The Lloyd Center for the Environment is known as a phenomenal resource for environmental education. But it’s also a destination for outdoor exploration on the stunning Slocums River in Dartmouth.
Features
Indoors and outdoors, the Lloyd Center features outstanding opportunities to discover and connect with Buzzards Bay and our local environment. Take a peek inside the visitor center, which features fun touch tanks with local sea animals. Kids young and old will have a blast seeing the Bay’s underwater life up close and personal. Outside the visitor center, the surrounding network of trails provides an opportunity to encounter nature hands-on. A highlight of the Lloyd Center is its observation deck, located at the visitor center. From this scenic overlook, you’ll bask in a spectacular view of the Slocums River and Buzzards Bay, including Demarest Lloyd State Park. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Martha’s Vineyard!
Trails
The Lloyd Center’s grounds are home to seven marked walking trails with scenic views of the Slocums River and Buzzards Bay. In total, the trails stretch for nearly four miles, offering hours of outdoor exploration. (Download trail map) The longest trail is the 1.6-mile Hardscrabble Farm Loop Trail (blue trail), which begins at the visitor center. It’s also known as the “perimeter trail” because it runs around the Lloyd Center’s boundary. Along the trail, you’ll hike through woodland habitat that looks out over salt marshes along the river. Along its route, the Hardscrabble Farm Loop Trail connects with a network of six smaller trails. These trails snake through a diverse variety of habitats and scenery, from mixed forest to a red maple swamp to a kettle pond. We recommend you check out the Lloyd Woods trail, which leads you across Potomska Road to a loop trail along the neighboring Little River.
Habitats & Wildlife
The Lloyd Center’s wealth of plant and animal life is truly impressive. Look for a variety of trees along the trails, including oak, hickory, aspen, holly, red maple, cedar, and sassafras. Wildflowers and native blueberries grow along the Katharine Nordell Lloyd trail, where staff have placed bird houses for wrens and other songbirds. Beyond the woodlands, the fresh and saltwater habitats here at the Lloyd Center attract ospreys, ducks, and herons. Along the river’s shoreline, search for crabs, snails, and fish in the marsh.
Details & Amenities
Things to Do
Trail Maps
Image Gallery
The Lloyd Center for the Environment is known as a phenomenal resource for environmental education. But it’s also a destination for outdoor exploration on the stunning Slocums River in Dartmouth.
Features
Indoors and outdoors, the Lloyd Center features outstanding opportunities to discover and connect with Buzzards Bay and our local environment. Take a peek inside the visitor center, which features fun touch tanks with local sea animals. Kids young and old will have a blast seeing the Bay’s underwater life up close and personal. Outside the visitor center, the surrounding network of trails provides an opportunity to encounter nature hands-on. A highlight of the Lloyd Center is its observation deck, located at the visitor center. From this scenic overlook, you’ll bask in a spectacular view of the Slocums River and Buzzards Bay, including Demarest Lloyd State Park. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Martha’s Vineyard!
Trails
The Lloyd Center’s grounds are home to seven marked walking trails with scenic views of the Slocums River and Buzzards Bay. In total, the trails stretch for nearly four miles, offering hours of outdoor exploration. (Download trail map) The longest trail is the 1.6-mile Hardscrabble Farm Loop Trail (blue trail), which begins at the visitor center. It’s also known as the “perimeter trail” because it runs around the Lloyd Center’s boundary. Along the trail, you’ll hike through woodland habitat that looks out over salt marshes along the river. Along its route, the Hardscrabble Farm Loop Trail connects with a network of six smaller trails. These trails snake through a diverse variety of habitats and scenery, from mixed forest to a red maple swamp to a kettle pond. We recommend you check out the Lloyd Woods trail, which leads you across Potomska Road to a loop trail along the neighboring Little River.
Habitats & Wildlife
The Lloyd Center’s wealth of plant and animal life is truly impressive. Look for a variety of trees along the trails, including oak, hickory, aspen, holly, red maple, cedar, and sassafras. Wildflowers and native blueberries grow along the Katharine Nordell Lloyd trail, where staff have placed bird houses for wrens and other songbirds. Beyond the woodlands, the fresh and saltwater habitats here at the Lloyd Center attract ospreys, ducks, and herons. Along the river’s shoreline, search for crabs, snails, and fish in the marsh.
