South Elementary School Nature Trail

805 Main St, Hingham, MA 02043, USA

Hingham Conservation: 781-741-1445

Owned By: Town of Hingham

• Directions
• Trail Map

The South Elementary School Nature Trail in Hingham is a short (0.25 mile) loop through the woods with a stream crossing plus views of wetlands. An additional trail extends from the loop for another 0.4 miles. The trailhead is located behind the baseball field (805 Main Street) next to the school, which has its own parking lot.

Features

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 trailhead behind the baseball field next door to the school, on the side closer to Cushing Street. It is marked with a large sign. The trail leads downhill to a 0.25-mile loop, which runs along a ridge. An additional loop trail extends westward from the first loop, adding another 0.4 miles.

Habitats and Wildlife

According to the Hingham Comprehensive Trails Plan, this property is part of a recessional moraine. The forest here is primarily oak, maple and beech, with some notably large birch trees. In season, there are a lot of ferns. There is also some maple swamp, at a spot where there was once a mill pond.

The stream the property flows toward Cushing Pond, which is the start of the 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, through Weir River Farm and eventually into 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 — with numerous acres of undisturbed salt marsh — 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.