NSRWA Walking Club - Bates Trail and the Higgins-MacAllister Preserve in Scituate

NSRWA Walking Club – Bates Trail and the Higgins-MacAllister Preserve in Scituate
Saturday, August 10, 2024
10:00-11:30am

Join Guest Host Deb Lenahan on Saturday, August 10th at 10:00am in Scituate, as we explore the Bates Trail and the Higgins-MacAllister Preserve. We will start at the Bates Trail Parking Lot and take the Carl Pipes trail to the adjoining Higgins McAllister Preserve. This trail features a large wooden bridge which extends through woods and wetlands, offering views of Merritt Brook, a tributary to Bound Brook. There are a lot of rocks in the Higgins-MacAllister Preserve — glacial erratic boulders, as well as smaller, often moss-covered, rocks, and numerous stone walls. Another landmark is a very large Eastern White Pine tree, with a 17-foot circumference! Small signs direct hikers to its exact location. The property was purchased by the Town of Scituate in 2012.  While rarely steep, the trail requires a careful eye and even more careful steps. If you’re up for it, it is well worth the adventure!

The upland forest here contains mostly pine and beech trees, plus oak, holly, fern, and princess pine. In general, there is very little shrubbery, due to a large population of deer. Closer to the wetlands are yellow birch, cedar, and red maple. Here the shrubs are more prolific. Also look for winterberry and cinnamon fern. Moss is abundant! Merritt Brook, which rises in South Swamp and flows through the Higgins-MacAllister Preserve, is a headwater stream for the watershed of Bound Brook and the Aaron River Reservoir. It eventually flows into the Gulf River, which empties into Cohasset Harbor.

While we love dogs, NSRWA’s walks are dog-free in consideration for all participants. Please leave your pooches at home.

The Walking Club is looking for guest hosts. If you would like to lead a walk on a local trail that you love, please contact Theresa Delahunt at volunteercoordinator@nsrwa.org, or visit our website.

Click here for Directions.

Click here for Trail Map.

This event is FREE, however, registration is required.

REGISTER HERE.