Smooth Hummocks

Graded relatively flat by glacial meltwater running out over the coastal plain to the ocean 75 miles away when the landmass that would become Nantucket was nothing more than a wide, low ridge of sand, gravel and glacial erratics (boulders), Smooth Hummocks is Nantucket’s version of the Midwest’s prairies complete with rare wildflowers and grasses that thrive in sandy, nutrient-poor soil.

These so-called sandplain grasslands number less than 2,000 acres on the planet today and are protected as nesting habitat for Northern harriers, the short-eared owl, studied by botanists, entomologists, used by island students for their ecology coursework and managed with prescribed fire and brush-cutting by the Nantucket Islands Land Bank and the Nantucket Conservation Foundation for plant research and invasive species control. Smooth Hummocks is a fascinating island ecosystem with many things to teach us.

Logging your steps and counting the miles.
If you’re counting your steps with a fitness/activity tracker, this hike offers around 3,500 steps and is 1.7 miles in length.

Hiking fees.
This hike costs $50 for adults and $30 for children under 13. Nantucket Walkabout offers a 20-percent military discount to active and retired military personnel, and their spouses. When booking your hike, please enter the promo code, MILITARYDISCOUNT when prompted to do so. If you’re booking a hike with non-military hikers, please book for yourself or, yourself and your spouse in a separate booking from your friends and family. Also, please present your military ID card to our guide at the time of pick up. Check the Hike Calendar to see when we are hiking the Smooth Hummocks trail and to book it. To arrange for a private hike on this route, call or email us for our rates and to discuss your hiking needs.

Continuing your island discovery!
We encourage you to explore Nantucket on your own! There are more than 15,000 acres open for exploration on land owned by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, the Nantucket Islands Land Bank, the Linda Loring Nature Foundation, the Massachusetts Audubon Society, The Trustees of Reservations and The ’Sconset Trust. After your hike with Nantucket Walkabout, ask your guide for a package of maps from most of these conservation organizations.