Ellis Nature Sanctuary – Marshfield, MA
The Ellis Nature Sanctuary is located in Marshfield off RT. 139 near Sandy Hill Drive and behind the Sanctuary Church. The parking lot itself is a bit hard to find, growing up in Marshfield I must have driven by it at least 5,000 times and had no idea this place existed until we decided to go there one afternoon. If you are driving toward the center of Marshfield the lot is on the main road right next to the entrance to Sandy Hill Drive, go a little slow because it definitely sneaks up on you!
The Sanctuary has a 1/2 mile long walk around a cranberry bog, that is no longer used for much except a neighborhood ice rink. It’s a nice spot for little ones since it’s flat and not very long. When you first park your car you’ll see the trail straight ahead, walk a bit through the woods and you’ll be met a bench in the woods that overlooks the bog. If you continue up through the woods you’ll end up at the Sanctuary Church and the playground area for Pudding Hill Preschool.
The cranberry bog itself has a few houses surrounding it so beware of their private property, but otherwise you are free to walk through the woods and the pathways to the other side of the bog. We saw two giant blue herons and a few ducks which were great since both my kids are obsessed with fowl!
Overall a nice walk, or a good spot for a picnic with a nice large flat area set back from a busy road! If you have little ones I would definitely recommend you check it out! Just be aware that there is a flooded cranberry bog here which is basically like a pond, although it’s a little set back from the entrance, it is pretty deep!
