Phone: 781-749-7160 . The park has over 400 campsites and is a great place for hiking, biking, and fishing. There are 12 miles of paved bike paths, plus off-road trails for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. Overall Rating. the pictures up here are amazing, but they dont do the place justice. Habitats include semiconserved oak-conifer transitional forest, hemlock groves, ponds, palustrine wooded swamps and early successional shrubland. The land was originally the property of Native American chief Josiah Wompatuck, who deeded the land to English settlers in 1655. could not find your e-mail or password. Days stayed: 5. In the 1700s, early settlers and ship captains held title to the area, but the land was never extensively developed. Parking: Two informal roadside parking areas, each for 3-4 vehicles, on Prospect Street in Norwell, close to the Hingham town line. Visit the MBTA website for further information. If you get to the small brook, then you have gone too far. A large bunker with a loading dock off Union Street, known as N-9, was recently restored by three Eagle Scouts to preserve a piece of munitions history. Wompatuck State Park. The trail system is well marked and the trail map is a very good representation of the park. Land was acquired from private homeowners for the purpose of expanding the Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot nearby. The park itself opened in 1969. kinda freaky out there when you're on your own. Scattered throughout the property are over 100 decommissioned military bunkers, which were used to store ammunition. Wompatuck State Park Trail Map; Wompatuck State Park Trail Reports; Share. Remnants of buildings can often be found clustered near abandoned rail spurs. This section of the park, and many of the waterways elsewhere in the park, drain to the Aaron River, which flows northeast to the Aaron River Reservoir. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. Soon after it exits the pond, it flows into the Weir River. In addition, Accord Brook flows northward along the western edge of the park, eventually into Triphammer Pond. Wompatuck State Park is located in eastern Massachusetts, just half an hour south of Boston. Being adjacent to the rail access point to the Ammunition Depot Annex, the area features remnants to many depot structures and abandoned railroad tracks fanning out from the spur track. Wildflowers and flowering shrubs also grow in abundance. Tweet. Recommended Trail Activities: Running, Walking, Hiking, Trail Biking Throughout Wompatuck State Park are remnants of the ammunition depot such as bunkers, railroad tracks, old fire hydrants, and many other fixtures. Also, the park contains the highest point in Hingham: Prospect Hill. The ammunition depot closed in 1965 allowing the State of Massachusetts to purchase the land. English settlers purchased the land from Wompatuck in 1655. . The land itself feels lush and magical. Scattered throughout Wompatuck State Park are remnants of bunkers, railroad tracks, fences, and light posts. In 1986 the Park acquired an additional 600 acres from the government. DCR maintains the former Navy ammunition depot annex where old bunkers and the remains of an extensive railroad are still evident. 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. Take the red trail on the right and follow it until it becomes red and yellow. Please limit your input to 500 characters. For this hike, you will also go outside the park to Triphammer Pond and Whitney & Thayer Woods. I'm sorry to point out that this is incorrect but not far off. Stay right on the path and follow the Pond edge. Read Expedia's guide to find out everything you need to know about visiting South Shore Art Center! There are numerous woodland trails within the park for hiking, dog-walking, horseback riding, cycling, and cross-country skiing. Federal engineers also discovered the land mine area of suspected unexploded ordnance buried near a bike trail, Boles said. It stretches into four towns Hingham, Cohasset, Scituate and Norwell. HINGHAM - Thirty-five years ago, visitors to Wompatuck State Park could still find open munitions storage bunkers and rusting barrels of toxic materials - remnants from a period when the military used the site to store ammunition and assemble explosives. The Wompy map also provides information about areas to visit within the park and highlights several of the mountain bike trails. 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. 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. Find cheap hotels near Old Ship Church in Plymouth County with real guest reviews and ratings. 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.