Parsons Reserve (Dartmouth, MA)

Date Of Visit: April 23, 2017

Location: 50 Horseneck Rd, Dartmouth, MA

Hours: Open everyday, sunrise to sunset

Cost: Free, but a $2 donation is appreciated

Parking: There is a free parking area across the street from the reserve for about 50 cars.  Since the daffodils are a big attraction there, it filled up by the time I left and people had to wait to get the next available spot

Handicapped Friendly: No, the dirt trails have some slight inclines and the wooden planks used to walk over the streams are very narrow

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: daffodils, wildlife, family friendly, easy trails, vernal ponds

Lowlights: Parking is very difficult unless you leave early on the weekends during daffodil season or go during the weekdays.  It is not as busy after the daffodil season has ended

Website: Parsons Reserve

Undoubtedly the highlight of your trip to Parson Reserve has to be the sea of yellow and white daffodils.  The short daffodil season (the season usually begins the second week of April and ends the first week of May) is one of the busiest times of the year at Parson.

The entrance to parson Reserve is not easy to find if you don’t know where to look,  So, keep your eyes open and use the address listed above in your GPS.

A stream empties at the entrance to Parson reserve.  A nondescript entrance is located just past the rocky stream.  A short walk (about half a mile) along a well defined trail with a gentle incline and signs pointing to the daffodil field as well as a bench for weary travelers leads to the daffodil field.

Rows and rows of daffodils greet you at the end of the trail.

Bunny, a 6 year old Chocolate Lab who was adopted during Easter, enjoyed the daffodils!

One of the great things about my visit to Parsons is that there are also lots of trails to explore at the reserve which I had not expected.  The easy flat trails have some pretty trees and, I assume when they bloom, flowers.

There is also a vernal pool.  The staff who were there handing out maps, said they are supposed to be tadpoles there this time of the year.  I did not see any.  But, I am sure they’re there!

There were lots of critters at Parsons.  I saw this cute little guy, a garter snake, as I was leaving the reserve.  This is why I always take the less used trails (or go off trail).  A lot of wildlife gets scared by the crowds and noise and consequently, you have to explore a little to find the good stuff.

There were also a lot of birds at the sanctuary.

Just to re-emphasize the issue of parking.  Try to arrive at Parsons by 10 on the weekends during daffodil season.  I am an early riser.  So, I found a spot with no problem.  The parking area has room for about 50 cars and it fills up quickly on the weekends this time of the year.  When I did leave around 10:30, there was already a line of cars waiting to get in to the lot.

When I drove by even later (around 3) the entire side of the road was full of cars and the lot was full.  So, the best time to go is early in the morning or on a weekday.  But, it’s definitely worth getting up early for!