Great Oak Farm

A 1-mile-long trail takes hikers along an old forest road to a beautiful hilltop. The trail also winds around horse pastures, fields, and a pond.

Full Description

Great Oak Farm spans 39 acres of forest and farmland in the northeast corner of Berlin. Once the largest organic strawberry operation in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the property became a horse-boarding farm when the owner retired. In 2018, the Town of Berlin and SVT purchased a conservation restriction on the land that protects it as agricultural land forever.

A 1-mile-long trail now takes hikers along an old forest road to a beautiful hilltop. The trail also winds around horse pastures, fields, and a pond.

Please note: This land is privately owned. Portions of the land are not open to the public. Please stay on designated trails, shown on the map.

Also, the farm is currently leased for horse boarding. Please do not feed, pet, or disturb the horses. Use caution along electric fences. Dogs must be on leash on the property due to potential issues with the horses and riding lessons.

  • The “Great Oak” for which the property is named was once visible from Highland Street. This tree unfortunately fell down in 2021.
  • A great view of Bolton can be enjoyed from the top of the hill at the southeastern corner of the property.
  • The farm house is the historic George Fox Wheeler home, built in the late 1800s.
  • You may spot birds of prey around the fields, where they hunt for small mammals.

Directions

From Route I-495, take Exit 67. Turn left onto Route 62 west and follow approximately 0.6 mile. Turn right onto Sawyer Hill Road and follow approximately 1 mile to a Great Oak Farm sign on your left. The sign marks the entrance to a parking lot, and the hiking trail continues up the hill along the old forest road.

Click here to visit Google Maps for specific directions from your home.

Nearby Nature Sightings

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An American Robin at Great Oak Farm in Berlin, photographed by Louis Calisi.
Louis Calisi photographed this American robin at Great Oak Farm in Berlin.
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A northern bobwhite at Great Oak Farm in Berlin, photographed by Gordon Miller.
Gordon Miller photographed this northern bobwhite at Great Oak Farm in Berlin.