Great Blue Heron, Hawks, and over 100 Species of Birds

From Extinct Birds to Beaver Dams: The Tales of Heath Hen Meadow

Easy Walking Trails

Heath Hen, not a health-conscious chicken, but a long-gone cousin of the prairie chicken, once strutted around Heath Hen Meadow. Remember it as you explore this 113-acre Conservation Land near the Stow border in Acton. There are five enterances to Heath Hen Meadow:

• Cul-de-sac on Robbins Street, off Stow Street (Parking, Kiosk)
• End of Billings Street, off Robbins Street (Parking on-street)
• West side of Prescott Road, off Robbins Street
• Central St., north side of Mt. Hope Cemetery
• Rear of Mt. Hope Cemetery (Parking)

If you enter somewhere from Robbins Street, expect a 0.5-mile trail. Entering from the cemetary adds about an additional 0.5 mile. Expect to encounter soggy wetlands and surprise appearances from the local wildlife – beavers to blue herons, and maybe even a ghostly Heath Hen if you’re lucky.

Speaking of beavers: Acton's Board of Health held an emergency meeting in 2010 to dicuss trapping the busy, semi aquatic mammal (essentailly a rodent), along Fort Pond Brook, which runs along the northeastern side of Mt Hope Cemetary.

If you happen to venture on over to Heath Hen Meadow be sure to check out a few main attractions. Connecting Heath Hen to Mt Hope cemetary is a footbridge, built by our mighty Land Stewardship volunteers, beaver dam drama downstream, and hidden gems like a former apple orchard (blue trail) and old carriage stonework (red trail).

Want to play Indiana Jones? Try canoeing from Maple Street crossing, but we won't promise hidden treasures. If you do try to canoe from this spot towards Heath Hen Meadow you'll be going against the current. If you're a bird-watcher, well, this is your Broadway. A local Birder has told me he's recorded over 118 types of birds in the area. Enjoy the show, just don't forget your binoculars!

Visit our local gov page where you'll find access to a handy interactive map. If you're interested in now extinct Heath Hen this is a great article to read. Enjoy Heath Hen Meadow and Mt Hope Cemetary trails!