This Hidden Trail in Massachusetts Is a True Local Secret

You don’t have to look far to find an incredible local hike in Massachusetts; you just have to know where to look. Some of my favorite walks have turned out to be hidden trails that went unnoticed until an unexpected moment turned them into an amazing discovery. Let me tell you about one of these lesser-known Massachusetts hikes, the Shoe Pond Walkway trail in the city of Beverly. 

My family and I first discovered this scenic urban hike on a crisp fall day about a year ago. We were looking for a quick, local adventure close to home and just stumbled upon it. I had previously driven by the outskirts of this walk hundreds of times, but could have never imagined what a local hidden gem of a place it really was. 

We started off the hike by entering the busy Cummings Center parking lot. The Cummings Center is a massive business complex that houses hundreds of medical centers, offices, and stores. It is not at all where you would expect to find a scenic walk.  

We made our way over to the start of the hike at Shoe Pond on the west side of the campus. The man-made pond is named Shoe because it sits on the former site of the United Shoe Machinery Corporation. What was once a pond used to cool the shoe factory’s turbines is now brimming with birds, turtles, and other wildlife.

And speaking of wildlife, Shoe Pond deserves another worthy mention due to a series of unlikely events that took place here in 2022. In September of that year, nearby residents and Cumming Center employees noticed an adorable 230-pound grey seal had taken up residence in the man-made pond. The seal stayed here for over a week and caused quite a buzz around town. Locals nicknamed him Shoebert, and people flocked from all around to get a glimpse of him swimming in the pond. Then one night, the Cummings Center Police received quite a surprise as Shoebert shimmied his way from the pond, across the parking lot, and straight into the police station. The local celebrity seal was then trapped and transported to the Mystic Aquarium. Since then, he has become quite a legend in these parts.

But there is more to this hike than just the story of Shoebert. As we walked along the 1.3-mile paved path, along the upper and lower ponds, and over a bridge, we came upon plaques documenting the story of the region’s earliest settlers, who navigated this same trail (once called Planters Path), way back in 1630. I was even more surprised to find out that one of these people was Roger Conant, my distant ancestor and the founder of Salem. 

This short little walk turned out to be one of my favorite local discoveries. Although we didn’t spot any seals during this lovely autumn morning, we did see lots of ducks and even some beautiful swans swimming in the pond. And because the trees hadn’t yet shed their colorful leaves, the scenery was simply breathtaking. Hikes don’t have to be long to be great ones, and the Shoe Pond Walkway Trail is a perfect example of this.

Do you have an undiscovered hidden trail in Massachusetts that you would like to let us in on? If so, please tell us all about it. While you are visiting Beverly, be sure to head over to one of my favorite restaurants, Delphine's Kitchen, and sample their delicious crepes and sandwiches. To make the most of your North Shore travels, be sure to use our customized Only In Your State’s AI-powered itinerary planner.