Shirley Trails Guide
Shirley's conservation areas offer scenic beauty, rich wildlife habitat, and abundant recreational opportunities. An extensive recreational trail system courses through 2,000 combined acres of town-owned conservation land, the Trustees' Farandnear Reservation, Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge, and several state-held Wildlife Management Areas. The Town's northeastern border is formed by the Squannacook River, a coldwater resource highlighted by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife as a prized fishing spot. Shirley's
southeastern border is formed by the Nashua River, enjoyed by paddlers for long stretches of scenic greenway areas and wildlife viewing opportunities. The Squannacook and Nashua Rivers are federally designated Wild and Scenic Rivers.
Many of the Town's trails have been blazed and maintained by the Shirley Trails group, a dedicated group of volunteers working in collaboration with the Shirley Conservation Commission. A variety of activities are permitted and enjoyed on town-owned land including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. Use of motorized vehicles is prohibited. Please respect private land abutting the Town's public recreation areas. A complete list of permitted activities and regulations can be found in the Conservation Commission's land use policy here.
Clean, attractive, and inviting public spaces are maintained through the responsible actions of caring visitors who use and appreciate them. Enjoy Shirley's public spaces. Relax and reflect. Respect them and keep them beautiful!
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"A period recourse into the wilds is not a retreat into secret silent sanctums to escape a wicked world, it is to take breath amid effort to forge a better world."
-Benton MacKaye
Benton MacKaye (1879-1975), co-founder of the Wilderness Society and originator of the Appalachian Trail, called Shirley Center his home from the age of eight until his passing at the age of 96. MacKaye was an early proponent of land conservation that balances human needs with the rest of nature. He spent many hours of his youth exploring and mapping the wild spaces of Shirley, documenting his "Expeditions" in a series of journal-style writings. These early explorations provided inspiration that later culminated in his vision for the Appalachian Trail and other regional planning projects.
Throughout his life MacKaye sought collaboration with conservationists in neighboring towns to preserve special natural areas in Shirley and along its borders - both for the benefit of human health and recreation and for the protection of wild habitat areas. MacKaye left a rich conservation legacy both in his vision and land protection efforts that continue to shape and inspire Shirley's rich network of open space and trails today.
Trail Maps and Paddling Launches
Click underlined locations to view downloadable maps. Please be aware of the Shirley Conservation Commission's Land Use Policy and State Wildlife Management Area (WMA) regulations. Hunting seasons and hunting regulations can be found here.
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1. Longley and Morse Conservation Areas
Parking for the Morse Conservation Area is located at the end of Little Turnpike Rd. The main trail courses over relatively flat terrain, making it a great option for hikers of all abilities. It connects to Longley Conservation Area and the Harriet Lyon Bird Sanctuary (HLBS) Trail, for which there is trailhead signage and parking access on Whitney Rd. The HLBS Trail runs adjacent to the sanctuary. The sanctuary itself is a protected area with limited trail access in order to minimize habitat disturbance.
Beaver Brook Pond, part of the Morse property, can be accessed by following the dirt road extension of Little Turnpike Rd. next to the parking area.
Longley Conservation Area includes Longley Acres, a town-owned working farm and community garden site open to the public. The large open field at Longley Acres is a favorite spot for horseback riding and cross-country skiing.
2. Holden Road, Ronchetti, and Birchwood Hills (Shirley)
Robbs Hill, Ronchetti, and Birchwood Hills (Shirley and Lunenburg)
Valley Farm, Holden Rd., Ronchetti, and Birchwood Hills (Shirley Trails Group Map)
The Holden Rd./Ronchetti/Birchwood Hills Area forms an extensive trail system that connects to additional trails at Robbs Hill (Lunenburg), Old Town Line Conservation Area, and privately owned Valley Farm Conservation Area. These connected areas offer miles of terrain to explore through rolling hills, woods, and wetlands. There are two trailhead access points on Holden Rd. (street parking only). Additional access points and parking areas are located within the Birchwood Hills complex, Robbs Hill, and Valley Farm.
Valley Farm is privately owned conservation land, preserved for the benefit of wildlife and the community. The owners welcome respectful use of the trails. Please note that hunting and ATV use are not allowed on the property. The property can be accessed from a small, unmarked parking area on Center Rd., across the street from #97. You will find trailhead signage and maps once you enter the parking area.
3. Hunting Hill Conservation Area (Shirley, Lunenburg, and Townsend)
Hunting Hill Conservation Area is part of a multi-town trail system that connects to trails in Lunenburg and Townsend, and includes conservation properties owned by Shirley, Lunenburg, Townsend, and MassWildlife. Enter through an unmarked trailhead on Townsend Rd. near its juncture with Squannacook Rd. or access from a trailhead with parking at the end of Hunting Hill Rd. in Lunenburg.
4. Pumpkin Brook Link Conservation Area
A great birding spot, Pumpkin Brook Link Conservation Area includes open shrubland habitat that supports a number of rare and declining species. Currently unmaintained, planning is underway for new trail work and clearing: check for updates. Trailhead signage and parking is located off of Townsend Rd.
5. Squannacook Conservation Area, North (Shirley, Townsend)
Squannacook Conservation Area, South (Shirley)
The Squannacook Conservation Area includes a network of conserved land owned by Shirley, Townsend, Groton, and MassWildlife. MassWildlife's Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area can be accessed at the trailhead on Squannacook Rd. near the Trap Swamp Brook crossing. There is a parking area that can accommodate 2-3 cars. It can also be accessed via two trailhead parking areas on Shirley Road in Townsend. The Squannacook River is stocked with trout in the spring and fall.
A 12-acre town-owned parcel is located on Daniel Drive off of Squannacook Road. This property includes a short trail and access to the Squannacook River. There is a small parking area at the trailhead.
6. Mulpus Brook Wildlife Management Area
MassWildlife's Mulpus Brook Wildlife Management Area can be accessed on Townsend Rd. near its juncture with Great Rd. (Route 2A) and on the wooded stretch of Townsend Rd. just below 44 Townsend Rd. Each trailhead includes a small pull-off area for parking.
7. The Trustees: FarandNear Reservation
The Trustees' Farandnear Reservation includes open park-like grounds and a well-maintained trail system. Find a picnic pavilion and picturesque area with formal gardening and landscaping elements upon entering the main entrance. Along the trails, look for "Paradise Ravine," a beloved hemlock grove overlooking Spruce Swamp Brook. The remnants of an old cranberry bog offer great opportunities for wildlife viewing. There is a large parking area near the main entrance on Center Rd., with additional parking for two cars on Holden Rd.
8. Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge
Enjoy the Oxbow's Esker Loop Trail, with parking off of Walker Rd. near the gate. Follow signs along an unpaved roadway to a scenic esker along the Nashua River.
Nashua River Paddling Launches:
Bill Ashe Canoe/Kayak Paddling Launch and Parking, 82 Hospital Rd., Devens - Large parking area, floating dock launch, accessible
Ayer Ice House Dam Canoe/Kayak Launch, Walker Rd., Shirley - Two parking spaces across the road from the path, a short walk over
the guardrail and down to the water
Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA) / Regional Nashua River Launch Sites
Other Trail Maps and Resources:
Shirley Montachusett Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) Trails Inventory
1994 Shirley Greenway Guide to Streams and Trails
Lunenburg Conservation Land Trail Maps
North County Land Trust Properties
