View source for Noon Hill and Shattuck Reservation

{{Short description|Massachusetts open space preserves}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name            = Noon Hill and Shattuck Reservation
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| photo           = Noon Hill, Medfield MA.jpg
| photo_caption   = Noon Hill
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| location        = Noon Hill Road<br />
[[Medfield, Massachusetts]], USA
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| area = {{convert|449|acre|ha}} combined
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| established     = 1959 and 1970
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| operator        = [[The Trustees of Reservations]]
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| website         = [https://thetrustees.org/place/noon-hill/ Noon Hill] and [https://thetrustees.org/place/shattuck-reservation/ Shattuck]
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'''Noon Hill''' and '''Shattuck Reservation''' are adjacent open space preserves located in [[Medfield, Massachusetts]]. They are managed by the land conservation non-profit organization [[The Trustees of Reservations]]. The {{convert|200|mi|km|adj=on}} [[Bay Circuit Trail]] passes through both properties.  The Town of Medfield owns conservation land adjacent to the properties.<ref>{{cite web |title=Open Space and Recreation Plan |url=https://www.town.medfield.net/DocumentCenter/View/5319/Medfield-Open-Space-and-Recreation-Plan---April-2021?bidId= |website=Town of Medfield |access-date=30 May 2023}}</ref>
'''Noon Hill''' is a {{convert|204|acre|ha|adj=on}} open space preserve that offers {{convert|4.5|mi|km}} of trails available for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and cross country skiing.<ref name="noon">{{cite web |title=Noon Hill |url=https://thetrustees.org/place/noon-hill/ |website=The Trustees of Reservations |access-date=6 July 2021}}</ref> [[Oak-hickory forest]], wetlands, vernal pools, steep ravines, boulders, and rocky ledges characterize the preserve. The preserve is centered on {{convert|370|ft|m|adj=on}} Noon Hill, a prominent summit and scenic vista. Holt Pond, a constructed mill pond, is located on the property.
'''Shattuck Reservation''' is a {{convert|245|acre|ha|adj=on}} preserve along the [[Charles River]]. It consists of "a forested upland neck of oak and pine overlooking a wet meadow and red maple swamp." Stone walls demonstrate that the land was once used as pasture.<ref name="shattuck">{{cite web |title=Shattuck Reservation |url=https://thetrustees.org/place/shattuck-reservation/ |website=The Trustees of Reservations |access-date=30 May 2023}}</ref>
==History==
[[File:Noon Hill P1030834.jpg|thumb|left|Holt Pond]]
The rugged, rocky terrain of Noon Hill was formed via [[glacier|glacial action]] during the last [[ice age]] through [[glacial plucking]] and scouring. Holt Pond, the dammed flow of Sawmill Brook, was constructed circa 1764 to service colonial era mills. Other parts of the property were used as pasture land.<ref name="noon" />
Noon Hill was acquired in 1959 as a gift of W. K. Gilmore & Sons; additional land was given by other donors in 1960, 1963, and 1978.
Dwight's Causeway, at the northern end of Shattuck, was the site of a bridge that washed out in the [[1938 New England hurricane]].  The Trustees acquired Shattuck in 1970.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Horan |first1=Nancy |title=Trustees of Reservations: Celebrating and Protecting Medfield’s Special Places |url=https://medfieldhistoricalsociety.org/trustees-of-reservations-celebrating-and-protecting-medfields-special-places/ |website=Medfield Historical Society |access-date=30 May 2023}}</ref>
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==Recreation==
[[File:Shattuck P1040307.jpg|thumb|right|Shattuck Reservation]]
The main trailhead and parking lot for both properties is located on Noon Hill Road in Medfield.<ref name="noon" />  The properties may be reached on foot via the [[Bay Circuit Trail]], a long-distance hiking trail that forms a {{convert|200|mi|km|adj=on}} arc around the suburban belt to the west of [[Boston]]. A canoe landing in the Shattuck Reservation allows visitors to arrive by boat.<ref name="shattuck" />
[[File:Noon Hill P1040294.jpg|thumb|left|Distant view of [[Gillette Stadium]] from Noon Hill]]
A network of trails span the properties. Within the Noon Hill reservation, the Bay Circuit Trail passes over the summit of Noon Hill, where open ledges offer views of the landscape of neighboring [[Walpole, Massachusetts|Walpole]], [[Norfolk, Massachusetts|Norfolk]], and [[Great Blue Hill]]. A new segment of the Bay Circuit Trail was created within the Shattuck Reservation in 2012 to reduce the distance that the trail followed Causeway Street.<ref>{{cite web |title=Map 9 - Sherborn, Medfield - BAY CIRCUIT TRAIL route |url=https://www.baycircuit.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/section9-2022-Bike-2.pdf |website=Bay Circuit Trail |access-date=30 May 2023}}</ref>
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==Advisories==
"Authorized seasonal bow hunting" is allowed in the fall at both properties. Shooting ranges are located across the road from Noon Hill, and across the Charles River from Shattuck.  According to the Trustees website, noise from the shooting ranges "can be very loud at times."<ref name="noon" /><ref name="shattuck" />
Off-leash dogs are permitted at Shattuck only and as long as they are under control at all times. Dogs must be on leash at Noon Hill at all times. Mountain biking on official trails, is permitted.<ref name="shattuck" />
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Noon Hill and Shattuck Reservation}}
*[https://thetrustees.org/place/noon-hill/ Noon Hill] The Trustees of Reservations
*[https://thetrustees.org/place/shattuck-reservation/ Shattuck Reservation] The Trustees of Reservations
*[https://thetrustees.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/noon-hill-shattuck-medfield-rhododendron-trail-map.pdf Map of Noon Hill and Shattuck Reservation]
*[https://www.baycircuit.org/ Bay Circuit Trail]
*[https://www.baycircuit.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/BCT_Map9_2020.pdf Bay Circuit Trail Map 9]
*[https://www.baycircuit.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/section9-2022-Bike-2.pdf Bay Circuit Trail description of Section 9]
{{Protected Areas of Massachusetts}}
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[[Category:The Trustees of Reservations]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Norfolk County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Bay Circuit Trail]]
[[Category:Open space reserves of Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Landforms of Norfolk County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Hills of Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1959]]
[[Category:1959 establishments in Massachusetts]]