Marie Strese Property - Mansfield, MA

In celebration of Earth Day, we recently participated in the 2021 Great Mansfield Cleanup organized by Keep Mansfield Beautiful.  Our assigned area was the Marie Strese Property managed by the Natural Resources Trust of Mansfield, located in the Canoe River watershed.  There is a parking area near the corner of Ware and Branch Streets with room for several cars, and there is no cost to park or visit.

While there was unfortunately quite a bit of litter in the parking lot and surrounding areas, the trails themselves were in great shape, and we were glad for the opportunity to take a hike in a local area that we had not yet explored.

We took the blue and yellow trails, which, put together, offer a lollipop style route - with an out-and-back at the start and finish, and a loop at the end.  The trail starts through some wetlands, and the girls loved the skunk cabbage.  There are several boardwalks too, which the kiddos always enjoy.  In total, our route was a bit less than a mile.  The trail was well-marked and well-maintained, with recently-fallen trees and branches having been cleared away, and the footing was good for a wooded trail.  The route was mostly flat, with some gentle rolling hills, and offered quiet forest surroundings.  We did not see any wildlife but heard a number of birds.

While the trail we took did not offer any major scenic features, the trail map shows a side trail overlooking the Canoe River.  Overall, this was an enjoyable walk in the woods and a nice area of our town.

















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