Devens Between Water, Trails and History

Devens offers a range of options for a trip: water activities, biking and hiking trails, winter sports, golf and cultural history. If you’re looking for a hotel in Devens, you can use your interests and travel dates as your initial selection criteria. Some activities depend on the season or snow conditions, while others are shaped by specific trails, places and historical themes. So which of these options matters for your stay also depends on when you plan to travel.

Water on the River and at the Lake

At the Bill Ashe Visitor Facility in Devens, there is a northern access point for non-motorized canoes and kayaks on the Nashua River. At Mirror Lake in Devens, swimming, fishing, boating and beach activities are offered during the summer season. The waterways offer different experiences: at the Nashua River, the focus is on the access point for canoes and kayaks, while the lake brings together several activities in summer. If water is important to your trip planning, you can start by choosing between these options.

Bike Lanes, Hiking Trails and a Winter Loop

Devens has several miles of designated bike lanes. They run along tree-lined streets, past historic landmarks and around public parks. As infrastructure details can change, check the latest information if the bike lanes are important to your plans. There are also hiking trails and various walking routes. Devens has about 1,700 acres of open space: this gives the landscape a different scale from individual trails, while biking, hiking and walking each offer a distinct way to get around.

When there is snow, two connected, groomed trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing form a loop about three miles long. For this winter option, snow conditions and the approximate loop length go hand in hand; both help you match this activity to your travel dates.

Fort History and Cultural Themes

In the Fort Devens Historic District, most of the buildings are arranged around a central parade ground. On June 10, 1993, the district was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Another historical chapter is also part of this place: in 1945, the Fort Devens Historic District was the site of a strike by African American members of the Women’s Army Corps protesting racial discrimination. Together, the district’s layout and this specific event offer two different perspectives on the history of Fort Devens.

The United Native American Cultural Center in Devens offers another cultural perspective. The center provides cultural education and enrichment programs. These include opportunities to learn about and share Indigenous crafts and art forms, voices and traditional ways of life. If you’d like to include cultural themes in your trip planning, this program offers a distinct focus alongside the history of Fort Devens.

Golf and Disc Golf

The Red Tail Golf Club in Devens is an 18-hole golf course and was recognized as the first Audubon International Signature Golf Course in New England. The Commander is a Professional Disc Golf Association disc golf course. For planning around your sporting interests, these are two distinct options: golf at a named course with a stated number of holes and a regional distinction, or disc golf at a named course.

Explore more destinations: Worcester, Westborough, Sutton, Ashburnham, Leicester, Uxbridge, Harvard, Grafton.

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