Hiking in MetroWest Massachusetts in September

Hiking in MetroWest Massachusetts in September is the month locals wait for. The humidity breaks, the beach crowds vanish after Labor Day, the mosquitoes thin out with the first cool nights, and the light turns gold in the late afternoon. The leaves are mostly still green. What changes is that the woods become comfortable again, and the hunting calendar quietly starts.

What September is like

Daylight falls from about thirteen hours to under twelve, and sunset moves from around 7:20 PM to about 6:30 by the equinox at the end of the third week. Mornings can start in the 40s and afternoons reach the 70s, so dress in layers. The first color appears in the swamp maples along wet edges in the last ten days of the month. Peak foliage is an October story.

The guarded swimming season at Hopkinton State Park ends on Labor Day, though DCR keeps charging for parking there until Columbus Day. Ashland State Park closes its gates for the year after the holiday. The Department of Public Health's mosquito risk maps run through October, so the dusk-to-dawn advice still applies on warm evenings.

Hiking in MetroWest Massachusetts in September: views and water

The reservoir after the crowds

The Sudbury Reservoir Trail, about five miles of shoreline across Southborough, is at its most pleasant now: cool air off the water, long light, and far fewer people than in July. Shoreline fishing continues to November 30. DCR's rules for the watershed still apply: no dogs, no bikes, no contact with the water.

Cedar Hill, Northborough

Sudbury Valley Trustees' Cedar Hill and Sawink Farm, about 15 minutes northwest, is an 88-acre drumlin with a big northern field that SVT says is favored by butterflies and birds, and a short, steep climb to a summit view south over Westborough. The connected Sawink Farm loop runs between tall stone walls and spreading wolf trees. The properties link to the 33-mile Boroughs Loop Trail. SVT allows deer hunting here once the season opens in October, so September is the month to walk it without thinking about orange.

Rocky Narrows, Sherborn

The Trustees' Rocky Narrows, about 30 minutes southeast, is 274 acres on the Charles River with seven miles of trails and a two-mile loop to an overlook above hemlock-covered granite cliffs. It is free, open daily sunrise to sunset, and dogs may be off leash if under control. Note that the Trustees authorize seasonal bow hunting here from the first Monday in October through December, which is another reason September is the month to go. Mountain biking is allowed only on designated trails when dry.

Callahan's fields

Callahan State Park, 15 to 20 minutes east on the Framingham and Marlborough line, has seven miles of marked trails over more than 800 acres of fields, ponds and woods, with about 60 acres farmed under permit. The open ground that was too hot in July is ideal now. Dogs are allowed, leashed in the lots, on roads, on the dam and the Foxhunt trail, and off leash only in designated areas. Parking is free.

Garden in the Woods, second act

Garden in the Woods in Framingham, 20 to 25 minutes away, is still open daily in September, and the mile-long loop is quieter than in May. Admission is charged, dogs are not allowed, and the lot holds 42 cars.

Drive times are approximate, from Southborough town center, and vary with traffic, especially on Route 9 and the Mass Pike.

The hunting calendar starts

Two statewide seasons open in the first full week of September. In 2026 the MassWildlife season summary lists black bear from September 7 and gray squirrel from September 8, with archery deer not starting until early October. Whatever the odds of meeting either, the rule from now until the end of February is the same: on land that allows hunting, wear something bright orange and make yourself known. MassWildlife's tips for non-hunters add that hunters are most active at dawn and dusk, and that there is no hunting on Sundays in Massachusetts. Breakneck Hill and Beals Preserve prohibit hunting outright; the Sudbury watershed land allows it only by DCR permit.

Ticks do not care that it is September. The state's tick guidance counts fall among the highest-risk seasons for deer ticks. Long trousers tucked in, repellent, and a daily check.

Back at the house

The first fire of the year usually happens in September at Southborough Garden Retreat, where each living area has a fireplace and the library runs to more than 1,000 books. The reservoir trail is a short walk away, so an early loop needs no car. Jillian, the host, can tell you which hilltops are coloring first. Our fall foliage guide covers the weeks that follow.

Neighbouring months: August and October. For the whole season, see the fall outdoors overview.

Useful links

• Town of Southborough: Sudbury Reservoir Trail
• DCR: Sudbury Reservoir rules
• Sudbury Valley Trustees: Cedar Hill and Sawink Farm
• Sudbury Valley Trustees: Boroughs Loop Trail
• The Trustees: Rocky Narrows
• DCR: Callahan State Park
• DCR: Hopkinton State Park
• Native Plant Trust: Garden in the Woods
• MassWildlife: 2026 hunting season summary
• MassWildlife: safety tips for non-hunters
• Mass. Department of Public Health: tick-borne disease prevention