Middlesex Fells: a woodland walk north of Boston

A loop in the woods, a few miles from Boston. A walk of about 12 km (with 170 m of ups and downs) through the Middlesex Fells Reservation, a public park of more than 2,200 acres (890 ha) in Medford, Winchester, Stoneham, Melrose and Malden, about 10 km north of downtown Boston. The park is made of rocky, wooded hills around old reservoirs and ponds and is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. It has about 100 miles of trails and is part of the Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston, one of the first regional park systems in the United States.

What you see. Oak and pine woods, granite outcrops, and views over the South and Middle Reservoirs and Wright’s Pond. On clear days, from some of the hills the Boston skyline appears on the horizon. In October the maples turn red.

Good to know. The trails are rocky and can be muddy: wear sturdy shoes. Dogs are welcome but must be kept under control around the reservoirs. The paths are shared with mountain bikers and trail runners. Parking is free on most of the park’s lots, but they fill up on sunny weekends.

Picture: Between the South and Middle Reservoirs, Middlesex Fells, Melikamp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.