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Hiking

Indian Brook Conservation Area

1197 State Rd, Plymouth, MA 02360, USA

Plymouth Parks & Forestry: 508-830-4162, ext. 12116

Owned By: Town of Plymouth

This 210-acre wooded property offers a 1.1-mile out-and-back trail with frontage on Indian Brook, and with a distant view of Shallow Pond. According to the Plymouth Trail Guide, the trail was originally a game trail, established by deer. Access is available toward the rear of the Manomet Recreation Area.

HUNTING: Hunting is allowed, in season, by licensed persons in compliance with Massachusetts law. Please be sure to understand state and local hunting guidelines before proceeding. Non-hunters, be mindful of hunting seasons, and wear bright orange if you’re entering the property during those times. Hunting is not permitted on Sundays.

Features

This land is within the region of the Wampanoag tribe, who in earlier times, maintained a fishing weir at the mouth of Bartlett’s Pond, nearby. The name Manomet has been interpreted to mean “bearing of a burden,” possibly referring to the baskets used by the Wampanoag on trails between their settlements at Patuxet (Plymouth) and Cape Cod. To learn more about local Native American tribes, we encourage you to interact with their members. The Herring Pond Wampanoag and the Mashpee Wampanoag share information on their websites.

Trail Description

Drive down the access road to Manomet Recreation Area and look for the trailhead behind the playground. This is an out-and-back trail of about 1.1 mile each way. It heads into the woods, offering occasional glimpses of Indian Brook. Follow the trail arrows (there are some unmarked side trails). You will pass over some furrows in the landscape, possibly dug by hand at an earlier time, to help with drainage. After 0.4 miles, the trail merges with Indian Brook Road (a cart path) and turns left. Then after 0.1 mile, it turns right, heading back into the woods. The final half mile of the trail leads through the forest, up and down some moderate hills, before ending, with a bench, at a distant overlook on Shallow Pond.

To view Indian Brook, when you return to Indian Brook Road, turn right instead of left, and walk another 0.1 mile.

Habitats and Wildlife

This property features a mixed upland forest, with white pine, pitch pine, oak, ash, beech, birch, maple, holly, sassafras and mountain laurel. The understory is primarily fern, sweet pepperbush and viburnum.

Indian Brook itself looks more like a pond here, as it’s been dammed for decades to create a cranberry farming reservoir. Its waters flow eventually to Cape Cod Bay near Ship Pond. There is hope for the future removal of the dam at State Road, which would permit this waterway to flow freely again after a long interruption.

  • A photograph of a paved parking area beside a playground.
  • A photograph of narrow forest trail.
  • A photograph of a forest trailhead with a map kiosk.
  • A photograph of a forest trail with a white marker on one tree.
  • A photograph of a wide trail through a forest.
  • A photograph of a bench in a forest with a pond in the distance.
  • A photograph of a forest trail covered with pine needles.
  • A photograph of a stream flowing through a wetland.
  • A photograph of a woodland trail with a white marker on one tree.
  • A photograph of a pond viewed through a woodland.
1197 State Rd, Plymouth, MA 02360, USA

Historic Site: No

Park: No

Beach: No

Boat Launch: No

Lifeguards: No

Size: 210 acres

Hours: Dawn to Dusk

Parking: Park toward the rear of the Manomet Recreation Area at 1197 State Road (Route 3A) in Plymouth. Look for the trailhead behind the playground.

Cost: Free

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Facilities:

Bench. Geocache location.

Dogs: Dogs must remain on leash. Please clean up after your pet!

Boat Ramp: No

ADA Access: No

Scenic Views: Yes

Waterbody/Watershed: Indian Brook (Cape Cod Bay watershed)

Other Things to Do at This Site

Forest Trails