At the Norris Reservation hike past a former mill pond, cross a wetlands boardwalk, and explore a forest of pine and oak on your way to a boathouse on the banks of the tidal North River.

In the 1920s, Albert and Eleanor Norris began purchasing land along the North River, a National Natural Landmark and a Commonwealth of Massachusetts Scenic River, and the center of Colonial-era shipbuilding in New England. The couple eventually built a cottage, cut a trail system, opened up the shady forest to attract wildflowers and ferns, and created a haven for woodland and riverside wildlife, where white pines and oaks mingle with salt marsh and a millpond.

Choose from several loop or out-and-back routes along carriage roads padded with generations of pine needles; reaching the lovely curve in the North River is ample reward. Stop at the boathouse or at an overlook bench and wait for the wading birds, hawks, and kingfishers to pass by. Look for crumbling beaver dams in the wetlands or listen for an owl’s hoot. Trout rise in the millpond beyond the parking lot, while striped bass course along the North River on the far edge of the property. In between, treetop birds and wetland frogs compete in a songfest.

From MA-3, take Exit 32 onto MA-53 North. Follow for 0.6 miles. Turn right onto MA-123 (Main Street) and follow for 3 miles towards Norwell Center. Just before entering the town center, turn right onto West Street and follow for 0.3 miles until it dead ends into Dover Street. The entrance and parking area (12 cars) are straight ahead on Dover Street.

The main trail from the parking area leads to a former mill pond. Second Herring Brook flows through this pond. A wide bridge crosses the brook and offers up-close views of the bubbling (and sometimes gushing) stream. From the pond, there are trails to the left and to the right, part of an extensive network of cart paths and narrow footpaths. Both trails lead eventually to the North River, through upland and wetland, with the occasional boardwalk. The Gordon’s Pond boardwalk leads across and around a large pond-like section of Second Herring Brook.

The AllTrails website has descriptions and maps of hikes at Norris Reservation.