Hamlen Woods
4.8 (82)park
4.8 (82)Trails wind past colonial-era reservoirs, beaver ponds, and ancient quartzite outcrops in this Wayland woodland.
Description
Old stone walls and large cedar trees mark former pastures across Hamlen Woods, where upland forest connects to the open fields of Mainstone Farm. Across the terrain, natural landmarks include a glacier-formed kettle hole and weathered granite outcrops known as Rice Gneiss along the water.
Marked by colored diamond signs, trail options include a 1.75-mile one-way route north to Reeves Hill and an approximate 4.5-mile circuit through all the connected conservation parcels. Near the Rice Road parking area, the ponds date to colonial damming on Snake Brook, which later supplied Cochituate Village until its use ended in 1929.