Hilltown Land Trust | Fraser Conservation Area

A person grinning gleefully at a pile of forest duff with a tiny mushroom on it.

Studying mushrooms at Fraser Conservation Area.

Get curious! These 128 acres of woods and wetlands are home to scientific studies on salamanders, vernal pools, beavers, and more. The trails traverse diverse habitat types, bringing you up close and personal with the homes of our regional flora, fauna, and funga¹.

Retired Siena College ecology professor Doug Fraser donated this land to HLT in 2026 after decades of thoughtful stewardship and study.

A group of seven warmly dressed people gathers around a forest floor, laughing together and investigating autumn mushrooms.

A hub for science

Our biodiversity monitoring trainings kicked off right here at Fraser, inspired by Doug’s passion for bringing up the next generation of ecologists.

You can get involved, too!

Join iNaturalist and log your observations
Attend a naturalist training program
Simply visit and observe nature!

Photo: Members of a biodiversity monitoring training at Fraser.

Trails

Trails are currently in the process of being blazed and signed, but are otherwise well trodden and easy to follow. Bring a photo or a copy of the map!

The Main Trail from the trailhead to the Pynchon Road trail is 0.5 mi in one direction.

There are no restrooms or other facilities at this location.

Dog Safety

Dogs on leash are welcome on the trails. Fraser Conservation Area is rich with wildlife, scientific study sites, and sensitive wetlands and habitats. For the safety of your pets as well as the plants and animals that call these hills home, dogs must be on leash during your visit.

Property Guidelines

The trails are open to the public following property guidelines:

Dogs must be leashed at Fraser. Owners must remove pet waste from the property.
Hunting is permitted.
No camping or fires.
No motorized vehicles.
Please respect sensitive habitat and scientific sites, and remain on maintained trails.

Public access is open from dawn until dusk.

Two people walking on a trail past a sea of sunlit ferns and trees.

Trail Map

Trail map of Fraser Conservation Area. Click for a larger version.

Fraser Trail Map

Parking & Directions

The trailhead is located on Antin Road in Chesterfield, MA.

Traveling east on Route 143 from the center of Williamsburg, turn right onto North Street when you reach the center of Chesterfield. Continue 0.9 mi to the four-way stop, then turn right onto Damon Pond Road. In 0.2 mi, turn left onto Pynchon Road, which turns into Bray Road after 0.2 mi. Turn left onto Antin Road and continue until you see signs for trailhead parking on your left.

Please respect our neighbors by obeying posted signage. Parking along the road is not permitted.

Note: Do not rely on Google Maps or GPS for directions! It may try to route you through roads which are discontinued or not maintained.