For us, the great joys of fall’s arrival are the crisp, cool
nights and the smell in the air. Days in the fall are splendid but nights are
an extra treat to enjoy outdoors. We love stumbling across nighttime events
that allow us to be outdoors, enjoy the cooler weather, and simply be in
nature.
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| The Sholan Farms gazebo was our pre-hike gathering spot. |
Last year we learned of a monthly event called the Twilight Hike series at Sholan Farms in Leominster, MA. Held on the 2nd Friday
of every month, volunteers from the Friends of Sholan Farms provide a guided
hike through the beautiful conservation land that makes up the farm, orchard,
and trails.
The hikes are free of charge, family-friendly, and do not require
pre-registration. They even permit well-behaved, leashed dogs to attend the
hike though none joined on our visit.
Eager to see what the twilight hike was like New England Fall Events checked it out
first-hand on a clear Friday in September.
We had never been to Sholan Farms before at night. We drove
through the pitch-dark back-roads of Leominster climbing in elevation until our
GPS told us we’d arrived—otherwise we’d never known we were there! By then the
sun had already set and the farm was very dark with only a single lamp
illuminating the farm sign. Remote as this area was, there were other cars in
the dark parking lot we’d pulled into so we knew we were in the right place and
the right time.
The hike was to start at 8:00pm and we’d arrived 15 minutes
early as the website requested. On sheer faith, we walked across the street
towards a distant gazebo which appeared to have some light. As we neared the
gazebo it was clear this was the gathering spot. There were about 25 people waiting;
of those, 6 or 7 of them were kids with
the youngest child about age five and the others closer to eight or ten years
old. The crowd held flashlights they’d brought and many carried water bottles.
Some held walking sticks and all wore good walking shoes.
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| Flashlights and moonlight were our only illumination |
Three Sholan Farms volunteers introduced themselves and our designated guide explained the hike would last about an hour and we’d
walk through the edge of the apple orchard, along the reservoir, and onto the
forested trail. The entire Sholan Farms property boats 60 acres of farmland plus
another 100 acres of forest and meadows so we were planning to just get a taste
of the trails.
Off we went across the pitch black orchard under the starry
sky, our flashlights swept across the path we walked on. The initial part of the
hike was a mix of grass and occasional rocky ground and the pace the guide set
was definitely swift.
The hikers spread out naturally with a small cushion between
each group and the kids stayed close to their parents. After about five
minutes, we turned our flashlight off feeling confident that between the
moonlight and the other hikers’ flashlights we could see well and safely enough.
It also allowed our eyes to adjust better to the darkness and begin to notice
the nature around us.
The hikers were a casual group—many we spoke to had been on
several of these hikes before and were local to the area. Most people chatted
throughout the hike but too loudly as to take away from the peaceful time in
nature.
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| Post-hike chatting and warming up by the campfire |
About halfway through the hike we began to climb up a bit
and the flashlight was required to see well. It was a touch steep (not overly
so) and required a more effort to follow the trail as it wound around the trees
into the forest. The guide kept his eyes peeled for wildlife and would occasionally
point out animal tracks but we don’t recall seeing any on our trip. Still, we
heard the beautiful sounds of crickets all around us and stayed on guard for
any eyes peering back at us in our flashlight beam.
Most impressive was how all the kids on our hike were truly
up for the challenge from start to finish, even the youngest ones. We never overheard
any grumbling about distance or speed (even though the pace must have been a bit
challenging with little legs!) and the kids were cheerful and respectful in
their volume too! For the kids, having a flashlight was both an exciting
novelty and a useful safety measure so it was smart that the families thought
to pack a flashlight for each child.
Soon enough, we turned and steered ourselves back towards
the orchard. Upon arriving at the gazebo we were greeted by a fire pit,
marshmallows, hot cocoa, and tea! While we hiked, one of the volunteers had
stayed behind to set up our post-hike fire and snacks. As we toasted
marshmallows on a stick and warmed up with the cocoa, everyone chatted with
their new-found friends about the hike experience. Before long, we said our
farewells to our gracious volunteers and promised ourselves we’d be back again…And
we absolutely will!
Upcoming Twilight Hikes at Sholan Farms
Friday, August 12th, 2016 Click for details
Friday, September 9th, 2016 Click for details
Friday, August 12th, 2016 Click for details
Friday, September 9th, 2016 Click for details
Friday, October 14th, 2016 Click for details
Here's our list of even more night hikes and full moon adventures happening this fall.
Tips for Twilight
Hiking at Sholan Farms
- The hikes are held year-round on the 2nd Friday of the month, weather permitting. In the winter, sometimes they will offer a snowshoe hike or cross-country ski “hikes”! In the winter, they may choose a different location to meet to facilitate the show-shoeing or skiing so always call ahead to verify the location of the hike, especially in the winter or unusual weather.
- If you call ahead, best to call during the daytime hours as nothing looked open during the night hike and you’d likely reach a recording.
- Arrive early—about 15 minutes before the hike begins. It would be difficult to join the hike after the group has left.
- Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome.
- Cocoa and tea are provided after the hike. You are invited to bring your own marshmallows, hot dogs, etc.
- Bring flashlights. Wear good hiking shoes. Dress appropriately for the weather as it is all outdoors.
Tips for Twilight
Hiking with your Family at Sholan Farms
- Bring a flashlight for each child. Dress appropriately for cooler temps.
- As it is dark out, you might find it helpful to dress your child in something white or bright like a hat, scarf, etc to spot them easily.
- This not a stroller-friendly hike.
- Make sure your child is up for the task. It is an hour of walking and there’s no real way to depart early.
- Remind them to use a quiet voice and stay close.
- The pace the guide sets is brisk. All the children on our hike were successful at keeping up. Even if your family is a little behind the hiking guide, it’s easy to find a group of hikers on the trail.
- We recommend having at least as many adults in your group as children you have in tow.
- The youngest child we saw was about 5 and she completed the hike remarkably well but most kids were 8-10 years old (or teens) and this seemed like a reasonable age to feel confident they could keep up and complete the hike. The hike lasts about an hour and starts at 8pm so their energy at that hour should be factored in.
- Bring some goodies to toast in the fire after the hike!
