Weather is getting warmer and summer is a month away, so it’s the perfect time to start planning how to spend time outside. The Brockton area is surrounded by pockets of natural beauty with walking trails to access scenic views.
Whether you want to stay in Brockton or travel outside of the urban landscape, there are many places to take in the sights and enjoy the springtime sun.
Here are some walking routes with scenic views in the greater Brockton area.
Memorial Tower, DW Field Park
Right inside the Brockton city lines is D.W. Field Park, which has over six miles of roadways across 650 acres of nature. One hidden gem is Memorial Tower, situated on a hill overlooking bright green hills surrounded by forest.
Although the tower is closed until autumn, the hill and surrounding space is open year-round, providing an up-close look at the historic memorial and breathtaking views of the rolling hills.
D.W. Field Park opened in 1925, and The Memorial Tower was dedicated in 1928 to honor soldiers who fought in World War I.
The park opens at 10 a.m. Monday through Friday and at noon on weekends and holidays. It closes every day at dusk. The left side of roads throughout the park are for pedestrians only and all car traffic is only one way. Nearby parking lots can be found along DW Field Parkway through the Oak Street entrance to the park.
Hockomock Swamp Preserve, Easton
Hockomock Swamp Preserve is one of the most popular hiking spots in southern Massachusetts, spanning over 6,000 acres of wetlands and swamps. This conservation land features conifer forests, cultivated fields and scenic wetland views.
The preserve’s claim to fame is the Ghost Train Trail, a five-mile challenging hike for more experienced hikers that offers unique nature vista views as a reward for conquering the demanding trail.
The Hockomock Swamp Wildlife Management Area stretches across several towns including Bridgewater, Taunton and Raynham, but one entrance close to Hockomock Swamp is located at 617 Turnpike Street in Easton. Although there’s no parking lot, off-street parking is available along Turnpike Street.
Oliver Ames Estate, Easton
The Oliver Ames Estate is a historic 36-acre community park located in Easton. The land was first settled by Oliver Ames, the 35th Governor of Massachusetts from 1887 to 1890, and is now open to the public.
Residents can tour the gorgeous estate, which isn’t owned by the Ames family trust anymore as of 2012. But the preserved land of the estate still features sapling trees planted by Ames in the 19th century.
The estate is located at 35 Oliver St in North Easton. The park is free and open to the public from sunrise to sunset everyday year-round.
Cleveland Pond, Ames Nowell State Park
Located in Abington, Ames Nowell State Park is a state-owned conservation area that features walking trails and is open to the public from sunrise to sunset year-round.
Forests surround Cleveland Pond, where visitors can view boaters and fishing enthusiast out on the water. Plus, the pretty rock formations lining portions of the pond provide unique, scenic views south of Boston.
The park is open from sunrise to sunset and parking lots are located near the entrance of the park at 379 Linwood St., Abington.
