Explore woods and wetlands along the Sippican River at Tweedy and Barnes Conservation Area, owned by the Wareham Land Trust. Once part of a cranberry company, Tweedy and Barnes holds a piece of Wareham’s history among the oaks and pines.

As you walk through Tweedy and Barnes, the landscape transitions from sandy pines to mixed hardwood forest. This makes Tweedy and Barnes a nice spot for a walk when the seasons change. Lush ferns unfurl from the ground in spring, and fiery autumn foliage reflects on the surface of the Sippican River through October.

This conservation area gets its name from the Tweedy and Barnes Cranberry Company, which once owned the property. You can still spot remnants of this operation from the trails, including an old canal gate and canal channels.

Tweedy and Barnes’ riverside location makes it a great place to spot waterfowl and stream-loving species like mink. As you walk through the woods, look for foxes and deer, which find shelter in the mixed hardwood forest. Careful explorers may discover ferns and mushrooms in the forest understory.

The trails at Tweedy and Barnes are flat, though they aren’t well-marked in some areas. Altogether, you’ll spend a leisurely half hour walking through the woods and along the Sippican River. 

From the parking area on Blackmore Pond Road, follow a narrow path that leads to a junction in the trail. From there, you have two options: turn left to head west down a short trail past a wetland, or keep walking straight to explore the river loop. We recommend this south trail for its peaceful river views from an old railroad bridge.

The AllTrails website has a description and map of a hike at Tweedy and Barnes Preserve.