Noon Hill (reservation) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Noon Hill
Noon Hill
Established	1959
Operator	The Trustees of Reservations
Website	Noon Hill

Noon Hill is a beautiful natural area in Medfield, Massachusetts. It covers about 204 acres (83 hectares) and is named after Noon Hill itself, which is a 370-foot (113-meter) tall hill. From the top, you can see amazing views!

This special place is looked after by a group called The Trustees of Reservations. They work to protect important natural and historical spots. Noon Hill has 4.5 miles (7.2 km) of trails. You can use these trails for hiking, riding horses, mountain biking, and even cross-country skiing in winter.

Noon Hill is full of different natural features. You'll find forests with oak and hickory trees, wet areas called wetlands, and small pools that appear in spring called vernal pools. There are also steep valleys, large rocks, and rocky cliffs. Noon Hill is also part of a much longer trail called the Bay Circuit Trail, which is about 200 miles (320 km) long. Inside Noon Hill, there's a pond called Holt Pond, which was made a long time ago to help power mills.

Noon Hill is connected to other protected lands nearby. This includes land owned by the town of Medfield and another area managed by The Trustees of Reservations called Shattuck Reservation. These areas together create a large space for nature and outdoor fun.

Discovering Noon Hill's Past

Noon Hill's rugged and rocky landscape was shaped by huge sheets of ice. This happened during the last ice age, thousands of years ago. As the glaciers moved, they scraped and pulled away pieces of rock. This created the unique hills and valleys you see today.

Holt Pond, which is part of Noon Hill, was created around 1764. It was made by building a dam across Sawmill Brook. The pond's water was used to power mills in the colonial era. These mills helped people grind grain or saw wood. Other parts of the land were used by farmers to feed their animals.

Noon Hill became a protected area in 1959. It was given as a gift by W. K. Gilmore & Sons. More land was added in 1960, 1963, and 1978 by other generous people.

Fun Things to Do at Noon Hill

Noon Hill has many trails for you to explore. These trails also connect to the nearby Shattuck Reservation and other town lands. One of the most famous trails is the Bay Circuit Trail. This long trail forms a big arc around the towns west of Boston.

When you hike on the Bay Circuit Trail at Noon Hill, you'll go right over the top of Noon Hill. From the rocky ledges at the summit, you can see amazing views. You can look out over the towns of Walpole, Norfolk, and even Great Blue Hill in the distance.

You can start your adventure at Noon Hill by finding the trailhead. It's located on Noon Hill Road in Medfield.

Images for kids

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  Holt Pond