Eel River Preserve

Eel River Preserve in Plymouth is the product of a genuinely impressive restoration effort by local, state, and federal agencies: 1.5 miles of the Eel River stream channel and 40 acres of cranberry bogs have been returned to a native state, with 17,000 Atlantic White Cedar trees planted that will eventually make this one of the largest Atlantic White Cedar swamps in Massachusetts. A flat, 2-mile perimeter trail begins at the corner of Long Pond Road and Boot Pond Road, crossing wooden bog bridges through the wetter sections, with a smaller loop through older-growth forest at the southern end. A restored pedestrian footbridge -- built where an old dam once stood -- connects Eel River Preserve directly to the neighboring Russell Mill Pond Conservation Area, so it is easy to turn a short visit into a much longer walk.