• Parsons Reserve
• Horseneck Road, Dartmouth, MA
• Trailhead: 41°34’9.81″N, 71° 0’22.03″W
• First Time Hiked: April 19, 2014
• Last Time Hiked: March 21, 2019
• Approximate distance hiked: 1.5 miles
• Easy with some elevation.

I’ve been keeping an eye on the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust (DNRT) website the last few weeks. A friend had informed me a while back about one of their seasonal attractions. So, this weekend Parsons Reserve jumped to the top of the hiking list. I started the hike from the entrance of the reserve across the street from the parking area at Russell Mills Landing. The trail, blazed both blue and yellow, climbed upward away from the road as it wound through an area of woods. The yellow trail splits to the right. I followed the yellow trail into a spectacular spring display. A large daffodil field in the middle of the woods. I was informed by an employee of the DNRT that they were planted here during the 1940’s as an effort to raise money for the war effort. Eventually that person sold the property to Mr. Parsons and in return Parsons donated the land to the DNRT. The site is now open to the public and very well worth the visit while the flowers are in bloom. (The DNRT does suggest a donation to help maintain the fields. A donation box is along the yellow trail just as it enters the field). I then continued back out to the blue trail. Turning right to follow the blue trail I crossed a boardwalk and meandered up and down through the woods until I came to a vernal pool. I also spent some time there looking at the small inhabitants of the pond before continuing our hike. I then followed the green trail loop to an unmarked trail for a bit, then turned around, back to the green trail, finished the loop and made our way back to the blue trail. I then retraced our steps along the blue trail to the entrance of the reserve. I came across a snake as well as a hawk at the reserve.

Trail map can be found at: Parsons Reserve.

Daffodil Field at Parsons