Vineyard Hill Reservation

Located between Bradley Palmer State Park and the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Vineyard Hill Reservation in Hamilton and Topsfield represents one of the most scenic landscapes in Essex County. Trails traverse the entire property and invite visitors to explore and connect to other nearby conserved land.

Because of its proximity to the Ipswich River, this area and its natural resources would have been thoroughly explored by many generations of Indigenous people, known as the Pawtucket or Agawam, who were fishing here. They fished for alewives (river herring), shad, and other species on their spring runs, as well as for migrating Atlantic eels. Eels were a culinary delicacy and had other important uses. Crushed eel skeletons were added to baby food as a kind of protein powder, and the cured skins were used as soft, strong cradleboard ties, and moccasin laces.

This classic glacial landscape is characterized by steep drumlins and intervening streams and boggy depressions. An extensive trail network begins here, leading to Vineyard Hill to the south, with filtered ridgeline views of the Ipswich River from late fall to early spring.

Or hike north to Shaw Field, where hay is often being grown by a local dairy farmer and trail connections to abutting conservation land lie beyond.

Across Asbury Street is 60 acres of farmland preserved and owned by Greenbelt, including 20 acres of working fields on what is now Iron Ox Farm.

For decades, the Patton family generously worked with Greenbelt to protect significant portions of this land. However, more than 50 acres remained at risk for development, and access to trails throughout the entire property was in jeopardy.

A successful, private fundraising effort, including a generous donation from the Institution for Savings Conservation Fund, allowed Greenbelt to forever preserve Vineyard Hill and farmland located across Asbury Street.

Preserving this land increased and secured year-round recreational access for public enjoyment, permanently protected prime agricultural land, and safeguarded watershed protection and priority wildlife habitat.

Iron Ox Farm, located across Asbury Street, has been leased to new farmers and includes a trail for public enjoyment.

Towering oak, maple, birch, white pines and some cedar dominate the woodlands. A few fields are in active agriculture, other fields are left uncut until late summer for wildlife and invertebrates.

Deer, coyote, red fox, fisher, turkey, owls, hawks and migrant seasonal songbirds like warblers are all abundant.