Hiking at Bradley Palmer State Park, Topsfield, MA

[box style=”rounded” border=”full”]Location: Bradley Palmer State Park, Topsfield, MA
Date: July 16, 2013
Distance: 1.16 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 98 feet
Our Hiking Time: 1 hour round trip
Trail Blaze: Blue Triangles &
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Map[/box]

Sometimes you just gotta look for frogs. Last week I took Addie, my nephew Eoin, and niece Bria, hiking at Bradley Palmer State Park in Topsfield, MA. With over 700 acres laced with hiking trails, I thought it would be a fun place to explore.

We were on a mission to find frogs and turtles. When we first arrived, we used the Estate entrance. Big mistake  – there was a line for parking all the way back to the stone gates. After about 10 minutes of sitting in standstill traffic, I turned the car around and parked in a small dirt lot right off of Ipswich Road on the Ipswich-Topsfield-Hamilton line. By doing this, we avoided long lines, and our hike was peacefully uncrowded.

The trail from the parking lot led us straight over a beautiful wooden footbridge crossing the Ipswich River. Several canoes were passing under as we walked over, which prompted the kids to stop for a better look. They instantly decided our next adventure would be canoeing.

After crossing the bridge, we took an immediate left onto the trail, which followed alongside the river. I figured this would be the best way to find a frog or two. We peered into the river every chance we got, but only managed to find mushrooms and dragonflies.

Just as I’d given up hope, and the trail began to climb away from the river, we heard the bellow of a frog. Bria decided it sounded just like Eoin’s accordion. We kept silent, and slowly followed the sound until we came to the riverbank and found a great big frog sunning itself in the water! The kids were so excited, yet managed to keep quiet as they settled onto a fallen log to watch the lazy frog.

The discovery of the frog was immediately followed by a second sighting – this time a tiny little toad sitting on a moss-covered rock! I gently scooped it into my hands so Bria could hold her first toad. Eoin followed suit, and Addie declined because she was too busy munching on goldfish to be bothered with holding yet another toad.

Upon reaching the intersection of the trail with the  Hamilton Trail, we found some rocks to rest on and fill up on snacks. After we’d eaten, we followed the Hamilton Trail and looped back to the bridge. Just before crossing over, the kids jumped onto a wooden bench to enjoy some well-deserved M&M’s.

Bria excitedly spotted some Canadian geese as we walked across the bridge, while Eoin walked down the embankment to look for turtles, and Addie and I found a stone pillar marking the intersection of Ipswich, Hamilton, and Topsfield. I called the kids over to show it to them, and explained what it was. It was until I began hiking that I had ever seen one of these markers – now I see them all the time!

We had a fabulous hike – perfect for little legs. I suspect we will be back here soon – the kids have been asking to go canoeing ever since!

Directions to the trailhead:

These directions lead to the small parking area on Ipswich Road, not to the main entrance of Bradley Palmer State Park.

From North or South: Take Rte. 1 to Topsfield, right on Ipswich Rd. The parking area is the second on the right after passing the intersection with Asbury St.