Frank Knowles Little River Reserve

On the same day I saw the daffodils at Parsons Reserve, I went down the road to Frank Knowles Little River Reserve in Dartmouth, MA. The 194 acres of the preserve, now with 9 miles of trails, were purchased by Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust (DNRT) across four parcels between 1996 and 2010. The first of these parcels was donated by Audrey M. Gillum, who served as Trustee of the Ellen Knowles Jackmen Trust. Despite the name in the title, DNRT provides no information about the man on their website. I speculate that Ellen Knowles Jackman, who was buried at Maple Grove Cemetery of Westport, MA in 1994, was the daughter of Frank Knowles, as many other women have donated their inherited properties to New England preservation organizations. After the 1967 death of her husband, Charles William Jackman, she lived at 573 Potomska Road, a quarter mile from the current preserve entrance.

A wooden boardwalk cutting through a grassy area with trees at the end A wooden path cutting through the trees A basement dug into the ground and lined with stone now surrounded by grass.

Information on the Little River was as tricky to come by, as many rivers in Massachusetts have received this name. This Little River flows into Buzzards Bay at Potomska Point. The Buzzards Bay Coalition tests this river and others in the watershed to assess the health of the environment. Unfortunately, according to a sign near the entrance of the reserve, Little River is in poor health, scoring 32 out of 100 due to severe pollution from nitrogen. The health of the river has improved from its worst year in 1994, when it scored 19, although it is far below its best score of 41 from 2008. To heal the river, the Coalition suggests encouraging the town to improve wastewater treatment, upgrade the town septic system, and (of course) join their organization. Supporters can even buy a fun license plate featuring a right whale, a brook trout, a striped bass, or a mill from the Blackstone Valley, which provides funds for the Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET) to improve watery ecosystems.

Crumbling stone walls of a basement with grass growing at the center View from inside a ruined stone basement with grass growing in the center A stone basement with brambles in the center.

As for the preserve itself, there are two highlights to the trip. First, for the history buffs, the ruins of stone walls and building foundations are scattered across the former fields. These are safe to explore and take pictures, provided that one stays on the designated trail. Second, the Boardwalk Trail features long wooden trails snaking through marshlands near the Little River. Since I visited in early spring, the grasses were golden brown. However, during the late spring through fall, they become green.

Jagged corner of a stone wall overgrown with leafless trees. A curving wooden path turns left and right over a grassy wetland A curving boardwalk turns left and right among leafless trees.

The reserve is open from dawn to dusk every day of the year and is free to all. Parking is available at the small, unpaved lot near the trailhead. Hunting, fishing mountain biking, horseback riding, flying drones, and a fairly long list of other activities are not permitted on the property, although well-trained dogs are allowed. Navigating the trails might be slightly confusing to first time visitors, especially those not great with maps, as trail intersections are not always clearly marked. This visit was an overall enjoyable experience, and I look forward to returning in the future to explore this spot and other DNRT properties.

A wooden pathway bends to the left atop golden grasses The pale sun is covered by grey clouds. In the foreground are leafless trees. A wooden kiosk with a small roof and information about Frank Knowles Little River Reserve, including a map, rules, and notices.
Location: DNRT Frank Knowles/Little River Reserve, Potomska Rd, Dartmouth, MA 02748, USA