Explore the Rocky Narrows of the Charles River - Rocky Narrows Reservation, Sherborn, Massachusetts
Written: Apr 04 '08
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Product Rating:
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Pros: 7 miles of trails, Two overlooks, "Rocky Narrows", Easy to follow trails
Cons: Southern portion of park isn't all that great
The Bottom Line: Anyone who is in the area and is looking for a place to go walking and enjoy nature should check out the the Rocky Narrows Reservation
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| jps246's Full Review: Rocky Narrows Reservation, MA |
I started to explore the Rocky Narrows Reservation in Sherborn, Massachusetts with a few friends and I was glad that I finally took the time to see what the park had to offer.
It’s not a huge park and doesn’t really offer any challenging hikes, but it’s quite large and offers a number of loop trails that lets you hike for several miles if you plan it right. There are also two overlooks that gives you a good view of the Charles River where it passes through the “rocky narrows” and the park is adjacent to the Sherborn Town Forest which contains its own trails. Not only that, but the Medfield State Forest is on the opposite side of the Charles River, give you quite a large area of protected lands (not that you could get over to the State Forest without a boat).
The Rocky Narrows Reservation is part of the parkland that is maintained by the Trustees of Reservations. This organization owns and maintains a number of parks throughout Massachusetts.
Where is Rocky Narrows?
Rocky Narrows is located in the Town of Sherborn, Massachusetts which is near the Towns of Millis and Medfield. There are two major access points for the reservation. The first along Route 27 provides access to the portion of the site south of the railroad line.
The second entrance, which provides access the remaining portion of the park is located off of Forest Street, which is off of Route 27 a few miles to the north of the first entrance area.
Both of the entrances feature fee-free parking for about six or seven cars on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are also informational kiosks at both entrances that have trail maps for the area.
Anything to keep in mind?
Probably the biggest thing to keep in mind is that you are not supposed to cross the railroad track that bisects this park, however it appears that just about everyone does since there’s a well worn trail that goes right up to the tracks and then continues on the other side.
The track is curved in the area and the trains do travel fast though, so if you are going to cross anyway, make sure you are listening for an approaching train, keeping your eyes open and that you cross the tracks quickly and get out of the way.
What can I do at Rocky Narrows?
Depending on the entrance you use, you can either take a fairly short hike down to the railroad tracks and back or make a fairly large loop around the park and through the Sherborn Town Forest while enjoying two different rocky ledge overlooks and the chance to get down along the banks of the Charles River.
There’s about seven miles of hiking trails in total with most of those trails on the northern side of the railroad tracks on the larger portion of the park. The vast majority of these trails make a series of loops that allow you to explore as much or as little of the park as you would like. On the southern side of the tracks your hiking options are much more limited. There are a few trails and a few opportunities for making loops, but generally you walk down to the railroad and then make your way back up to the parking area. There really isn’t much to see or do compared to the northern side of the park.
The views on the northern portion of the park are quite nice. The Rocky Narrows Overlook looks eastward over the Charles River where it passes through the “rocky narrows” that give the park its name and into the Medfield State Forest on the opposite shore. The King Phillip’s Overlook looks southward across the Charles and into the Medfield State Forest.
None of the hiking is really “hard” but in a few places there are steep sections as you make your way up to the two overlooks. Anyone in decent shape shouldn’t have a problem and I doubt that children would have any issues either. Basically if you are fairly surefooted, you’ll do fine.
This park is good for a few hours of walking. The numerous trails in the northern parcel give you lots of choices for everything from a quick walk to a longer hike out to both viewpoints.
You can also use the southern entrance to gain access to the whole park, but like I said, it is dangerous to cross the rail line. If it were up to me, I’d use the Forest Street entrance. The trail choices are more numerous and you don’t have to worry about the rail line. Plus there’s nothing really special about that portion of the park to the south of the railroad.
Getting Around
The trails are all well maintained and easy to walk. The trail junctions are also all signed. However like all the reservations I’ve been in, there are no trail signs. You really should have a copy of the area map, which shows the numbered trail junctions and really is your best resource for walking. If you don’t have it, it can be pretty easy to get turned around and confused on all the different walking paths.
Final Thoughts
A good place to spend a few hours in the afternoon, Rocky Narrows Reservation has a great mix of terrain and trails that should keep most people interested.
It’s not the only park I would walk in, but one of many and I like the opportunities that the park provides. I can take a short evening walk or a longer afternoon walk depending on my mood. Not only that, but when I get out to the overlooks I can enjoy the view of the Charles River and beyond.
Make sure you have a trail map!
In my mind, for anyone who is in the area and is looking for a place to go walking and enjoy nature, the Rocky Narrows Reservation would be a great choice.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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