About Cedariver

Explore this former riverside farm along the carriage road loop or enjoy a leisurely paddle on the Charles.

What makes Cedariver a special place?
Cedariver boasts beautiful frontage along the Charles River, and serves as a prime spot for paddlers to land their boats and take a hike. The mile-long cart path loop lets you explore the more than 50 acres of open fields, woodlands, and pristine riverbank. As red-tailed hawk soar above, watch for turkey and deer to appear amid the tall grass and goldenrod, Joe-Pye weed, and Black-eyed Susan.

Situated within a river environment serving both as a wildlife corridor and as part of Army Corps of Engineers’ flood-control efforts, this reservation achieves multiple conservation goals. Its 55 acres add to Millis’ substantial web of protected public land. And, through Cedariver and other nearby reservations, you can explore more than 500 acres of Trustees-protected land along this section of the Charles River.

Trails
Formerly a cart path, the 1-mile loop trail passes through open meadows and oak-pine forest, with access to the Charles River.

When to Visit
Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. Allow a minimum of 1 hour.

Facilities
There is a canoe/kayak landing at Cedariver. Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) boat launch is across the street.

Regulations & Advisories

• Mountain biking is not allowed.
  
  
• Dogs must be leashed at all times.
  
  
• No fires or camping.
  
  
• Deer ticks may carry Lyme disease.

Directions

161 Forest Rd.
Millis, MA 02054
Telephone: 508.785.0339
E-mail: charlesrivervalley@ttor.org

Latitude: 42.1576
Longitude: -71.3351

Get directions on Google Maps.

From Rt. 495: Take Exit 19 to Rt. 109 East. Proceed to Rt. 115 South in Millis center, then take first left onto Forest Rd. Go 1.2 mi., through stop sign, to entrance on right.

From I-95/Rt. 128: From Exit 16B, take Rt. 109 West into Medfield center. Go 0.1 mi. past intersection with Rt. 27, then turn left onto Causeway St. Go 2.4 miles to its end, then turn right onto Orchard St. Go 0.3 mi. and across Charles River to entrance immediately on left.

Admission

When to Visit
Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. Allow a minimum of 1 hour.

Admission
FREE to all

Property History

The Baker family operated a small farm here through the mid-20th century. Polly and Talbot Baker had moved to Millis in 1939 and were soon growing crops and raising livestock. In the 1970s, Polly Baker began her farsighted vision for protecting much of the landscape by placing a conservation restriction on it. Upon Mrs. Baker’s death in 2002 at the age of 94, the property, its two residences, and numerous outbuildings were generously donated to The Trustees.

Property Acquisition History
Cedariver was a gift in 2004 from the family of Polly Baker and her children Nicholas, Talbot, Hope, and Ben.

Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities

Click here to view all ongoing volunteer opportunities available at Cedariver and the rest of our reservations.

One-time Volunteer Opportunities

Conservation and Stewardship

Management Planning for Our Properties
 


Since 1891, The Trustees of Reservations have worked to protect special places in Massachusetts and maintain them to the highest standards. To ensure these standards are met, a program of careful planning and sound management is essential. Comprehensive property management plans are created for each reservation and are completely updated approximately every ten years. We often work with volunteers, property users, and members of the community to carry out this planning, which typically involves several steps:
 


• Describing in detail the site’s natural, scenic, and historical resources; identifying management issues related to the protection of those resources. 

• Describing how visitors use the property; outlining the opportunities that the property provides for people to become involved in the work of conservation and caring for their community.

• Developing a detailed list of management recommendations, a work plan, and a description of financial needs for implementing the actions.

• Developing a prescribed routine management program for the reservation that will guide staff work plans, volunteer involvement, and the allocation of human and financial resources.


View Cedariver management plan.

Maps and Resources

At present, a downloadable trail map is not available for Cedariver.

Planning Your Visit

Before You Go
We encourage you to visit as many Trustees properties as you can.

Wherever your travels take you, please observe all posted regulations, follow special instructions from property staff, and keep in mind the Stewardship Code:

• Protect wildlife and plants.
• Guard against all risk of fire.
• Help keep air and water clean.
• Carry out what you carry in.
• Use marked footpaths and bridle paths.
• Leave livestock, crops, and machinery alone.
• Respect the privacy of neighboring land.
• Enjoy and share the landscape with others.

Click on links below for further visitor information:

Before Setting Out

Enjoying Trustees Reservations

Safety

About Hunting on Trustees of Reservations Land

Tell Us What You Think

We’d love to hear about your visit! Here are three easy ways to let us know what you think:

1. Take our visitor survey. If you have a question for us, you can ask us in the survey and we’ll get back to you.


2. Post a comment about your visit on our Facebook page.


3. Share your experiences with other visitors on our website. Simply fill out the form below, and we’ll post your comment right here on this page.

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