Sanford Farm Trails

Sanford Farm, in Nantucket’s southwest corner, is a beautiful slice of conservation land consisting of a grown in ram pasture, a former dairy farm, and a dense, swampy forest known simply as “The Woods.” There are miles of well-signed trails (combination of dirt, grass, and sand) through this 780 acre property, and they are popular among runners for their scenery, sandy trails, and ocean breezes. The long loop combines all three of Sanford Farm’s main trails — The 1.7 mile Northern Loop, 3.1 mile Barn Walk, and the 6-mile Ocean Walk — for a total of 7 miles. Start out from the trailhead just off Madaket Road and run south towards Hummock Pond. Where the trail forks, bear left towards the pond. You’ll pass the barn (with great views to the south) before entering an area of wetlands that ends in the Ram Pasture. The trail will loop you around Clark Cove before turning inland and splitting again. Turn right to rejoin with the Ocean Walk and return to the parking area.

For a shorter run, start at the other parking lot, off Proprietors Way, and run south in a loop around Nanahuma’s Neck. This 3.5 mile route is especially popular for those running with dogs!