Farandnear Reservation — Attraction in Shirley

Such a lovely little gem. I lived in Shirley for over 10 years and never knew this was here. I took the kiddos, age 6 and 3, for a little walk around the blue loop trail, which was .75 miles. They loved it and so did I. The grounds are beautiful. So picturesque and well kept. A great place for a picnic either on the grass or on the picnic tables unfer the pavilion. With 2 small kids in tow, it was great that there is actual bathrooms here and they were clean. Ample parking for at least 10 cars. We can't wait to come back! And of course, don't forget...

Excellent area. Hosts extremely old oaks, pines, and hemlocks. Probably the largest of all three I have seen. The blue trail is rather easy and passes the groves with the largest trees. The old maple trail and the bloodroot trail intersect the blue path which can be traversed quite easily. The trail over Spruce Swamp is open via the bog trail but not the other trail which is closed due to beaver activity. I went as far as the trail permits and...

This was a very quiet and very well maintained reserve. Trails were very clearly marked and easy to navigate. Kids loved the hike, and were excited to see the beaver pond. Restrooms weren't open, but not an issue considering the current state of affairs. We took the blue trail and we did the hike in about 45 minutes, taking our time. A great place to take a nice stroll in a...