Weymouth in Norfolk County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Great Esker Park
Elva Road Entrance
| | Back River Trail | |
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 13, 2026
1. Great Esker Park Marker
Welcome to Great Esker Park, 237 acres of uniquely preserved forest and salt marsh along the Weymouth Back River. Great Esker Park is Weymouth's largest open space and features a unique geological landmark known as an esker, a long winding ridge of sediment left after the last glacial retreat 15,000 years ago. At a height of 90 feet, the tallest esker in the park is also considered the tallest esker in North America. Great Esker Park was acquired by the Town in 1965 through the National Park Service's Lands to Parks Program.
Great Esker Park offers 6.3 miles of paved and unpaved trails that connect directly to Osprey Overlook Park in the south and Abigail Adams State Park in the north, forming the backbone of the Back River Trail. The Bridge Street and Eva Road entrances to Great Esker Park were reconstructed in 2020 with funds from the Town of Weymouth Community Preservation Fund and the Massachusetts Recreational Trails Program. This project increased public access to Great Esker Park and formally integrated the park into the Back River Trail.
Erected by Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR).
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Natural Features • Parks & Recreational Areas.
Location.
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Boston. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Weymouths Hidden Gem (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Great Esker Park (approx. half a mile away); Almshouse (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Great Esker Park (approx. 0.7 miles away); Third Almshouse (approx. 0.7 miles away); Abigail Smith Adams (approx. 0.7 miles away); Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, April 13, 1776 (approx. 0.7 miles away); Abigail Adams to John Adams, March-April 1776 (approx. Ύ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Weymouth.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . .
1. Great Esker Park - North & South River Watershed Association.
Weymouths Great Esker Park features a forest-covered gravel ridge and an expansive salt marsh along the Weymouth Back River, with beautiful views of the estuary. There are over 6 miles of paved and unpaved trails, some stroller-friendly. Launch your canoe or kayak at higher tides at the Puritan Road(Submitted on May 18, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)entrance.Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 13, 20262. Great Esker Park Marker
2. Back River Trail - North & South River Watershed Association.
The paved Back River Trail currently (2026) extends along the Back River in Weymouth from Bridge Street (Route 3A) through Great Esker Park and Osprey Overlook Park, for about 2 miles. There are grand plans for its extension!(Submitted on May 18, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)
3. Esker (Wikipedia).
An esker, eskar, eschar, or os, sometimes called an asar, osar, or serpent kame,[1][2] is a long, winding ridge of stratified sand and gravel, examples of which occur in glaciated and formerly glaciated regions of Europe and North America. They are most often formed by the deposition of sediment at the bottom of ice-walled channels within or beneath a former glacier.(Submitted on May 18, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 13, 2026
3. Great Esker Park Marker and path.
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 13, 2026
4. View from the Great Esker
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 13, 2026
5. Salt Marshes Below the Great Esker
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 23, 2026
6. Back River Trail & Esker Guardrails
Some areas of Back River Trail atop the great esker have guard rails for safety to protect pedestrians and cyclists from the steep drops.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 18, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. 6. submitted on May 23, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
