WhitePond
A Delightful Place for a Stroll:
A Guide to Some of our Favorite Trails
a stunning display of lush green meadows, brilliant flowers, and trees bursting with life. Animals, birds, fish, amphibians,
reptiles, and a plethora of bugs and insects can be seen and heard as they go about their daily lives – bringing a smile to young and old alike. Spending time in nature is both grounding and humbling – and many people find themselves feeling more calm and just plain happier after a stroll by the river or a walk through the forest. It is truly amazing how many special places there are to enjoy these experiences in and around Concord. To help you get started, we have put together a quick guide and a QR Code link to maps of some of our favorite spots. Just hover the camera of your smartphone over the code and a link will pop up – click it and you will see a map of the area to guide your walk. From history to literature, to the wild and scenic – we hope you will find inspiration in this article to get outside and explore Concord’s stunning nature!
©Christine Gerzon
THE BATTLE ROAD The Minute Man National Historical Park includes a 4.9-mile trail that runs the length of the battle road where 700 British regulars marched into Concord in search of weapons and along which intense fighting took place as they returned to Boston on April 19, 1775. Beginning at Meriam’s Corner and ending at Fiske Hill, the trail runs directly past – or very near – all of the historical sites in the park, including several beautifully preserved ‘witness houses’ where citizens experienced that harrowing day firsthand. Hiking or biking is the only way to see everything, although there are parking lots at all the major sites which provide inroads to the key attractions. If you begin your walk at Fiske Hill, park at the lot at Old Massachusetts Avenue and walk across the road to the Ebenezer Fiske House Site to find the trailhead. From there, markers long the trail indicate the distance remaining from one end to the other. Battle Road While this is one of the longer hikes featured in this guide, it is a very easy stroll and a pleasant one as well. Much of the trail is a wide, gravel path. There are some minor hills, but wheelchairs can still travel along this trail with some assistance, and most hikers will find this to be an easy walk. There are shade trees along many sections (though not all) of the path as well, making this a nice choice on a warm summer day. During the busy summer season, you will often find park rangers or historic reenactors along the route – offering educational insights into our nation’s history. Remember that this is an out-and-back trail meaning that if you walk the five miles, you will need to walk the full five back to your vehicle. If you are walking with a friend, try parking one car at one end of the trail and then starting at the other end. You can also chain up a bike at one end of the park and then drive/park to the other end to begin your tour through America’s history.
Your trusted guides on the trail to and from home
©istockphoto/sphraner
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As the warm weather arrives, nature puts on
BY JENNIFER C. SCHÜNEMANN
