Marion is a scenic town that sits on Buzzards Bay. Sippican Lands Trust is an organization that has been working to preserve natural areas in Marion. Most of the properties below are managed by them.
Reserves we have visited in Marion:
Brainard Marsh has its own page: click here to see pictures from that preserve.
Great Hill does not have a website.
There is no PDF trail map for this site.
Great Hill is a bit different than most entries in this 'preserve' section because it isn't actually a preserve. This is a private shoreline property, gated but open to the public for walking or bicycling. The local historical society has a page that gives a bit of history for the site. The property is in a trust for Stone family descendants. A sign greets visitors at both entrances, including a COVID pandemic requirement for face masks.
It is very pretty although the only walking is along the shoreline road itself. As a sure sign of spring, we saw a boat with a diver who seems to have been putting in the boat moorings for the season. These tree blossoms were another sure sign of spring.
There was an attractive Great Blue Heron flying over the water.
The grounds have a lovely beach area.
As the Sippican Lands Trust website says, "The property has a myriad of walking trails, fire lanes, horse paths and animal tracks." The provided trail map does not show the extent of the paths through the woods. Since we were in amongst the trees there are no grand views to show you, but there were pretty wildflowers.
It was a nice walk through the woods, but what was really interesting was the cemetery at one end (direct entrance at this spot on a map). Memorial stones and benches are nestled in the woods between the trees. (Here is an article about the Point Road Memorial Forest Cemetery.
There are memorial stones in the woods that are fairly recent. The Stone family, the owners of Great Hill (above), is one of the families that use this cemetery. Galen Stone, buried here, is probably the grandchild of the Galen L. Stone mentioned in the Historical Society page linked above.
Someone placed Lily of the Valley flowers on a marker.
Update from a 2021 visit: Someone snuck some flowers next to one of the memorial stones. They are interesting flowers.
This is a very peaceful spot to visit and remember.
Howland Marsh is a short walk through the woods to a large marsh on Planting Island Cove (part of Buzzards Bay). This was our view:
We could actually see more of the marsh than that picture shows. It would likely be a good bird watching spot although we did not have any particularly interesting sightings there.
The most interesting thing to see here were the really really really long docks that the nearby houses needed to get over the marsh and to the cove. The second most interesting item were the Cinnamon Fern, Osmunda cinnamomea, that were in the woods.
Another preserve, Osprey Marsh, is a stone's throw away. That one was closed our 1st timethe day we went (related to the COVID-19 pandemic). A young man arrived and started some mowing at the entrances. These Sippican Trust properties seem well maintained.
Osprey Marsh has its own page: click here
This is another nice wood walk, with a wide and flat trail. There is a pretty observation deck at the end.
On a nearby large stone is a plaque that reads:
In Joyous Memory
of Cynthia H. Grace
August 17, 1943 to January 13, 2012
She loved living in the Boathouse, visible across the cove, where together with her husband, Nicholas, she hosted many a happy gathering, including wedding parties for each of her beloved children, until cancer brought an untimely end to her life.
We will miss her forever.
The view looking out towards Buzzards Bay. In the distance you can see the Elizabeth Islands and the village of Gosnold.
Back to the Preserves main page
Updated April 2021