Discovering the Douglas S. Westgate Conservation Area in Wareham

The Douglas S. Westgate Conservation Area, located in Western Wareham, Massachusetts, offers trails that meander along a river, an old railroad bed, and abandoned cranberry bogs that Mother Nature is slowly reclaiming as her own.

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At the mention of going out for a hike, Benny became really excited. We had been cooped up for a while with this whole coronavirus deal (if you’re reading this in the future, you’ll remember how tough it was to stay inside). We were trying to figure out where we could go outside and practice responsible social distancing at the same time. After looking at a map, we chose to visit the Douglas S. Westgate Conservation Area. With a destination in mind, we downloaded a map of the area from the Buzzards Bay Coalition and ran for the door.

Benny was so happy to finally be going somewhere that he started singing.

I put on my white t-shirt and I jumped in the bag…

– Benny, beginning to sing

I wasn’t sure where he was going with his song, but I’m used to shrugging at him when does ridiculous things. He did indeed jump into the backpack and was anxiously waiting to enjoy the great outdoors.

The Weweantic River

After arriving at the easy-to-find parking lot on Papermill Road, we exited the car and began our adventure. We found the first path to be wide and welcoming. After about 50 yards or so, we saw a path going to the left and decided to check it out. Benny said he heard water running. I was going to tell him that it was the Weweantic River that we saw on the map, but I didn’t want to seem like a know-it-all.

If I did, it could have ruined his mood. He began singing again, and I still had no idea what was going through that little bear brain of his.

…then raced down a path for some water blue in the middle of a sunny day.

– Benny, continuing to sing

The river’s current was strong and ran with the intensity you’d expect of a mountain stream in New Hampshire. We would have stayed longer, but we were unfortunately piquing the curiosity of the local gnat population, so we continued on our journey.

We followed Mary’s Path and found this bridge. It’s a nice scenic spot, so of course, it was picture time. The gnats really wanted us to stay; they were incredibly friendly. The next time we go to the Douglas S. Westgate Conservation Area, we’re going to wear bug repellent. We didn’t on this adventure, and we suffered the consequences of our hastily leaving home.

Abandoned Cranberry Bogs

When we reached Raven Trail, we followed it up to the abandoned cranberry bogs. If you’ve ever visited Plymouth County, you know that cranberry bogs are everywhere. However, it was a bit eerie to see Mother Nature reclaiming her land.

One bog had enough water in it to support a healthy amount of lily pads. “If there are lily pads,” Benny said, “there are frogs!”

We stopped for a few moments to scan the area. We couldn’t see any frogs…but we heard them.

One frog starting croaking, and then it started setting off the rest of the frogs in the bog. In no time, the whole bog was erupting in a cacophony of ribbits as if these amphibians were trying to warn one another of the impending threat that Benny and myself could possible represent.

Of course, we didn’t mean them any harm. We finally saw a frog, and I was lucky enough to get a few on camera. Then, Benny starting singing again…

I see a frog now, so I’ll hop into the bog.

– Benny, singing yet again

Just as I was going to ask what he meant by that, he jumped into the old cranberry bog and swam towards the frog! At this point, the whole bog erupted in ribbit chaos. The frogs swam away. I almost jumped in after him, but he was soon dejectedly returning to dry land.

“What did you do that for???” I asked.

“I wanted to swim with the frogs!” he responded. I couldn’t be too mad; we had been stuck inside for a while during quarantine and bad weather, so if jumping into an old, swampy bog cured his cabin fever, so be it.

The Old Rail Bed

The Douglas S. Westgate Conservation Area had one more surprise in store for us. As we rounded the infamous frog bog, we noticed two parallel pieces of metal in the woods.

We followed a short path that connected us to an old railroad bed. Usually, defunct rail lines are overgrown, but this section of track has obviously been used as a path. Remnants of the old wooden ties can still be seen. Again, out of nowhere, Benny began singing again.

A train used to steam down those tracks, going click clack clog.

– Benny, still singing

Right after Benny posed for this picture, I screamed, “Train!” he ran off the tracks and hid on the other side of a fallen tree. Once he realized that he had been fooled, he stuck his head up, glared at me, and kept walking down the track.

You can say “Poor Benny” all you want, but it was high time that I got him back for being so mischievous in the past, like when he pulled a prank on me at South Mount Sugarloaf.

Benny Sings His Song

As we wrapped up our short hike and walked back to the car, Benny looked at me and said, “We’re walking.”

“Um, yeah, we are,” I replied, not sure what he was getting at.

“We’re walking in Wareham!” Benny exclaimed.

“Yes, we are walking in Ware…”

And then it happened. Benny began singing at the top of his little lungs.

I put on my white t-shirt and I jumped in the bag,

…then raced down a path for some water blue in the middle of a sunny day.

I see a frog now, so I’ll hop into the bog.

A train used to steam down those tracks, going click clack clog.

I’m walking in Wareham,

Around an old home of cranberries,

I’m walking in Wareham,

At a nature sanctuary!

– Benny’s complete song, sung to the tune of “Walking in Memphis.”

Well done, Benny, well done.

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Check out our map of places we’ve been in New England!

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If you like local hikes, you should check out these places:

• Ridge Hill Reserve, Dartmouth
• Hiking Simmons Pond in Little Compton
• New Bedford Harbor Walk
• Destruction Brook Woods, Dartmouth
• A Stroll at the Westport Town Farm
• Gooseberry Island in Westport
• Sandwich’s WWII Remains
• East Over Reservation, Rochester
• Natural Resources Trust of Easton
• Colt State Park, Bristol
• The Knob, Falmouth
• Blackstone Gorge, Blackstone
• Quequechan River Rail Trail, Fall River
• Lyman Reserve, Plymouth/Bourne/Wareham
• Lawrence Island, Bourne
• Meshanticut State Park, Cranston
• South Mount Sugarloaf, Deerfield
• Hiking up Mount Wachusett, Princeton, MA

The Douglas S. Westgate Conservation Area is located on Papermill Road in Wareham, MA. Look out for the sign that leads to a small parking lot.

Don’t go exactly by Google Maps; it’s a little off.

Check out our map of places we’ve been in New England!