Smith Farm is a 140-acre protected gem, containing almost all the habitats found in Dartmouth: agricultural farmland, meadows, upland forest, freshwater wetland, wetland forest, ponds, streams and salt marsh. Four walking trails provide a pleasant way to explore Smith Farm’s diverse surroundings. The wetland woods are carpeted with luxuriant growth of various mosses, mounds of sphagnum moss, ferns and innumerable clear pools and rivulets- a paradise for the varieties of frogs, salamanders and turtles. Several well-constructed bridges and boardwalks allow walkers access to the wooded wetlands without wet feet. Another special feature is a large man-made horseshoe-shaped trout pond with clear and deep waters ringed by a narrow trail. Beyond this, the Orange Trail leads to an observation platform overlooking the Nonquitt salt marsh. In 2014, Nonquitt salt marsh hydrology was restored to pre-1930s conditions. Historically the old farm was owned by James Henry Smith, who purchased the property in 1898 and used it for dairy farming until the 1950s.
