Pick a crystalline day when the landscapes is bursting with color and a carpet of leaves lay at your feet. Pack a  thermos of hot tea and head for the hills, Menemsha Hills Reservation that is.

Hugging the northwestern slope of the island's second highest peak sits the Menemsha Hills reservation. With nearly 210 acres managed by the Trustees of Reservations, Menemsha Hills makes a great afternoon destination for families, or anyone looking for a fun way of getting back in touch with nature.

Getting There
The reservation is easily reached by taking North Road towards Menemsha. About ¾ of a mile before Menemsha Cross Rd. you'll see the familiar Trustees sign marking the entrance. Parking is limited to 20 spaces but there's a convenient bike rack available for the extra adventurous.

The Trails
Download the trail map here:
Allow yourself at least 2 ½ hours for the roundtrip and time to enjoy your surroundings.

From the trail head, the Harris Trail loops around low lying wetlands which support a wonderful array of red maples, cinquefoil, beech, and black cherry trees. Nearly 10 minutes into the hike the trail splits, continuing on towards the beach or up towards the island's second highest peak, Prospect Hill. From this hilltop vista you get commanding views of Menemsha Village and the town of Aquinnah, including its 150 year old lighthouse (running 24/7) and the Elizabeth Islands.

Continuing along the trail towards the beach, you find the environment switching up a little, giving way to brushy bushes and grasses. Keep your binoculars handy as you never know which of the island's numerous song birds will make an appearance.

About 25 minutes into the trail you'll start to see the Vineyard Sound and feel some of its cool breezes. At a certain point the trail bends towards the northeast and deceptively guides you parallel to the beach for about 2200 feet, but don't despair, it eventually leads you there.

You're in for a treat once you reach the overlook. During good weather you can see the cities of New Bedford and Fall River, and everything in between. Be sure to scope out all available Vineyard coastline, from Gay Head to Cedar Tree Neck.

From the overlook, a 10-minute trail leads you directly down to the pebbly shoreline.

For the return, take the northern loop (left after the overlook) which eventually links back up with the main trail towards the parking lot.

Keep an eye out for

• Deer
• Gold finches, chickadees & Rufus-Sided towhees
• American Holly

Amenities

• Fishing
• Hiking
• Bird Watching
• Picnicking

Restrictions

• No trail biking
• No pets, including dogs

Photos by David Welch

For more information visit the Trustees of Reservations