Wompatuck State Park

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Hingham

Wompatuck State Park offers one of the most interesting places to inline skate within a thirty minute drive of Boston. It covers over 300 acres of land with numerous miles of paved trails that meander through woods and ponds. The site was formerly a munitions depot for the United States Navy in the first World War. After the Korean Conflict, the depot ceased to be used and was officially transferred to the town of Hingham in 1972. Today the park is a popular spot for fishing, camping, off-road mountain biking, walking, cycling, and skating. The park’s “South Group Loop” is often the site of inline races hosted by the InLine Club of Boston. The park’s many trails and paved roads traverse the property and offer a wide variety of skating. The Mount Blue Spring provides locals and visitors with a source of fresh water.

How to Get There

To get to Wompatuck, take Rte. 3 south to Exit 14. Drive north on Rte. 228 towards Hingham for 3.5 miles and turn right on Free Street just after the large brown sign for the park. The main entrance for the State Park is one mile on your right. Maps can be obtained from the Visitors Center, 0.5 miles from the entrance. Across from the center is a parking lot which leads to one end of the paved trails. There is ample parking here, but you may want to consider driving farther. The Park phone number is 617-749-7160.

Where to Skate

Two miles from the main gate on your left is a large lot with very smooth pavement. Whether you are new to skating, want to practice more complicated techniques, or just want to warm up, this is an excellent place. You can refill your water bottle at the Mount Blue Spring, just two tenths of a mile farther down the road. If you want to explore all of the park, at the east end of this lot is the start of an extensive, though somewhat confusing, system of roads and bike paths. It is easy to get disoriented, but then again, learning to find your way around Wompatuck is half the fun of skating there! The South Group Loop is accessible by the road on the right after the Spring. The gate is often locked, so you may have to park on the main road and skate in. If you do, we recommend not leaving valuables in your car, as we have heard some reports of thefts.

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Disclaimer

Printing of this page for personal use is not restricted. The use of this page for any commercial endeavor requires prior written approval and may involve some financial consideration. All material copyright 2000 by InLine Club of Boston. Reproduction of this page without this Disclaimer in its entirety is forbidden.

The materials provided here are used at one's own risk; injuries do occur while skating. By providing these materials, InLine Club of Boston and the authors makes no implicit or explicit guarantee that you will not be injured while skating at these or any other locations. Skaters should wear appropriate protective equipment including a helmet at all times and should have developed plans for what to do in the event they suddenly need to obtain medical assistance.

The ICB makes no guarantees that the information provided herein is completely accurate or current. If you know of any discrepencies, please notify us so that we may correct them.