Nobscot's Treasured Open Space

With a prominent sign just as Edgell Road crosses the town line and becomes Nobscot Road in Sudbury, Nobscot Boy Scout Reservation is hardly an off the beaten path secret. With over 400 acres of forested trails over rolling hills straddling both Framingham and Sudbury, with the summit of 602 foot Nobscot Hill looming in the background, the reservation is an oasis of open space and natural beauty.

Sure, there's also the largest public open space in town, Callahan State Park, but if you're looking for more solitude to walk in, and prefer not to be outnumbered by dogs and their sometimes incautious owners, Nobscot is a good bet. On some visits you won't encounter another soul the entire time you're there.

Nobscot is an ideal place for hiking year-round, and during a snowy winter like this one, a perfect spot to hone your snowshoe and cross-country skiing skills without even leaving town. Keep in mind however, that you're a guest visiting private property, and be sure to obey the rules, which are prominently posted on a sign in the main parking lot. Dogs must be leashed at all times, and no mountain biking is permitted.

Ten minutes into the woods, you'll find it hard to believe you're still in Framingham, and not a remote corner of northern New England, were it not for the whisper of traffic from Edgell Road to the east or Route 20 to the north. The only traces of civilization are the old stone walls from long-ago farms, and the cabins and lean-tos that the scouts use for their camping excursions here.

The steep ascent to the summit of Nobscot Hill, a hike of about a half hour or so from the parking lot, has the ultimate reward of a sweeping view to the east, with both the Blue Hills and the Boston skyline visible in the distance. Pause for a rest and enjoy the view before descending. And be thankful for this oasis in an increasingly-developed and densely-populated town, and the generosity of the Knox Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America to allow the public access to it.