Gravel carriage road at World’s End, part of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

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World’s End Main Page

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The gravel roads at World’s End, one of the mainland-based parks within Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, are open to hikers and bikers. There are no paved trails, so bikes need to be of the mountain bike variety due to the gravel surface. There are also some traditional earthen trails, but these are for hikers only. I rode my bike throughout the park and had to push it on the hiking trails, not only because of the rules, but also because these are often too narrow to ride on, and there’s no way to go around the many hikers I encountered.

Traditional hiking trail in the Rocky Neck area of World’s End, part of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

There are approximately 4.5 mile’s worth of official trails within World’s End: 4 miles of gravel roads and a half mile of hiking trails. There are also many hiking trails that are not shown on the map. Most of these are unofficial paths that have been blazed by visitors to reach areas such as the shore. Things can often get confusing, even with a map, but it’s a small peninsula, so you can’t stay lost forever.

Unmapped trail at World’s End leads to the shore, Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

There is a fee to enter World’s End for non-members, and with this fee you get a trail map. In most of my trail reviews I give a suggested route, but I’m not going to do that here. The trail map gives distances between intersections, so I leave it up to you to figure out a route that suits your time and the distance you want to cover. I will, however, give you some tips about the trails. You can download a copy of the map from the World’s End website.

First off, I must divide the park into sections for the purpose of discussion. I will define the South section as the southwest area of the park that includes the land west of Damde Meadows up to The Bar, with the eastern boundary being Barnes Road. The East section is the area east of Damede Meadows that includes Weir River Road and the Rocky Neck area. The third section is World’s End—not to be confused with the park name—the land mass north of The Bar. (The Bar is the connector between the South section and World’s End.)

World’s End map (click to enlarge)

Most of the trails in the park, regardless of where you go, have some shade. Those that do not run through a forested area have tall trees on either side. The landscape of the South section and World’s End was designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted in the late 1800s as part of a planned residential development. However, only the carriage roads were ever built. I’m guessing he had the trees planted alongside the road to create shaded avenues. The only wide open hiking area is the short trip across The Bar.

Shade trees along a carriage road at World’s End, part of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

Just about everyone who visits World’s End comes for the trails. Since most of them are gravel roads, this is not a true hiking destination, just a place where people can come to jog, take a relaxing strolls with friends and family, take the baby for a ride in the carriage, or spend time alone thinking. If this is what you are looking for, stick to the gravel roads of the South section and World’s End. The terrain is hilly, but the paths are wide and free of roots and rocks that can trip you up if you are not looking.

Jogging at World’s End, part of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

World’s End is definitely hillier than the South section, though neither is like hiking in the mountains. I saw people of all ages and sizes walking in the park, so unless you are in a wheelchair or need a walker—no trails are handicap accessible—you can make your way around. I rode my bike, and while I often had to stand up and peddle to put some oomph into it, I never had to get off and push my bike up a hill.

You will also find grassy trails within the South section and World’s End. Lawn mowers cut large swaths of grassy paths at various locations, some leading down to the shore and others creating shortcuts from one side of a carriage road loop to the other. There are deer on the island, and thus ticks, but I did not have any problems with them even when on the mowed grass paths. I do suggest staying on the trails and avoiding any areas of unkempt vegetation.

Mowed grass path at World’s End, part of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

Deer can be found in abundance at World’s End, part of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

For those looking for a more traditional hiking experience, the East section is the place to go. It is completely forested and appears to have been left natural from the start. The road that leads to the area, the Weir River Road, is a gravel carriage road, and there are some gravel roads open to bikes, but once you get into the Rocky Neck area most of the trails are earthen and open to hikers only. I biked to the area had to push my bike whenever traveling on the hiking trails, and therefore suggest that if you come to the East section that you come on foot. There are also many trails in this area that are not on the map, and it is in this section that I found myself often confused as to which way to go. But like I said, the place is small, so you can’t stay lost forever.

Wooded eastern section of World’s End, part of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

Hiking trail in the Rocky Neck area of World’s End, part of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

The trails along the west side of Rocky Neck overlook a cove that is extremely popular with boaters. On the weekend I visited, the cove was one big Party City. The trails run from water level to high above the cove on a cliff. Some of the trails are extremely steep and rocky.

Steep and rocky trail leads up to the cliffs at the Rocky Neck section of World’s End, part of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

View of the cove from the cliffs at the Rocky Neck section of World’s End, part of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

Water’s edge view of the boats in the cove next to the Rocky Neck section of World’s End, part of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

I found the trails at all sections of World’s End to be enjoyable. However, the park is not a tourist destination and is mainly used by the residents of Hingham. Tourists to the Boston area, if they venture far from the Freedom Trail of Boston National Historical Park, are more likely to find the island destinations at Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area more to their liking.

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