Westwood: Trails, Forests and Culture

Westwood offers plenty to explore for visitors interested in nature and culture. Marked trails, wooded areas and ponds shape several natural areas; meanwhile, the Westwood Public Library features named artworks in different locations. This means there are options ranging from outdoor activities to art in the library. The places that interest you will depend on whether you prefer to focus on trails and landscapes or on art.

Trails and Activities in Lowell Woods

Lowell Woods has miles of marked trails, varied terrain and wooded areas. Visitors can hike, birdwatch, cycle, snowshoe and cross-country ski there. This range is useful when choosing an outdoor activity: it includes both walking and cycling as well as nature observation, with snowshoeing and cross-country skiing adding winter sports. Trail markers and varied terrain also shape the area's character. If you are looking for an outdoor activity in Westwood, there is more to consider than just the trails: the area also supports several different kinds of recreation.

Pond and Eastern White Pines at Currier Reservation

Currier Reservation has a different landscape focus. The 30-acre area features a trail leading to a small pond and a large stand of eastern white pines. The trail leads to a specific destination in the landscape, while the pines provide another named point of interest. By comparison, Lowell Woods is distinguished by its miles of marked trails, varied terrain and range of possible activities. The two places therefore offer different ways to experience nature in Westwood.

Hale and Sen Ki

Hale has many miles of trails and three ponds: Noanet, Powissett and Storrow. Legal protections safeguard the trail network for public use. Hale extends through Dover and Westwood, making it a natural area shared by both communities. Alongside its trail network, the three ponds give the area additional, clearly named landscape features. Sen Ki is open to the public year-round from sunrise to sunset. If you include Sen Ki in your daily plans, you can use these hours as a guide; they apply in every season. Hale and Sen Ki therefore offer different planning considerations: a trail network with three named ponds, and a place with set daily visiting hours.

Art at the Westwood Public Library

The Westwood Public Library brings together several specific cultural points of interest. The Rufus Porter Mural is currently on the second floor of the main building, near the fiction area. Westwood's Bicentennial Quilt is in the conference room. Artworks by Margaret and Otis Philbrick are displayed throughout the library building. This includes two individual works with clearly specified locations, as well as an exhibition spread throughout the building. The library offers a different experience from the natural areas: here, the focus is on the artworks and their locations, rather than trails and terrain.

Guided Walks for Residents

Westwood Community Trails invites residents to hike and explore the town's trails. The program offers monthly guided walks that vary in distance and terrain, exploring different parts of the town as well as Hale. For residents, the format combines a regular schedule with changing tour features: routes, terrain and areas explored vary. The guided walks are for residents. This distinguishes the program as a resident-focused hiking option from the natural areas and activities described above.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Plainville, Dedham, Braintree, Sharon, Needham, Quincy, Norwood, Foxboro

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