HIKING AREA
(click link to visit the park's website)
|
LOCATION |
MANAGED BY |
COST TO VISIT? |
TOTAL MILES OF TRAILS |
DESCRIPTION / NOTES |
APPLETON FARMS |
Hamilton / Ipswich |
The Trustees of Reservation |
a fee is charged |
6 miles |
a beautiful mix of farmlands and woodsy trails; the resevation also connects to other trail systems, including the 230-mile Bay Circuit Trail |
AVIS CONSERVATION LANDS |
Andover |
town of Andover |
free |
30+ miles*** |
there are several excellent conservation properties in the town of Andover, many of which are interconnected; these properties offer some of the finest hiking opportunities on the North Shore |
BALD HILL CONSERVATION AREA |
Boxford |
ECGA |
free |
19 miles** |
connects with Boxford State Forest & Boxford Wildlife Sanctuary to offer a combined 19-miles of trails |
BAY CIRCUIT TRAIL ('BCT') |
various towns/cities |
Varies |
free for most trailheads |
200 miles |
a fantastic and varied 230-plus mile trail that loops around Boston; most hikers use two vehicles to shuttle hike the trail in 8-12 mile segments; see Amazon.com for the AMC's 2015 map & guide to this trail; if you hike the entire trail, you can submit an application to the Appalachian Mountain Club for a free BCT pin |
BEVERLY COMMONS |
Beverly |
ECGA |
free |
13 miles |
a large park for hiking and mountain biking; parking on Stone Ridge Road off Greenwood Ave |
BOXFORD STATE FOREST |
Boxford |
State of MA |
free |
19 miles** |
connects with both the Bald Hill Conservation Area & Boxford Wildlife Sanctuary to offer a combined 19-miles of trails |
BOXFORD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY |
Boxford |
ECGA |
free |
19 miles** |
connects with both the Bald Hill Conservation Area & Boxford State Forest to offer a combined 19-miles of trails |
BRADLEY PALMER STATE PARK |
Topsfield |
State of MA |
free |
20 miles |
can easily be connected with Willowdale State Forest; park also includes a small but extremely popular children's waterpark (fee charged); most trails are shared with equestrians and mountain bikers |
BREAKHEART RESERVATION |
Saugus |
State of MA |
free |
9 miles |
has a nice mix of paved (including a 2.5-mile paved loop) and unpaved hiking trails; the park also has a lake beach with a swimming area |
BROOKSBY FARM |
Peabody |
City of Peabody |
free |
3-4 miles |
farm and conservation property with several miles of trails through woodlands and farmland |
CEDAR POND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY |
Wenham |
Mass Audubon |
free |
3 miles |
a short serious of trails that pass a pond and stone ruins; one trail is designated as an ADA-compliant All Persons Trail |
CHEBACCO WOODS / GORDON COLLEGE |
Hamilton / Wenham |
Chebacco Woods LMC / Gordon College |
free |
5+ miles |
small network of trails that passes through evergreen and deciduous woodlands; the trails also visit several small ponds; one trail connects with Manchester-Essex Woods |
COOLIDGE RESERVATION |
Manchester-by-the-Sea |
The Trustees of Reservation. |
free |
1 mile |
visit Friday-Monday so that you can visit the beautiful Ocean Lawn and a small section of Atlantic Ocean shoreline; Ocean Lawn is a gorgeous spot that should not be missed |
CRANE BEACH |
Ipswich |
The Trustees of Reservation |
a fee is charged |
6+ miles |
trails on and through sand dunes and along a pristine beach (one of Massachusetts' best beaches); beware of ticks, which often run rampant here |
DANVERS RAIL TRAIL |
Danvers |
Varies |
free |
10+ miles* |
part of a continuous 10-plus mile unpaved rail trail between Peabody and Topsfield; excellent for walking, hiking, running, and mountain biking (hybrid and e-bikes are OK too since the dirt ground is well-maintained); don't miss the 0.3 mile 'Swamp Walk' spur connector trail |
DANVERS TOWN FOREST |
Danvers |
Town of Danvers |
free |
3 miles |
surprisingly hilly and sometimes rough terrain; the lightly-used trails here can be a little tough to follow in spots, but it wasn't too bad when we last went in 2020 |
DOGTOWN |
Gloucester |
city of Gloucester |
free |
15+ miles |
arguably the best hiking on Cape Ann; don't miss the Whale's Jaw or the famous carved Babson Boulders (more than 30 boulders with words of advice and inspiration carved into them); this park is extremely large, and so a good map is highly recommended to avoid getting lost; search Google Images to find several maps that show the Babson Boulders |
GEORGETOWN-ROWLEY STATE FOREST |
Georgetown / Rowley |
State of MA |
free |
15+ miles |
offers a variety of hiking trails on both sides of interstate highway I-95; a map is essential for this huge state forest |
HALIBUT POINT STATE PARK |
Rockport |
State of MA |
a fee is charged |
2 miles |
a 2-mile loop passes old granite quarries and passes beautiful views of the rocky Cape Ann coastline; finding a parking spot can be near impossible on summer weekends (employees or local police will divert you away if the parking lot is full, which it often is) |
HAROLD PARKER STATE FOREST |
North Andover |
State of MA |
free |
35+ miles |
offers a mix of paved and unpaved trails, several of which pass by several peaceful ponds; the state forest also offers a campground and some of the best mountain biking trails on the North Shore |
INDEPENDENCE GREENWAY |
Peabody |
City of Peabody |
free |
8 miles |
this paved path is made up of three separate segments; two sections are completely paved, and one is unpaved; most of this trail is good for walking/hiking, biking and roller-blading; you can connect this with the Danvers Rail Trail fairly easily by riding on Lowell Street |
IPSWICH RIVER WILDLIFE SANCTUARY |
Topsfield |
Mass Audubon |
a fee is charged |
12+ miles |
trails that pass wetlands and marshes; don't miss the grotto-like setting found along the Rockery Trail; this is an excellent birding spot (I've seen owls here) |
J. C. PHILLIPS NATURE PRESERVE |
Beverly / Wenham |
city of Beverly |
free |
2.5 miles |
includes a nice 1.5 mile loop, plus diversions to nice lake views and historic ruins; an excellent place for trail running; the park now has some trails that connect to the relatively new Moraine Farm Reservation |
LAKE QUNNAPOWITT |
Wakefield |
city of Wakefield |
free |
3.1 mile loop |
not hiking per-se, but don't miss the lovely (paved) walk around this popular lake; easy access from I-95/MA 128; you may not be able to avoid eating's at Fred's Franks food truck and/or the Gingerbread Construction Company after your walk is over though |
LOWELL-DRACUT-TYNGSBORO STATE FOREST |
Lowell / Dracut / Tyngsboro |
State of MA |
free |
6 miles |
hiking and mountain biking trails that pass ponds, swamps, and wetlands |
LYNN WOODS RESERVATION |
Lynn |
city of Lynn |
free |
30 miles |
this is one of the premier hiking and mountain biking destinations in eastern Massachusetts, offering outstanding fire roads and varied hiking paths; great views of Boston from a historic tall stone tower (when it's open to the public); bring a flashlight in case you find 'Dungeon Rock' (a cave that is often (but not always) open on Saturdays); don't let the fact that this park is in Lynn turn you off-it is a fantastic park and urban areas all over the country should be jealous of its quality and size |
MANCHESTER-ESSEX WOODS |
Manchester / Essex |
MECT |
free |
10+ miles |
hike around swamps, past vernal pools, and through pretty woods; the MECT organization sells a highly recommended and well-detailed trail map; there are several trailheads for this park; can be connected with the trails of Chebacco Woods / Gordon College |
MARBLEHEAD RAIL TRAIL |
Salem / Marblehead |
city of Salem / Marblehead |
free |
4.1 miles |
this rail trail offers a mix of paved and unpaved surfaces; you can easily extend beyond the trail to explore parts of Marblehead (including a beach) |
MAUDSLAY STATE PARK |
Newburyport |
State of MA |
free |
15+ miles |
Maudslay has a mix of hiking trails and old carriage roads; views of the Merrimack River; bald eagle sightings are fairly common in winter |
MIDDLESEX FELLS RESERVATION |
various towns/cities |
State of MA |
free |
100+ miles |
one of the premier hiking destinations in eastern Massachusetts; don't miss the rugged 7-mile Skyline Trail (a loop) and the Rock Circuit Trail; there are several rocky outlooks in the park that offer good views of Boston; lots of dogs here |
MONOLITHS, THE |
Manchester-by-the-Sea |
The Trustees of Reservation |
free |
1.5 miles |
a short but semi-steep loop trail visits a large glacial erratic sitting on a hill from the last Ice Age; additional trails head east from the loop trail; it is recommended that you avoid these trails after heavy rains as they get very muddy and pools develop |
MORAINE FARM |
Beverly |
The Trustees of Reservation |
free |
4 miles |
a network of hiking paths and carriage roads on the shores of Wenham Lake; connects to the trails of J.C. Phillips Nature Preserve |
OLD TOWN HILL |
Newbury |
The Trustees of Reservation |
free |
3 miles |
views of a salt marsh, open fields and woodlands; views of Plum Island are good, especially in fall and winter when the leaves are down; this hill is part of the Bay Circuit Trail |
PARKER RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE |
Newburyport |
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service |
a fee is charged |
3 miles |
one of the premier birding sites in the Northeast; several short hikes plus opportunity to walk for miles on uncrowded beach (when its open); don't miss the boardwalk and fire-tower lookouts; snowy owls in winter |
RAVENSWOOD PARK |
Gloucester |
The Trustees of Reservation |
free |
10+ miles |
lovely hiking trails plus some boardwalks and several old carriage roads; some limited views of the Atlantic Ocean |
TOPSFIELD LINEAR COMMON RAIL TRAIL |
Topsfield |
town of Topsfield |
free |
10+ miles* |
part of a continuous 10+ mile unpaved rail trail between Peabody and Topsfield; excellent for walking, hiking, running and mountain biking (hybrid bikes are OK too) |
WARD RESERVATION |
Andover |
The Trustees of Reservation |
a fee is charged |
10+ miles |
highlights include rolling farmlands, and interesting stones and great views of Boston from atop Holt Hill; another trail that stems from the parking lot on Prospect Road visits a bog; one of the finest natural areas in the region |
WEIR HILL RESERVATION |
North Andover |
The Trustees of Reservation |
free |
4 miles |
includes a popular and pleasant 2.5 mile loop |
WENHAM RAIL TRAIL |
Wenham |
town of Wenham |
free |
10+ miles* |
part of a continuous 10+ mile unpaved rail trail between Peabody and Topsfield; excellent for walking, hiking, running and mountain biking (hybrid bikes are OK too) |
WILLOWDALE STATE FOREST |
Ipswich |
State of MA |
free |
40+ miles |
extensive trail system that is popular with hikers and mountain bikers; can easily be connected with Bradley Palmer State Park |
WINNEKENNI PARK |
Haverhill |
Winnekenni Castle |
free |
9 miles |
trails surrounding a historic castle and along the shoreline of a lake |