Wylde Reserve
The Wylde Reserve in Dartmouth is small in size, but certainly not in scenery! This short Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust trail leads through fragrant salt marshes, past a beautiful salt pond, and to the sandy dunes of Demarest Lloyd State Park.
Features
Find the trailhead to the Wylde Reserve at the end of Barneys Joy Road in Dartmouth. From here, you can walk all the way to the beach at Demarest Lloyd State Park.
For beachgoers seeking some exercise and exploration, discover the Wylde Reserve on your next trip to Demarest Lloyd State Park. The easy trail here is a pathway to nature, wildlife, and adventure that you won’t see by staying on the sand.
Trails
The one-way trail at the Wylde Reserve is short – just two-tenths of a mile long. You can reach it two ways: from the George’s Pond Loop Trail at Demarest Lloyd or from a trailhead at the end of Barneys Joy Road. (Download trail map)
To extend your walk, continue on the George’s Pond Loop Trail into the state park. This circling trail through coastal dunes adds another half-mile to your walk – a perfect length for a family walk before you hit the beach!
Habitats & Wildlife
The Wylde Reserve’s scrubby vegetation is characteristic of the sandy land that sits near Buzzards Bay’s salty, open waters. As you walk further toward the state park, salt marshes give way to grassy beach dunes. These sensitive habitats help replenish the beach and protect the land from coastal flooding.
George’s Pond is a wonderful place to watch for birds, from ospreys and herons to sparrows and mockingbirds. This salt pond is fed by the Slocums River, which flows through Dartmouth and empties into Buzzards Bay at Demarest Lloyd.
Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust (DNRT) is a nonprofit, accredited land trust. Since 1971, DNRT has helped protect more than 5,000 acres of land and maintain more than 35 miles of hiking trails in Dartmouth.