Resources:
Nature Slideshow:
Once the interactive map opens, click the ➤ button to locate yourself.
Access
Main Parking Lot: Follow Kimball Road to find the parking lot, which is opposite the Acadia condos. Use the address 60 Kimball Rd or Google yourself over to this location.
Overview
The Town Forest is one of Amesbury's best kept secrets. Eighty acres of rolling forest between Kimball Road and the Great Swamp are criss-crossed by many miles of well labeled trails.
The Great Swamp
The Town Forest is adjacent to other open spaces including Bartlett Conservation Restriction (owned by Greenbelt), the southern part of Woodsom Farm, and other private and municipal parcels. Much of the adjacent land is primarily swamp-land. The Great Swamp consists of over 250 acres of pristine cedar and deciduous swamp habitat. Brave explorers can follow the Great Swamp trail over highland ridges and boardwalks to explore deep into the heart of the forest. Connections can be made to Woodsom Farm. Many trails in the swamp, former logging roads, are dead-ends.
Town Forest Boardwalk and Bartlett Reservation
In 2009, the Bartlett family sold 29 acres of land in the Great Swamp to Greenbelt, Essex county's largest land conservation trust. The land is accessible from the Town Forest via the Great Swamp Trail.
In 2015, Amesbury Trails completed a 300 ft boardwalk on the Greenbelt Bartlett Property. This project was funded in part by a grant from Essex National Heritage Area.
FAQ:
Q: How do I get to the Town Forest?
A: Follow Kimball Road to the parking lot, which is opposite the Acadia condos.
Q: Can I really walk all the way to Woodsom Farm?
A: Yes, there is a boardwalk crossing the swamp. Reference the Great Swamp Map for the route.
Q: What's the deal with the colored loop trails?
A: Red, green, yellow and orange markers guide visitors on a few recommended routes. The red loop (Inner Loop) is the shortest. The orange trail makes a nice loop down to the swamp and back. Yellow is not a loop, but instead leads down a steep hill to more trails. The green loop is confusing to follow, but will take you across the power lines to the beautiful western part of the forest. Please reference the printable and interactive trail maps to explore all of the great trails.
