Beverly Commons Conservation Area
About the Business
Welcome to Beverly Commons Conservation Area
Nestled in the heart of Beverly, Massachusetts, the Beverly Commons Conservation Area is a treasured mosaic of city and Greenbelt-protected land, inviting visitors to explore its serene forest canopy and extensive trail network. Located on Greenwood Avenue, this enchanting park and tourist attraction offers a tranquil escape for year-round recreation.
Discover the Majesty of Eastern Hemlock Forests
The conservation area is home to an impressive stand of eastern hemlock trees, some of which can live up to 800 years. These majestic trees form dense canopies that provide a unique habitat for a variety of plant and animal species. While the hemlocks face challenges from the woolly adelgid pest, their resilience and beauty continue to captivate nature enthusiasts.
A Landscape Steeped in History and Natural Healing
Once an Indigenous landscape, Beverly Commons is rich with historical and medicinal significance. Its vernal ponds, hemlock forests, and trailsides were once utilized by Native Americans, including the Algonquians, for crafting natural remedies. From columbine flowers to lady slipper roots, the area holds a legacy of healing and tradition.
A Journey Through Time
During colonial times, the Commons served as a major thoroughfare from Salem to Gloucester. Known as "Witches' Woods" during the witchcraft hysteria of 1692, it provided refuge for families seeking safety. Today, its open dirt roads and color-blazed trails offer a perfect setting for mountain biking, running, and snowshoeing, with impressive rock outcroppings and glacial boulders enhancing the landscape.
Nature's Bounty and Wildlife Wonders
In spring and summer, the forest floor blooms with wild columbine, violets, lady’s slippers, and jack-in-the-pulpits, while native orchid species grace the later summer months. The cool, acidic environment nurtures ferns and mosses. Birdwatchers can delight in spotting woodland birds such as the winter wren, scarlet tanager, and broad-winged hawk, while the ground is home to the harmless eastern ribbon snake.
Plan Your Visit
Visitors can access the trails via Greenwood Avenue, with a wide cart path leading to broader trails, or via Webster Avenue, favored by mountain bikers and hikers for its narrow, steep trail. Please park responsibly on Stone Ridge Road without blocking the gate. For directions, head south on Grapevine Road/Hart Street toward Beverly Farms, then turn right onto Greenwood Avenue. The trailhead and parking are just 0.3 miles ahead.
We invite you to explore the natural beauty and historical richness of Beverly Commons Conservation Area, a place where nature, history, and recreation harmoniously converge.
Acknowledgments
Greenbelt extends its gratitude to photographers Jerry Monkman, Dorothy Monnelly, Adrian Scholes, David Alden St. Pierre, and Neil Ungerleider for their stunning work featured on our website.
Photos
Location & Phone number
Greenwood Avenue, Beverly, Massachusetts 01915, United States
Reviews
"Favorite place to hike near Salem. A good mix of challenging and easier trails and very dog friendly!"
"Really nice! Pretty buggy in the summer and the trails aren’t always marked very well, but I got the Essex Country Greenbelt Go app like other reviews suggested and that helped a ton. There’s multiple trails and multiple places where they connect so you can take many different routes."
"This place is awesome, and I wish I had known about these trails when I used to mountain bike more. I will still have to make it back here at some point to ride the trails instead of walking them. Trails are well kept and pretty well marked with different colored paint for the 3 different trail loops. With over 12 miles of trails, there is plenty of space to ride or walk for a while. I saw only one bench to sit down on throughout the trails, but I didn't make it to every trail. From all the recent rains, I saw a bunch of different types of mushrooms growing. I also heard a lot of different birds while on my walk."
"Beautiful set of trails that can keep you busy for hours. Recommend Alltrails as the trails aren't well marked and Google maps doesn't know what to make of it. Mountain biker friendly, off leash dog friendly. Some fun little ups and downs, can almost feel like "real" hiking. Only downside is that the perimeter kisses up against the highway for a while so you get some road noise there. In high (...our normal) water times there are streams and a couple vernal pools."
"We really liked this spot for a walk in the woods. We stopped for a picnic on top of some granite rocks. We saw toads, lots of native plants, different ferns, moss, mushrooms. Invasive plants as well, unfortunately. The trails are varied- some wide gravel, some rocky terrain through the trees. Lots of birds chirping. Bring your bug spray! Easy parking in the neighborhood. Bikes are allowed (super cool!)"
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