HIKING EDGEWOOD AND THE NORTH ANDOVER TRAILS | NORTH ANDOVER, MA

Preserving the beauty of the land for all to enjoy.

Set on more than 100 acres adjoining conservation land and Lake Cochichewick, Edgewood maintains 1.5 miles of trails that run through our wooded land and along the lake shore. These trails also connect to parts of the North Andover Trail System, giving hikers the ability to enjoy many miles of natural beauty. Specifically, our trails connect to the Osgood Hill trails to the northwest — including Half Mile Hill trail — and to the Weir Hill trails to the south of our campus. From the Weir Hill trails, hikers can pick up Stevens Trail to Hatch Trail which crosses Stevens Pond and continue across Pleasant Street to the Stevens to Stevens Trail.

As part of the Friends of North Andover Trails, Edgewood welcomes residents and the public alike to enjoy the trails on our campus. Whether you start your exploration from the adjoining trails, the Half Mile Hill kiosk parking area on our campus, or from your own front door at Edgewood, there is much to see and experience in every season.

Explore the Interactive Map of North Andover Trails

WALKING AND HIKING TRAILS

About the Edgewood Trails

SIZE: 100+ acres

OWNER: Edgewood Retirement Community

ACTIVITIES: Walking/Hiking; Mountain Biking; Cross-Country Skiing; Snowshoeing; Birdwatching; Fishing; Kayaking; Skating

PARKING: To access Edgewood’s trails, use the main Edgewood Retirement Community entrance on Osgood Street. Take the fourth left onto Meadows Drive and follow the signs to Half Mile Hill Parking Access Road. Parking is available near the trail kiosk.

Suggested Walks

HALF MILE HILL: From the Half Mile Hill Trail kiosk on Edgewood’s campus, follow the trail to the top of the hill where you will find a sweeping view of Lake Cochichewick. From the top, you may return the way you came or, from the sitting area, continue along the field’s edge to where Half Mill Hill Trail enters the woods. This wide, easy trail will take you to the Stevens Estate.

JOYCE’S TRAIL TO THE LAKESHORE: From the Half Mile Hill Trail parking area, you can take Joyce’s Trail south. Where the trail forks, go left, heading east toward Lake Cochichewick. The trail then splits again with legs going north and south along the lake, connecting to the Osgood Hill and Weir Hill trails respectively. Along the northern leg, you’ll see Edgewood’s kayak launch. (Please note that kayaks on racks at the launch belong to Edgewood residents and are not for public use.)

JOYCE’S TRAIL TO WEIR HILL TRAILS: From the Half Mile Hill Trail parking area, take Joyce’s Trail south. Where the trail forks, go right, heading southeast. The trail runs roughly parallel to Charlotte Way, passing Edgewood’s honeybee hives and resident gardens before connecting to the Weir Hill Trails.

History of Edgewood’s Campus

Lake Cochichewick, the largest lake in northeastern Massachusetts, is spread over 600 acres. The longest side of the lake was, for most of the past several centuries, owned and farmed by the Stevens family as Edgewood farm. At its largest, the farm was anchored on the north by Osgood Hill and on the south by Weir Hill.

In the early 1800s, Edgewood was largely a dairy farm, raising and breeding Golden Guernsey cattle. A large flock of chickens and crops of hay, corn, apples and vegetables rounded out its offerings. In the mid-1960s, the family also developed an interest in Welsh ponies and raised many over the years, training them to pull carts and carriages, and hosting the New England Carriage Show for 12 years. This part of Edgewood’s history is still reflected in the Edgewood Retirement Community logo.

The Stevens Brothers Dairy, as it was known, remained in operation until 1970, when it began to transition to an equine boarding and training operation. In 1995, the farm’s longtime manager retired, and the farm closed as construction began on Edgewood Retirement Community. Edgewood preserved several of the buildings from the farm, including the horse barn, and today visitors are still greeted by a small number of resident horses. The community also retains much of the rural character of the land with abundant green spaces, plantings of native grasses and flowers, and many acres of wooded conservation land.

Flora and Fauna

Maple trees are abundant and, when walking Edgewood’s trails in mid- to late-February, you may notice taps in some of the sugar maple trees. Each year, Edgewood’s culinary services team taps these trees to make much of the maple syrup used in the community’s restaurants. You’ll also spot birch and pine trees. And, if you’re especially observant at just the right time, you may be lucky enough to spot native orchids — known as Lady’s Slippers — blooming in the woods.

With its location along the lake, the conservation land on Edgewood’s campus provides habitat for a variety of wildlife. Keep an eye out for white-tailed deer, foxes, turtles, and the rare white squirrel (leucistic Eastern Gray squirrel). Birdwatchers will enjoy looking for any of the 300 species of birds that migrate along our section of the Atlantic Flyway each year. And, of course, spotting a Bald Eagle is always a thrill.

Explore even more!

Embrace active living.

Active living is about choosing pursuits that lead to wellness of mind, body, and spirit. At Edgewood, opportunities abound. Learn more…

Get the Edgewood Advantage.

With demand for senior living communities quickly outpacing supply, it makes sense to get on Edgewood’s waitlist. Plus, while you wait, you can enjoy a bit of the Edgewood lifestyle. Learn more…

Peruse our viewbook.

Settle in with a glass or mug of your favorite beverage and get to know Edgewood through the pages of our viewbook. It’s a feast for the eyes! Download Viewbook