If you’re visiting Martha’s Vineyard and looking for things to do, I recommend walking the trails at Menemsha Hills, a Trustees of Reservations property. With winding paths through woodlands, island views from the hilltops and trails to the beach, a trip to Menemsha Hills offers a variety of inviting island experiences in an easy afternoon hike.
When I last visited Menemsha Hills, it had approximately three miles of trails, which can be walked in an hour and a half to two hours. Since that time, additional trails have been created to connect this property with The Brickyard, another Trustees of Reservations property. The map below is a photo that I took when I visited. You can see the updated map and learn more about The Brickyard here. I hope to visit The Brickyard soon and I’ll do a post about that area.
You can hike to Prospect Hill, which is the second highest point on the island (at 308 feet). We read a story that there was once a competition between the owner of this location and the owner of Peaked Hill, the highest island spot at 311 feet. As the tale goes, the owner of Prospect Hill piled rocks to claim the honor. We wondered if this granite pile on Prospect Hill was the result of that attempt.
From Prospect Hill you’ll get some beautiful views of the island’s coastline to Aquinnah.
On a busy island weekend, when you’ve had a little too much sun and need a day off from the beach, Menemsha Hills can be one of the places on the island for a quiet escape.
Trails will take you through a variety of island plant life. You’ll see the ubiquitous scrub oak and pitch pine. Depending on the season, you’ll see the flowers or fruit of wild blueberries, blackberries and beach plums. You may see goldenrod and bayberry. There were several varieties of fungi along the trails when we were there in late August.
From one sandy trail, you’ll find yourself perched above the beach with views of the coast looking toward the Elizabeth Islands. Climb down a wooden stairway to a boulder-strewn beach, where you can bask in the sun’s rays while listening to the water lapping on the shore. It’s a great place to explore tide pools and marvel in the many colored rocks worn smooth by the sea.
As with any hike, you’ll want to be prepared. Bring water. Depending on the time of year and recent weather, you may encounter muddy sections of trail in the wetland areas. You can count on sandy sections of trail and if you go down to the shore, you could be traversing a rocky section of beach.
Watch for poison ivy! Parts of the hike are out in the open, so I recommend using sunscreen and having a hat. You might need mosquito repellent.
If you plan to go, check out the Trustees of Reservations Menemsha Hills web site for more information.
Related Posts
Here are some of my other posts about Martha’s Vineyard.