Willowbrook Farm – Pembroke, MA
Willowbrook Farm in Pembroke is up there as one of the best hikes we’ve been on in recent memory. It’s filled with adventure on both trails that are found on the Wildland Trust Preserve property. The area is over 120 acres and is actually made up of 6 different properties all of which were either donated or purchased between 1997 – 2005. There are tons of different trees and shrubs that grow in the location and a few of them are marked with plaques like a giant white oak.
Red Cedar 
Holly 
White oak 
White oak
From the parking lot you’ll walk through a gate past the sign at the entrances to the trail, walk through the woods until you enter a giant field where there are two different ways to go. Most likely you’ll do what we did and follow the big green sign that says “Tower” , which takes you through the forest , marshes and over some bridges to a giant 3 story observation tower. At the top of the tower there’s a bench where you can sit and view Herring Brook Valley. We spotted all sorts of birds while we were up there enjoying our surroundings.
walk from the parking lot up to the field 
Entrance to the field
Once you climb back down the stairs of the tower you can continue on through the woods which will lead you past boulders, rock walls and over bridges back to the field. That’s when you meet up with the blue marked, Harry & Mary Todd trail. I found this to be a completely different type of hike from the one we just completed. There are two really long boardwalks along the way that cross over the Pudding Brook and take you out to a little island loop. On your way back stay to the right off the boardwalk up a hill to a bench and a mailbox, not sure who is expecting mail out there but they sure have a long trek to pick it up!
Overall the trails are a little under 3 miles, and hats off to my 3 year old for hiking the whole thing. I really think it is great for kids, it’s pretty easy and the tower, bridges and fields are all pretty unique to this location. This trail gets our highest bridge rating, I lost count at 10 plus the 2 boardwalks. Stroller wise, a sturdy jogger could travel up to the field but that’s about it, you wont be able to make it to the tower or along the Todd Trail that way. But, 100% make the trip here! It’s so totally worth it and you will not be disappointed!
