A Lakeshore Walk on the Malley Trail

To walk the John Malley Trail is to walk along the shore of Mill Pond, although you’d hardly know it in some places when the foliage is green and thick. The trail stays close to the water’s edge, giving a good view of the water in fall, winter, and early spring (mid-October to mid-May).  But in late spring, summer, and early fall, stretches of trail pass through a tunnel of green or gold leaves, with little hint of the nearby pond. 

Along the Malley Trail, you can find old stone walls, signs of past beaver activity such as tree stumps gnawed to a point, vernal pools, chickadees and blue jays in the woods, and ducks, swans, and muskrats in the water.

Start the trail at either end by parking at the Mill Road boat ramp or at the Andrews Street entrance to the Headwaters Conservation Area. For a walk of less than a mile, follow the trail to the recently completed “Orlando bridge” and then turn back.  You can’t miss the sturdy bridge roughly mid-way along the trail, where it crosses a brook.

For a one-mile walk, follow the entire trail, but arrange for a ride at the other end.  For a pleasant two-mile excursion, walk the Malley Trail both out and back, and enjoy noticing different things in each direction.

If you begin at the Mill Road boat ramp, follow the trail on stepping-stones and planks through a wooded area that is often wet, especially in spring.  It’s fun for kids and many adults, but if you’re not sure-footed, skip this short section of trail. Instead, park at Veteran’s Freedom Park and pick up the trail where it skirts the park’s field near the water. Then go through the woods to another open area where the bridge is located.

Cross the bridge and enter the woods if you’re walking the entire trail. You’ll soon come to a small peninsula with some large, low tree trunks and branches, a popular place to pause and admire the pond and small nearby islands.  Continuing on the wooded trail, you’ll pass at least two vernal pools and eventually arrive at the Pumphouse Trail.  At that point you can turn back, or go right on the old road to the pumphouse peninsula, or turn left to the Andrews Street parking area, or make two lefts to loop around to the Malley Trail again.

• The Mill Pond boat ramp area is one of the best spots in Westborough to see sunsets.
• The Malley Trail crosses Veterans Freedom Park, with trails around open fields.
• In Veterans Freedom Park, a lovely stone bench (in memory of Josh Nute) is situated with a view of Mill Pond and the Malley Trail.
• In late March and early April, listen for the quacking calls of wood frogs that gather to breed in nearby vernal pools (“spring pools” that often dry up by the end of summer or early fall).
• In April and May, watch for large, dark mourning cloak butterflies flying over the road between the Andrews Street parking area and the sign for the Malley Trail entrance.
• Year-round, look for pointed stumps and trees gnawed by beaver, and for beavers in the water.
• Hunting is allowed on state land, so it is possible to encounter hunters on state-owned portions of the Mill Pond shoreline, especially during the hunting season for waterfowl.  No hunting is allowed on Sundays.