Boxford, Massachusetts

Total Acres: 386

Year Conserved: Multiple Years

 

Property Description

Bald Hill East is one of Essex County's best assemblages of rich forestland, diverse wetlands, and associated biological diversity, which change by season.

Greenbelt protects 25 land parcels, totaling 286 acres, within a much larger protected area. Bald Hill East is adjacent to Boxford State Forest's Longmeadow Swamp and the John Phillips Wildlife Sanctuary, which together consist of 1,800 acres of large land tracts spread across the towns of Boxford, North Andover, and Middleton.

 

Special Features:

The natural history of this property consists of a variety of habitats supporting an extraordinary diversity of plant and animal life. The landscape has been shaped by its past use as woodlot and pasture, with remnants of stone walls still visible today. Wetlands, ponds and at least two vernal pools add to the diversity of this area; and in recent year, beavers have been active, creating even more wetlands.

Spring signals migratory birds, wildflowers, and vernal pools; summer brings sedges and breeding raptors; fall delivers a spectacular foliage display and winter wildlife tracking is an exciting adventure, when fallen snow becomes the record book for the travels of nearby white-tail deer, fisher, mink, otter and other animals.

 

Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds are temporary pools of water, which tend to reach their greatest depth in spring, due to snow melt. They are usually devoid of fish, and therefore allow the safe development of newly hatched amphibians, like tadpoles, toads and salamanders.

 

For more information about vernal pools, consult the Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team at www.capeannvernalpond.com.

 

Parking

Parking for 2 cars.

Park in the pullout next to the small white house, by the Phillips Wildlife Sanctuary sign.

 

Directions

From East Boxford Center:

Travel one block north on Georgetown Road, and turn left onto Middleton Road. At the next intersection, just past the school, continue straight, then proceed about 0.7 mile to a small pullout just after a small white house on the right.

From Route 95:

Take the Endicott Street, Boxford exit. Head west from the exit ramp for 0.2 mile. Turn north onto Middelton Road and travel 2.4 miles to the pullout on the left by a small white house.

 

Get Out and Ride (pdf of bike route map)

Western Essex County Road Ride

Ability: Novice to Intermediate

Terrain: Paved rural roads, few hills

Distance: 20 miles

On this classic Essex County ride, enjoy quiet, rural roads where you’ll pass by conservation lands with ponds, forests and wide, open fields. The route has rolling hills, flat stretches and a few steep climbs, with scenic views the entire way.

Route Cues: 

 

BOXFORD

Leave from Boxford State Forest entrance……………………………………0.0 miles

Follow Middleton Road north, stay straight @ stop sign…………………….2.0 miles

Bear left onto Georgetown Road……………………………………………...2.6 miles

Turn left onto Herrick Road…………………………………………………..4.3 miles

Changes to Spofford Street, stay straight @ stop sign………………………5.3 miles

Turn left onto Highland Road………………………………………………..6.0 miles

Bear right onto Ipswich Road………………………………………………..7.6 miles

 

NORTH ANDOVER

Turn left onto Winter Street…………………………………………………..8.9 miles

Bear right onto Foster Street…………………………………………………10.1 miles

At stop sign, cross Boxford Street and proceed on Salem Street……………12.45 miles

 

MIDDLETON

Salem Street turns into Essex Street…………………………………………14.45 miles

Turn left onto School Street (unmarked)……………………………………..15.65 miles

Turn right onto Liberty Street……………………………………………….16.05 miles

Turn left onto Peabody Street………………………………………………..17.65 miles

Turn left onto East Street……………………………………………………..18.15 miles

 

BOXFORD

East Street becomes Endicott Road………………………………………….18.45 miles

Turn left onto Middleton Road……………………………………………….19.95 miles

End at Boxford State Forest Entrance…………………………………………19.95 miles

 

Directions to Boxford State Forest/Bald Hill Reservation

From East Boxford Center: Travel one block north on Georgetown Road, and turn left onto Middleton Road. At the next intersection, just past the school, continue straight, then proceed about 0.7 mile to a small pullout just after a small white house on the right.

 

Route 95: Take the Endicott Street, Boxford exit. Head west from the exit ramp for 0.2 mile. Turn north onto Middelton Road and travel 2.4 miles to the pullout on the left by a small white house.