Ride the Whitney Spur
South Shore / Hingham–Cohasset, Massachusetts
Activity
Biking / Rail Trail
Difficulty
Moderate / paved park ride
Distance
9 mi round trip
Elevation gain
~250 ft
Duration
~1–2 hrs
Route
Out & back / park loop connection
The adventure
Link Wompatuck's paved park roads with the Whitney Spur Rail Trail for a nine-mile South Shore ride.
Leave the Visitor Center area on your bike, use the paved park network to connect with the Whitney Spur, and ride the rail-trail corridor out toward Cohasset.
Large forested South Shore park with streams, ponds and reservoirs
What you'll do
Start at Wompatuck Visitor Center parking, then follow the route about 9 miles round trip.
Expect paved paths/roads and paved whitney spur rail trail.
Expect roughly 250 ft of climbing along the way.
What you're looking at
- Its unusual density of old paved and unpaved routes creates both beginner-friendly riding and extensive single-track options.
The story of the place
The property includes land from the former Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot Annex.
Once you're there
Start at the Visitor Center parking area off Union Street. Use the park map to follow paved bike-path and road connections toward the Whitney Spur Rail Trail, then ride the paved spur toward Cohasset.
The official suggested ride allows several park-loop variations, including a stop near Aaron River Reservoir, so keep the total near nine miles while making sure your route reconnects to the Visitor Center. Watch intersection numbers and do not drift onto technical single-track unless that is intentionally part of your ride.
Don't miss
Work a reservoir stop into the ride. The official route suggestion practically hands you permission to make the nine miles less about pavement and more about finding water in the woods.
Good to know
- Access
- No permit or reservation requirement identified for ordinary day cycling.
- Best time to go
- Day-use access is year-round; snow, ice and leaf cover can change riding conditions.
- Hours
- Sunrise to sunset
- Parking
- Multiple day-use parking locations are identified inside and at park gates.
- Restrooms
- Restrooms available in the park.
- Hazards
- Numerous intersections, shared trail users, wet leaves, winter ice
- Water features
- Aaron river reservoir, park ponds
- Dogs
- Dogs are allowed in the park; follow current leash and trail-use rules.
- LOTS MORE TRAIL
- Wompatuck contains 12 miles of non-motorized roads plus roughly 40 miles of forest trails, so the nine-mile ride is only an introduction.
- SMOOTH OPTION
- The Whitney Spur is paved, making this a very different experience from Wompatuck's extensive single-track network.
- STRANGE HISTORY
- The park landscape grew out of the former Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot Annex, leaving an unusual web of old roads through today's forest.
- MAP IT
- Intersections are numerous inside the park. Use the park trail map instead of assuming every paved branch is your route.
- Surface
- Paved park roads and Whitney Spur Rail Trail
- Managed by
- Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation — Wompatuck State Park.
Please respect the place
- Use non-motorized trail corridors as posted
- Yield to walkers and other shared-path users
- No swimming in park ponds
- Stay alert at trail and park-road intersections
Photos
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