Hiking & Walks

Drumlin Farm has 4 miles of easy to moderate trails through farm fields, woods and wetland, all inside the paid sanctuary. The shortest walk, the Farmyard Loop, takes about 30 minutes past the barns. The best hike climbs the drumlin for a view that reaches Mount Wachusett on a clear day. Trails are for walkers only: no bikes, no horses and no dogs.

Suggested Walks

The routes below join Mass Audubon's named trails; lengths for each trail are on the trail map.

30 Minutes: The Farmyard Loop

The half-mile Farmyard Loop is the sanctuary's main loop: wildlife exhibits, barns and the garden. Mass Audubon's accessibility page says visiting all 11 stops takes about 30 minutes, though most families linger with the animals. Paved and hard-packed, it suits strollers and wheelchairs except a rough side path at Bird Hill.

1 Hour: Farmyard Plus the Drumlin

Walk part of the Farmyard Loop, then take the Beeline Trail (1/4 mile) through the woods, past a pond-viewing platform, to the Drumlin Loop (1/2 mile) over the drumlin. Expect roots, rocks and a climb. Return by the farmyard.

1.5 to 2 Hours: The Wild Side

Add the Hayfield Loop (a 3/4-mile extension) to the Drumlin Loop. Mass Audubon describes it as the wilder part of the sanctuary, where you can feel almost totally alone in nature, and rates it good for birding.

Flat and Easy: The Crop Fields

The Boyce Field Loop (1/4 mile) and the Crops Discovery Trail (3/4 mile, overlapping it) follow a rough, flat dirt road around the crop fields, with interpretive signs about Drumlin's growing methods. Add the Bobolink Trail Loop (1/3 mile) to reach the Overlook above the fields. These suit most strollers, except the Bobolink loop, which may be challenging.

Trails With Kids

The Forest Discovery Trail (1/3 mile) starts behind the Red Barn and New England Wildlife Exhibit buildings. It has a nature play area: a giant hawk's nest with eggs, woodchuck tunnels, a rhododendron tunnel and a stump jump, plus treasure boxes where children can leave a natural find. Roots and a short uphill make it awkward for strollers. More in kids and families.

Habitats You'll Walk Through

Mass Audubon describes field, forest and wetland habitat at Drumlin Farm. The rental page adds shrubland, and the birding page names red pine forests. Small ponds, including Ice Pond by the Nature Center, attract turtles, frogs and birds.

Trail Rules

• Foot travel only; stay on the trails. Day passes are available for powered mobility devices.
• No dogs or horses; service animals are welcome.
• No camping, collecting, smoking, hunting, fishing, releasing animals or feeding wildlife.

See rules and regulations.

What to Bring

Trails like the Beeline, Drumlin and Hayfield loops have uneven ground with roots and rocks, so wear closed shoes. Mass Audubon lists universally accessible restrooms at the sanctuary. Mass Audubon lists picnic tables at the sanctuary. More in plan your visit.

Good For / Maybe Skip If

Good for: short family hikes, birding, a gentle hill with a long view, walkers who want farmland and woods in one outing.

Maybe skip if: you want a long hike or a dog walk. Four miles is the whole network, and dogs are not allowed; Minute Man National Historical Park nearby has a five-mile trail where leashed pets are welcome.