Called “ye wilderness” on old Dedham maps, Wilson Mountain Reservation is 207 acres of wild and varied terrain. The property was purchased by the Metropolitan District Commission in 1994 now managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). A deed search traced ownership of the property back to John Wilson in 1742. Wilson, a farmer and the property namesake, probably used the land to harvest trees and graze livestock. Too hilly in some parts and too wet in others to build or actively farm, Wilson Mountain today is an interlocking puzzle of habitats for a wide variety of animals and plants.
Time has buffered the human impact on Wilson Mountain Reservation. The casual visitor will have to look closely to see the old carriage roads, stone wall remnants and trail culverts which indicate that people have changed the land to suit their needs. Planted to enhance the landscape long ago, large tangled thickets of rhododendrons still grow on a hillside and surround a pool along Meadow Path.
Wilson Mountain is the highest point in Dedham at 295 feet. While not a true mountain, it does provide hilltop views of the surrounding area. Receding glaciers 10,000 - 15,000 years ago polished the hill, exposing granite bedrock which is visible at the summit. The varied greens of lichens, mosses and common polypody ferns color the forest floor.
