What to know before you hit the trail at the Hinckleys Pond — Herring River Headwaters Preserve
There’s an exciting new option in Harwich for hiking and observing nature. The Hinckleys Pond — Herring River Headwaters Preserve has reopened after an ambitious Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) eco-restoration project, and the place is looking great!
A rainbow greets visitors to the Hinckleys Pond — Herring River Headwaters Preserve on Oct. 22, 2025. Photo by Tom Evans
Right before the official opening ceremony last week, a rainbow graced the sky over the restored wetland, setting the stage for the good vibes that have continued at the Preserve. Almost immediately, folks appeared on the new mile-long All Persons Trail, which offers a flat and even surface that allows people of all abilities to enjoy nature.
Waterview fans were drinking in the spectacular vista from the new pond observation area, accessed via a gently sloped trail with sturdy railings. And users of the Cape Cod Rail Trail were enjoying the easy connection to the Preserve, created as part of the project.
You’ll also find plenty of classic HCT benches along the trail and at the overlook, providing comfy seating for restful nature watching.
A few rules to remember
To get you off on the right foot at the Hinckleys Pond Preserve, we thought we’d provide this handy list of things to remember as you make plans to visit:
–No bikes are allowed on the trails at the Hinckleys Pond — Herring River Headwaters Preserve because bike tires cause ruts which create tripping hazards and also lead to erosion of the All Persons Trail. Handy bike racks are located at the parking lot and along the Cape Cod Rail Trail.
Leashed dogs are welcome at the Hinckleys Pond — Herring River Headwaters Preserve.
–Dogs are welcome at the Hinckleys Pond — Herring River Headwaters Preserve, but they must be leashed, and owners please pick up after their dogs. There’s a convenient mutt-mitt dispenser at the trailhead parking area and trash can.
–Eco-restoration is still in progress at the Preserve, particularly areas along the trail that were recently seeded. Please stay on the trail to give these native plants time to grow, which helps stabilize the borders along the All Persons Trail.
Parking information: During the project, the parking lot was enlarged and now holds 26 spots, including two Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) van accessible spots, located close to the trailhead. The parking lot is located on Headwaters Drive, about 800 feet down the road from the intersection of Route 124.
We hope you enjoy this wonderfully restored conservation destination with family and friends, and smile with satisfaction in making it happen through your support of HCT. Thank you!
About the Hinckleys Pond — Herring River Headwaters Eco-Restoration Project
The recently-completed Hinckleys Pond – Herring River Headwaters Eco-Restoration Project included the restoration of two retired cranberry bogs that bookend 174-acre Hinckleys Pond in Harwich, located at the headwaters of the Herring River estuary. Hinckleys Pond is also connected by streams to river herring spawning habitat in Long Pond and Seymour Pond.
By the late 1990s, much larger off-Cape bogs were producing an extra supply of cranberries that caused the price to fall. This shift in the industry makes it more difficult for local growers to continue farming. Some are looking to exit the industry.
Please stick to the trail at the Hinckleys Pond — Herring River Headwaters Preserve to allow seeded areas to grow.
Farmers have a choice. They can either sell their properties for conversion of the upland to subdivisions which can cause water quality changes and end up closing off public access to the land. Or they can seek a conservation future by selling to local land trusts and towns. In 2021 at Hinckleys Pond, the Jenkins family finished their farming chapter and chose to sell their 31 acres to HCT for the next chapters of conservation and eco-restoration.
The Brown family, who owns a retired bog on the other side of the pond, also partnered with HCT on the project. The collaborative eco-effort increased biodiversity, restored freshwater wetland habitat and enhanced opportunities for everyone to enjoy the trails, views and wildlife watching.
The eco-restoration project was funded by HCT donors, the Brown family, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Southeast New England Program (SNEP) Watershed grant, EPA National Estuary Program Coastal Watershed grant under cooperative agreement with Restore America’s Estuaries, Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation MassTrails grant, foundation funds through the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, and a Transformational Habitat Restoration & Coastal Resilience grant through the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.
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—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.