Sharon Friends of Conservation Hike: Gorwin to Borderland State Park

Despite dark clouds looming in the distance, 13 hikers set forth on Saturday afternoon to traverse the three miles from the end of Gorwin Drive in Sharon to the visitor’s center at Borderland State Park. Our troops were ably led by Hans Luwald and David Stringham.

The trail in from Gorwin was created about three years ago by volunteers from the Bay Circuit Alliance and Sharon Friends of Conservation. It forms part of the Bay Circuit Trail, a 180-
mile public recreational trail and greenway, linking parks and open spaces in 57 Boston-area communities, from Plum Island and Ipswich to the Duxbury/Kingston shore.

The stretch from Gorwin Drive to Borderland State Park is an especially scenic trail, with large glacially-deposited boulders and many outcroppings of native bedrock. In some places, the stone is so smooth and level, it would make ideal picnicking sites.  The trail skirts a number of large ponds.

As we made our way along, a kingfisher was heard.  Later on we were serenaded by the flute-like notes of wood thrushes-- quite a number of them. An oven bird was also spotted. Midway we were refreshed by gusts of cool air. The price for this relief was a short-lived bout of rain which soon came and soon went.

Our adventure provided good exercise, good conversation, and everyone learned a few more things about the natural world.