Crooked Meadow River Area

685 Main St, Hingham, MA 02043, USA

Town of Hingham: 781-741-1400

Owned By: Hingham Land Conservation Trust

• Directions

Crooked Meadow River Area is a small-but-mighty 0.6-acre conservation property in Hingham. The very well-maintained Serenity Path leads to distant views of Crooked Meadow River and some large glacial erratic boulders and rocky outcroppings. Located behind Second Parish Church. Also of interest nearby, Mildred Cushing Woods.

Features

This parcel is overseen by the Hingham Land Conservation Trust. It was donated by Helen P. Burns, a former director of the organization. You can’t quite see it from the trail, but nearby on Crooked Meadow River, there is a waterfall and restored mill. You may be able to hear the waterfall!

This land is within the region of the Massachusett (or Massachuseuk). To learn more about local Native American tribes, we encourage you to interact with their members. The Massachusett tribe at Ponkapoag and the Mattakeeset band of the Massachusett share information on their websites.

Trail Description

Look for the sign marking the Serenity Path, at the back of the parking area behind Second Parish Church in Hingham. The 0.14-mile loop leads downhill, past some large glacial erratic boulders and moss-covered outcroppings, and then back up again to the starting point. Much of the trail is lined with logs.

Habitats and Wildlife

The woods in this area are primarily maple, oak, pine and beech. The property is within the watershed of Crooked Meadow River.

The Plymouth River and the Eel River flow together upstream of this property, just to the west of Mildred Cushing Woods. The stream they create passes through Cushing Pond, emerging on the other side with a new name, Crooked Meadow River. Crooked Meadow River joins with Fulling Mill Brook to create the Weir River. The Weir River flows north through Hingham, with Tower Brook and Accord Brook joining it in its first mile. It gradually turns northeast and flows for another 1.4 miles to Foundry Pond. The Weir River Estuary, designated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as an Area of Critical Concern, begins just below the manmade dam at the pond. The mile-wide estuary forms the border between Hingham and Hull, and empties into Hingham Bay. For more information about the Weir River, follow the Weir River Watershed Association.