Reflect on Healing in Nature at Attleboro Springs

Located in southeastern Massachusetts, the Attleboro Springs All Persons Trail is a fun and accessible exploration. This Massachusetts Audubon property has a special contemplative focus as it is just behind the national Catholic shrine known as Our Lady of La Salette. Here, along Brothers Pond, you can reflect on whatever needs your spiritual attention, or simply enjoy the nature of the place. This trail is also called the "Reflection Trail" and is on the grounds of a former healing sanitarium - a place devoted to healing conditions that cause suffering, often using the power of nature to support this process. 

The Reflection Trail is a half mile loop on level ground, with a six foot wide stone dust trail and several interesting stops along the way. It is almost entirely forested with a mix of oak and pine. Many trees are quite tall and in one spot along this trail you will likely notice a huge oak that has been blown down. After the pondside section near the beginning, you pass through a vernal pool - a seasonal pool often filled with water in spring and fall but typically dry in the summer, as it is now in our present drought conditions. There is an interesting side trail to an outcropping of puddingstone, as well as one into a circle of oaks. Puddingstone, said to resemble English plum pudding, was formed a billion years ago in northeastern Canada and delivered by glacier to this spot as well as other locations in New England. I learned this from the audio tour available for this trail.

The entire loop is a sensory trail, designed to include people with visual impairments in navigation and learning. Design elements such as a guide rope and audio tour enhance the trail experience for anyone who chooses to use them. Tactile and audio opportunities are emphasized at various stops. You can call a number advertised on site for the audio tour or download the audio tour before you go here. There is a beautiful large informative kiosk at the start of the trail, but little textual signage on the loop. I appreciate this less intrusive visual approach to offering information along the way. The tour is also available as a text booklet here.

I love the maps created by Mass Audubon. They are beautiful representations of the landscape. It is mainly the Reflection Trail that is highlighted on the kiosk map. You might choose to download a trail map for the whole property, which offers more hiking options, before you go as there are no paper maps on site.

For those looking to walk further and who are up for relatively easy to challenging hiking on the easier side, I highly recommend jotting down some key info to have on the trail. Blue dots lead you along trails and yellow dots lead you back to the parking area - valuable knowledge to keep straight if you choose to explore further.  

On other trails you will encounter low roots and rocks and moderate to substantial grades in places. The fairly flat Oak Forest Loop begins and ends on the Reflection Trail, which makes it the easiest option. It adds 3/4 of a mile or more to your hike. Half of it is very easy level walking, the other half has intermittent sections with lots of low roots criss- crossing the trail and some other trickier footing including a step on a bridge. You'll want to pay attention at one trail junction to make sure you stay on the loop. 

If you venture off the Reflection Trail in the other direction towards the meadow, you will find more rugged terrain and evidence of many "blow-downs"- fallen trees with exposed root systems that have been cut away from the trail. It is on this excursion that you'll find the most signficant grades.

You can locate Mass Audubon's Attleboro Springs Reflection Trail using 947 Park Street in Attleboro. Once you enter the boulevard for Our Lady of La Salette, continue straight to the end and park near the gate. There are no restrooms at the trailhead, but you can use restrooms at the Welcome Center at the shrine - just turn into the large parking lot off the boulevard and the Welcome Center will be obvious. Mass Audubon signage is reassuring as you approach the gate - otherwise you might feel you are straying onto private property. A short distance down the trail will bring you to an accessible pavilion and the start of the Reflection Trail.

For safe visitation during the pandemic, please follow Mass Audubon's guidelines:

Before You Visit

• Stay local—look for an open sanctuary in your community or neighborhood.
• Print or download a trail map at home—there will be no paper maps on site.
• Pack a mask/face covering and hand sanitizer.

Upon Arriving

• If the parking lot is full, please come back another time.
• Park only in designated areas; do not park on the road, in fields not designated for parking, or on our neighbors' properties.
• Wear or bring your mask with you; wear it if you see other visitors nearby.
• Do not gather in groups of people outside of your household.
• Keep at least 6 feet apart from staff and other visitors.
• Avoid high-touch surfaces such as benches, picnic tables, and Nature Play Areas.

On the Trails

• Wear a mask if there are other visitors nearby.
• Be sure to stay at least 6 feet apart from others.
• Step aside to allow others to pass.
• Keep visits short.