With A Historical Site And A River, The Little-Known October Farm Loop In Massachusetts Is Unexpectedly Magical
By Melissa Mahoney|Published May 12, 2022
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
Certain trails around the Bay State are quite popular and can get a bit crowded. You may have run into more than enough people on trails through the Blue Hills or Bash Bish Falls State Park. If you prefer more solitude while you hike, there’s a little-known trail that provides an unexpectedly magical hike in Massachusetts. With a historical site and a river, this trail is as fascinating as it is scenic and you won’t encounter many other people.
October Farm Riverfront is an 80-acre preserve located in the town of Concord. It is overseen by both the Town of Concord and The Land Trust.
Take the October Farm Loop for an easy hike that experiences very light foot traffic. In fact, you may be hard-pressed to find anyone else along this trail.
This 2.1-mile loop trail is ideal for hiking and birding year-round as well as snowshoeing in the winter. Along the way, there is plenty of stunning scenery, views, and a historic site.
The most fascinating part of this trail is the stone canoe house that was built into the hillside in 1910. It was part of a farm that once stood on the property. William Brewster, Mass Audubon's very first president had purchased Ball Hill in the late-1800s for preservation, turning part of it into a farm.
Although Brewster had built a farmhouse, he spent more time in a cabin along the river. You can see the cabin's foundation on this hike and explore the canoe house which still stands.
This little-known hike is as serene as it is fascinating. If you love history and enjoy solitude, the October Farm Loop trail is the perfect hike for you.
Have you ventured out on this unexpectedly magical hike in Massachusetts before? What are your favorite places to hike around the Bay State? Let us know in the comments. To learn more about the October Farm Riverfront, visit the Concord Land Conservation Trust’s website.