The Drumlin

The drumlin is the hill that gives Drumlin Farm its name, and Mass Audubon calls the walk to its top an easy hike to one of the highest points in the Greater Boston area. On a clear day you can see Mount Wachusett from the summit. The half-mile Drumlin Loop Trail goes over the top; it is moderate, with uneven ground and some uphill, so leave the stroller behind.

What Is a Drumlin?

A drumlin is a long, rounded hill left behind by glacial ice. Drumlin Farm's hill is the sanctuary's signature landform, and the farm takes its name from it.

The View

Mass Audubon says the top of the drumlin is one of the highest points in the Greater Boston area and that you can see Mount Wachusett on a clear day. Wachusett lies well to the west, so pick a dry, clear day for the best chance of seeing it. Mass Audubon does not publish the summit's elevation, so this guide does not give one.

How to Get to the Top

The usual route from the farmyard:

1. From the Farmyard Loop, take the Beeline Trail (1/4 mile), a short "through the woods" path toward the crop fields. Partway along, a platform overlooks one of the sanctuary's small ponds, a good spot for birds and, if you are lucky, turtles sunning on a log.
2. The Beeline connects to the Drumlin Loop Trail (1/2 mile), which climbs over the top of the drumlin.
3. For a longer, quieter walk, add the Hayfield Loop, a 3/4-mile extension from the Drumlin Loop that Mass Audubon describes as the wilder part of the sanctuary, where you can feel almost totally alone in nature.

Mass Audubon rates both the Beeline and the Drumlin Loop as uneven ground with roots and rocks, generally not suitable for most strollers or wheelchairs. The hiking guide suggests routes by time and ability, and the trail map lists every trail.

Birding on the Drumlin

Mass Audubon lists the top of the drumlin as one of the sanctuary's birding hot spots, along with the edge-habitat crop fields and the red pine forests. It also rates the Drumlin Loop and Hayfield Loop as good for birding. See birding at Drumlin Farm.

Lunch With a View

Drumlin Farm Camp's daily schedule mentions campers eating lunch "atop the drumlin". Visitors can picnic too: Mass Audubon lists picnic tables at the sanctuary, and there is a picnic area along the Farmyard Loop.

Good For / Maybe Skip If

Good for: a short hike with a payoff, older kids who can handle a hill, birders, clear fall and winter days.

Maybe skip if: you are pushing a stroller or wheelchair. The Farmyard Loop and Ice Pond Trail are the sanctuary's universally accessible routes, and the Boyce Field Loop is a flat dirt road suitable for most strollers.