Ring in the holidays with a Bell’s Neck hike: What to know before you go

Sure, the holidays are great, but all the cookies, eggnog and glad tidings can make you feel a tad sluggish. Without careful planning, you could sink into a lengthy Rip Van Winkle nap and miss most of the festivities — maybe even the Super Bowl!

A splendid marsh view at Bell’s Neck Conservation Lands in Harwich. Harwich Conservation Trust photo

No one needs that. So, we’re here with an all-natural suggestion for keeping an even keel during this cheerful but challenging time of year. Get on over to the Bell’s Neck Conservation Lands in Harwich, drink in the breathtaking scenery and take a nice long walk. Holiday stress and calories will melt away.

Big and beautiful

The 259-acre conservation area features about three miles of trails, and is big enough to feel like a world apart. And you just can’t go wrong, no matter where you park or choose to walk. There are spectacular water and marsh views everywhere, making it a great spot for birders and wildlife watchers.

Heck, just walking along the dirt roads provides an old-timey sense of tranquility, perhaps improved by kicking rocks and whistling.

The Bell’s Neck Conservation Lands are owned by the town of Harwich and managed by the town’s Conservation Commission. The Harwich Department of Natural Resources DNR manages the herring ladder at West Reservoir, located within Bell’s Neck.

In 1668, settler John Bell is believed to have acquired much of this land from the Saquatucket Native Americans. The land passed through multiple owners until nearly 300 years later, the town purchased it to protect the Herring River, West Reservoir, and buffering woodlands.

A fun two-mile loop trail circumnavigates the West Reservoir at Bell’s Neck Conservation Lands. Harwich Conservation Trust photo

Try the loop

Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) assists the town with trail maintenance and has led multiple land preservation efforts over the past 20 years that have added to the Bell’s Neck “emerald necklace” — helping to create a full walking loop around the West Reservoir, when combined with a section of the Cape Cod Rail Trail.

This loop, which runs about two miles, is the perfect holiday leg-stretcher. It’s always a blast to circumnavigate something and this walk gives you great looks at the West Reservoir all along the way. You’ll also spin by the herring ladder, a cranberry bog and navigate a stretch of bike trail.

The terrain is generally easy, with a few short climbs, and the trails are in good shape, so it’s a good choice for families and friends who want to hike together.

No matter where you walk on Cape Cod this time of year, it’s good to remember that deer hunting season is underway in Massachusetts. Shotgun season runs until Dec. 13 and primitive firearms season runs from Dec. 15 to Dec. 31. No hunting is allowed on Sundays in Massachusetts. Break out the blaze orange when you head out on an adventure.

—To find out more about how Bell’s Neck got Its name, click here.

—To learn more about the conservation roles of land trusts and town departments and commissions, click here.

—Sign up for HCT eNews, a great way to stay in the loop about exciting HCT events, guided walks and other interesting news.

—Your tax-deductible contributions help fulfill the mission of the Harwich Conservation Trust to preserve land that protects woods, water, wildlife and our shared quality of life. And your land-saving financial support helps us preserve beautiful properties that can become stellar trail destinations. Find out how to donate by clicking here.