iNaturalist Observation Walks Saturday April 25, 1:00 – 2:30 pm Sunday April 26, 12:00 – 1:30 pm
2026-04-25 13:00 - 14:30 UTC | Estabrook School, 117 Grove Street, Lexington, United States
April 24-27 is City Nature Challenge , an international event, motivating people around the world to find and document wildlife in their own cities. Join one or both walks, offered in collaboration with Lexington Living Landscapes.
The walks are an opportunity to learn to use iNaturalist to observe and share biodiversity information in Lexington’s conservation land and to participate in this year’s iNaturalist is an online social network of people who care about biodiversity and want to contribute to knowledge and learn from each other. So far, people in Lexington have made over 30,000 observations comprising over 2,100 species of plants, birds, bugs, fungi, etc. in iNaturalist!
Please download the iNaturalist app to your phone (iPhone or Android) and create an account before you arrive. Come even if you don’t intend to make official observations yourself; help us find plants and animals to record, and see how the process works.
Online iNaturalist Tutorial for the City Nature Challenge
Thursday, April 23, 7:00 pm
Join us as Lexington resident and iNaturalist expert Barbara Katzenberg walks us through how to use iNaturalist. Before the session, please download the iNaturalist app to your phone and create an iNaturalist account. Also have a sprig handy of something with leaves to practice on (a conifer or evergreen broadleaved plant like holly).
Register for the Zoom link here.
iNaturalist Observation Walk at Paint Mine
Saturday April 25, 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Meet in the Estabrook School parking lot. Heavy rain cancels. No dogs except certified service dogs.
Leader: Evan Paige – epaige@lexingtonma.gov
iNaturalist Observation Walk at Dunback Meadow
Sunday April 26, 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Meet at the Allen Street entrance to Dunback Meadow. Parking is available on Allen Street. Heavy rain cancels. No dogs except certified service dogs.
Leader: Barbara Katzenberg – barbara.katzenberg@lexingtontmma.org

Willard’s Woods: A Brief Journey Through a 12,000 Year-old Landscape, Sunday May 3, 2pm
2026-05-03 14:00 | Willards Woods, 44 North Street, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
By popular demand, Jeff Howry, Ph.D., a Lexington historian and archaeologist will lead another walk exploring Willard’s Woods. The area presents many examples of how our New England landscape was shaped by nature and occupied by humans. The tour will show participants many of the features of the 100 acres that tell stories of what has happened in the past 12,000 years. Not seen before imagery of the historic landscape will be presented.
Posters and artifacts will supplement the narrative as we explore the various terrains and historic areas within the conservation area. Participants will particularly come to appreciate the historic landscape and what it tells us about our colonial forbearers’ lives.
Wear long pants with closure straps, hiking footgear and weather-proof clothing. Meet in the main parking lot on North Street opposite 44 North Street.
Registration required, limited to 30 participants. Register here
Changes/cancellations will be emailed to participants
Guide: Dr. Jeff Howry

Spring Birding at Lower Vine Brook
2026-05-09 07:30 - 09:00 | Lower Vine Brook, 93 Vine Street, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
Saturday May 9, 7:30 – 9:00 am
Rain Date: Sunday May 10, 7:30 – 9:00 am
Lower Vine Brook can be a fantastic area to see warblers, beautiful small tropical birds
that migrate north at this time of year. They will eventually reach the forests of northern
New England and Canada to breed, but if weather and foliage are right, you may see a
dozen species here in a single morning. Dress for the weather (boots if it’s wet) and bring
binoculars and a bird ID book, or app. Children with adults are welcome. No dogs please.
Meet at the entrance to Lower Vine Brook conservation area opposite 93 Vine St.
Rain or lightning will cancel the event; if conditions are uncertain, please call the walk
leader.
Leader: Harry West – 617-461-9500, hwest2020@gmail.com

Geology and More at Whipple Hill
2026-05-16 13:00 - 14:30 | Whipple Hill, Winchester Drive, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
Saturday May 16, 1-2:30pm
Whipple Hill Conservation Area features Lexington’s highest point, topping out at 374 feet above Boston Harbor. Whipple Hill is also home to fascinating remnants of the last glacier to cover the area some 10,000 years ago. The walk up and down the trails will include stopping at a vernal pool and observing typical New England woodland plants, some in bloom.
Meet at the Winchester Drive entrance, 196 Johnson Rd Winchester, MA 01890. Parking is available on Berkshire Drive off Winchester Drive, across the street from the entrance.
Heavy rain or lightning cancels.
Leader: Fran Ludwig – fludwig12@yahoo.com, 617-686-8442

Explore Hayden Woods Sunday May 17, 2:00-3:30 pm
2026-05-17 14:00 - 15:30 | Valleyfield Street, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
Walk the longest boardwalk in Lexington to the center of Hayden Woods, then loop through varied terrain including a large vernal pool, Old Shade Street (1660), and the mystery stone bench. About two miles total. Mostly level, but a few gentle slopes.
Meet at the trailhead at 77 Valleyfield Street. Park on the street. We will start walking at 2 pm sharp, rain or shine.
Leader: Bob Hausslein rhausslein@rcn.com. 781-862-9102

Wild Edibles of Lexington’s Waysides Tuesday May 19, 6-8 pm
2026-05-19 18:00 - 20:00 | Worthen Road, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
Once again, CLC is delighted to have Russ Cohen return for another walk to teach us about wild edible plants! Lexington is home to over 70 species of edible wild plants, both native and non-native, including plants considered to be weedy or invasive. Some are more nutritious and/or flavorful than their cultivated counterparts. Join Russ Cohen, expert forager and author of Wild Plants I Have Known…and Eaten, on a two-hour ramble in and around Lincoln Park to learn about at least eighteen edible species. Russ will present information on identification tips, edible portion(s), season(s) of availability and preparation methods, as well as general guidelines for safe and environmentally-responsible foraging.
Meet at the Fitness Trail entrance at the crosswalk on Worthen Road across from the Lexington High playing fields.
Steady rain cancels.
Leader: Russ Cohen – 781-646-7489, eatwild@rcn.com

Spring Goat Pasture Walk at Chiesa Farm Sunday May 24, 12-2 pm Rain date: Monday May 25, 12-2 pm
2026-05-24 12:00 - 14:00 | Diamond Middle School, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
Come join the local Lexington goats for their daily pasture walk through the fields and woodlands at Chiesa Farm. Each season the land provides them with diverse plant life. The goats are very specific to what they need to eat depending on many factors. We will have two Lexington herds, totaling over a dozen adult female dairy goats, and a few youngsters. Learn how the goats in our town are working to keep the invasive plants from taking over. All adults and children are welcome.
Parking is at Diamond Middle School or Fiske Elementary School parking lots. Meet us in the pasture.
Check out the new children’s book about the Lexington herds and their adventures at pasture: www.goodwinhillgoats.com
Guides: Halé Sofia Schatz and Laurene Beaudette – laurene@iwebinsight.com

ACROSS Lexington Route Q Saturday May 30, 10am Rain date: Sunday May 31, 10am
2026-05-30 10:00 | Worthen Road East, Worthen Road East, Lexington, MA, USA, 02421, United States
Join this walk to discover ACROSS Lexington Route Q. This approximately 3 mile loop is the newest ACROSS Lexington Route. The walk will take approximately one hour. It goes through residential streets, and several conservation areas and includes a new path through Bowman Park. The walk is not suitable for walkers, strollers or baby carriages. Wear comfortable clothing and walking footwear.
Meet at the intersection of Worthen Road East and Philip Road. Parking available on the street.
Leader: Miriam Boucher – 781-248-6695, mdcb16@verizon.net

Fauna and Flora of Arlington’s Great Meadow Saturday June 6, 1:00-3:00 pm
2026-06-06 13:00 - 15:00 | End Emerson Gardens Road
AGM features meadows, wetlands, and woods within its borders. Over 675 trees, plants, insects, mammals and more have been documented on iNaturalist to date. We’ll share observations and insights of AGM’s natural communities, a changing mixture of native and introduced organisms, with a focus on taking a closer look at wildflowers and insects.
Wear long pants and have bug repellent in reserve, bring magnifiers if you have them.
Meet at the end of Emerson Gardens Rd. off Maple St. in Lexington.
Public parking is available just past the entrance to Lexington Meadow townhomes. Use Emerson Gardens Rd for overflow parking.
More than light rain cancels.
Leader: Andrea Golden – andgold@comcast.net

ACROSS Lexington Routes C and J Saturday June 13, 1pm
2026-06-13 13:00 | Bow Street, Lexington
This walk will join two routes by eliminating a long stretch along the Minuteman Bike Path. This will result in a loop walk of about 3.2 miles. We will go through three conservation areas: Cataldo Reservation, Arlington’s Great Meadows, and Liberty Heights. Wear comfortable clothing, walking footwear, and bring water if it is hot.
Meet in the parking lot next to the Minuteman Bike Path off Bow Street. Rain or shine unless there is thunder or lightening.
Leader: Ruth Ladd 781-956-6774, wetlandmom@gmail.com
