Facilities

The Sea to Shining Sea trail is a semi-urban, walking trail that connects two existing trails: Seaside Trail and Pilgrim Trail via sidewalks along the waterfront. Users will experience a host of features include ocean vistas, trails along Town Brook and a wide view of Billington Sea.

The trail begins on Hedge Road. near cordage park and ends at Hathaway Point in Morton Park. The paved sections from Hedge Road. to Lothrop Street. is known as the Seaside Trail; a paved rail trail. Walkers then proceed east on Lothrop Street to Water Street and continue until Brewster Gardens. As the trail moves inland from Brewster Gardens, users will walk the historic Pilgrim Trail that was used by Native Americans to move their camps inland, away from the ocean to relative shelter near Billington Sea during colder months. Once walkers enter Morton Park they will be in the oldest area of protected land in Plymouth, surrounded by towering White Pines and undisturbed upland forest and wetlands. The trail follows Town Brook to the mouth of Billington Sea, and then follows the shoreline of the pond to Hathaway Point.

This trail amazingly crosses Town Brook 5 times, with each time having a steel, wooden, or combination of both, footbridge that each offers unique views of the Brook. Crossings occur at Brewster Gardens, Jenney Pond, the Boy Scout covered bridge, Billington Street, and Morton Park. They are especially scenic during the spring herring migration. Numerous surfaces are encountered as is displayed on the trail map. While walking along all surface streets, sidewalks are available, and crosswalks are utilized.

Parking is available on Hedge Road, numerous locations along the waterfront and downtown, Jenney Park, Newfield Street, Billington Street, and Morton Park. Be advised that Morton Park does require an entry fee between Memorial Day and Labor Day for vehicles. 

The trail is not marked like wooded trials on Conservation lands due to its urban setting. Below is a narrative explaining the route:

Trail Narrative

Beginning at the northern most trailhead off Bourne Street, you will walk southeasterly along the rail-trail. This trail changes between gravel and pavement throughout it's length. As you walk, you'll pass by the Trustee's of Reservations' Holme's Field on your right. Continue along the rail trail and you'll soon approach an entrance to Nelson Park at a cul-de-sac parking area on your left. Stay right on the paved rail trail and continue towards the Nelson Street intersection. Use caution while crossing the Nelson Street. Continue along the rail trail until its end at a small parking area on Lothrop Street. Exit the parking area and turn left onto the Lothrop Street sidewalk and walk down the hill- you'll see the ocean in front of you. Carefully cross the street in front of you- Water Street. Turn right after crossing Water Street and continue along the sidewalk throughout all of the Plymouth Waterfront. You will pass restaurants, Plymouth Harbor, the Mayflower II, and Plymouth Rock. After passing Plymouth Rock, in 500' on the opposite side of the Water Street will be Brewster Gardens. Safely cross and enter the park. Follow the walking path across the footbridge over Town Brook, and keeping the Brook on your right, continue walking upstream. You walk through two overpasses and approach the historic Jenney Grist Mill. With the mill on your right, safely cross Spring Lane, turn left and walk along the sidewalk, with Jenney Pond on your right. Soon thereafter, walk over the long footbridge over the Pond, and across the cul-de-sac at the end of Willard Place. Enter the walking path keeping Town Brook on your right. Safely cross Newfield Street at the top of the hill and walk through the small parking area for the nearby Holmes Park that you can see across the Brook with the skate park and basketball court. Continue along the dirt path with Town Brook on your right- here the brook will be well below you due to a recent dam removal. Continue along this dirt path for approximately 1/2 mile, until reaching a steel gate with a driveway beyond it. Walk around the gate and turn right onto the driveway, heading over a bridge and towards Billington Street. Turn left onto the sidewalk on Billington Street and continue past the Patuxet Preserve and over a steel pedestrian bridge across Town Brook. Continue towards the highway overpass. Before reaching the overpass, safely cross Billington Street and continue left on the sidewalk towards the entrance to Morton Park. Enter the park along the dirt Morton Park Road- there are no sidewalks here so please stay to the side. Continue along the road for approximately 1/4 of a mile. You will pass a cranberry bog on your left, and pass Branches Point Road also on your left. Enter a narrow-wooded path on your left approximately 100 feet after Branches Point Road that descends a small hill- if you cross a small stone vehicle bridge and pass a wooded dirt driveway on your right, you've gone too far. Continue along this trail with Town Brook on your right for approximately 1,000 feet. When you reach the mouth of Billington Sea, cross the wooden footbridge on your right over Town Brook and continue. You'll walk through this path with Billington Sea on your left. Continue past the Billington Sea boat ramp and parking area to the path on the opposite side, still adjacent to the pond. Follow this path for approximately 2/3 of a mile keeping the pond on your left. You'll pass a number of open areas with access to the pond and an old cart path walking trail will be visible occasionally on your right. At the end of this stretch you'll reach an open area that was a former dirt parking area. Continue through the area onto the sandy peninsula- this is Hathway Point and the end of the trail.