HIKING TRAILS NORTH OF BOSTON

shoreline at the Coolidge Reservation, Manchester By The Sea

Welcome to the Newenglandwaterfalls.com guide to hiking trails of the North Shore region of Massachusetts!

Although the North Shore of Massachusetts lacks any noteworthy mountains, there are hundreds of miles of trails that can lead you to hillside vistas, past salt marshes and vernal pools, through farmland, and along the shorelines of quiet ponds. One of the most attractive things about hiking in this region is an almost complete lack of crowds-it's not uncommon to hike for many miles on a beautiful weekend day and see few, if any, other people. And did I mention that most parks in this area are completely free to enjoy?

If your plan is to hike or explore the North Shore area of Massachusetts, I highly recommend picking up a copy of the latest edition of these long-trusted and excellent guidebooks: 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Boston (2nd edition) and AMC's Best Day Hikes Near Boston (4th edition). These two guidebooks offer detailed instructions and maps to nearly all of the areas listed below.

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MAP #	HIKING AREA (click link to visit the park's website)	LOCATION	MANAGED BY	COST TO VISIT?	TOTAL MILES OF TRAILS	DESCRIPTION / NOTES
1	AGASSIZ ROCK / THE MONOLITHS	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
2	APPLETON FARMS	Hamilton / Ipswich	The Trustees of Reservation	a fee is charged	6 miles	beautiful mix of farmlands and woodsy trails; connects to other trail systems, including the 200-mile Bay Circuit Trail
3	AVIS CONSERVATION LANDS	Andover	town of Andover	free	30+ miles***	there are several excellent conservation properties in the town of Andover, and many of which are interconnected; these lands offer some of the finest hiking opportunities on the North Shore
4	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
5	BAY CIRCUIT TRAIL ("BCT")	various towns/cities	Varies	free	200 miles	a fantastic and varied 230+ mile trail that loops around Boston; most will use two vehicles at a time and hike it 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
6	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
7	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
8	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
9	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
10	BROOKSBY FARM	Peabody	City of Peabody	free	3-4 miles	farm and conservation property with several miles of trails through woodlands and farmland
11	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
12	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
13	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 can run rampant here
14	DANVERS RAIL TRAIL	Danvers	Varies	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 since the dirt ground is well-maintained); don't miss the 0.3 mile 'Swamp Walk' spur trail, which arcs the trail and connects to it twice
n/a - not on map	DANVERS TOWN FOREST	Danvers	Town of Danvers	free	3 miles	surprisingly hilly, and sometimes rough terrain; can be a little tough to follow in spots, but it wasn't too bad when we last went in 2020; very lightly used
15	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 so that you don't get lost; you can find several maps online as to where to find the Babson Boulders
16	GEORGETOWN-ROWLEY STATE FOREST	Georgetown / Rowley	State of MA	free	15+ miles	offers a variety of hiking trails on both sides of the I-95 interstate; make sure you bring a map as getting lost in this huge state forest is rather easy
17	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)
18	HAROLD PARKER STATE FOREST	North Andover	State of MA	free	35+ miles	mix of paved and unpaved trails; passes by several peaceful ponds; the state forest also offers a campground and mountain biking trails
19	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
20	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)
21	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
22	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
23	LOWELL-DRACUT-TYNGSBORO STATE FOREST	Lowell / Dracut / Tyngsboro	State of MA	free	6 miles	hiking and mountain biking trails past ponds, swamps, and wetlands
24	LYNN WOODS RESERVATION	Lynn	city of Lynn	free	30 miles	this is one of the premier hiking destinations in eastern Massachusetts with outstanding fire roads and 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
25	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
26	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)
27	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
28	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
29	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
30	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
31	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
32	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)
33	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
34	WEIR HILL RESERVATION	North Andover	The Trustees of Reservation	free	4 miles	includes a popular and pleasant 2.5 mile loop
35	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)
36	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
37	WINNEKENNI PARK	Haverhill	Winnekenni Castle	free	9 miles	trails surrounding a historic castle and along the shoreline of a lake

Key:
* = there are 10+ miles of trails when you combine these interconnected (unpaved) rail trails
** = there are 19 miles of trails when you connect Bald Hill Conservation Area, Boxford State Forest & Boxford Wildlife Sanctuary
*** = only some properties in the AVIS system are interconnected; the 30 miles represents the total miles managed under the entire AVIS trail system

NORTH OF BOSTON HIKING AREA MAP

Here is a Google Map showing the general locations of each of the hiking areas that are listed in the table above.

TIPS FOR HIKING IN AREAS NORTH OF BOSTON

1. BRING A MAP - most of the parks mentioned above do not all have a well-blazed or well-marked trail system. If you are used to hiking trails that have every junction well-marked with an obvious and intuitive trail sign, you may be surprised how infrequently you find that in these parks. The good news is that most of these parks have trail maps you can download on the internet (for free) from their respective websites. In addition, the 2015 Bay Circuit Trail maps also shows most trails in the region.
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2. USE TREKKING POLES - Save your knees so that you can still hike when you are in your 70's (tip: use trekking poles for 100% of your hikes).
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3. BEWARE OF VEHICLE BREAK-INS - Don't leave anything valuable in your car. Although relatively rare in the heavily-populated Northeastern Massachusetts, break-ins do occur at trailheads from time to time.
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4. CARRY APPROPRIATE FOOD - Carry the appropriate type and amount of food based on the season you are hiking in (some foods will melt in summer, and some foods become rock-solid in winter) and the length of your hike.
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5. GET AN REI MEMBERSHIP - Purchase a $20 REI membership to save 8-10% on all full-price REI purchases for the rest of your life (you have no idea how much time you'll probably spend at their stores and on Rei.com). Also, strongly consider applying for the REI credit card (you can earn hundreds of dollars in dividends each year if you use this credit card as your primary card for your non-REI purchases).
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6. GET SOME ELECTROLYTES - Bring some Gatorade (or something similar) to get some electrolytes into your system. This is especially important on hot and humid days.
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7. MEETUP.COM - If you are short on hiking partners, consider joining a Meetup hiking group (there are several groups and they always have good hikes planned) or ask for partners on a local Facebook hiking 'group'. Once you attend a few of these social hikes, you will likely make enough connections to hike with a few select people that you bond with.
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8. BUGS - Bugs can be a real nuisance in this region throughout the entire warm-weather hiking season, although some days they are there, some days they are not. Common annoyances include: ticks (especially in spring), greenheads (near the ocean for a period of 2-3 weeks in summer typically), deer flies, and mosquitoes. You'll probably want to bring some DEET spray with you. And always check yourself for ticks after each hike.
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9. CATCH A SUNRISE OR SUNSET - Catch a sunset or sunrise from a scenic vista (bring at least one headlamp to help you get back to your vehicle safely).
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10. BRING A CAPABLE CAMERA - Don't forget your camera, and remember to label the pictures after you are done with each hike (you'll want to capture these moments). I recommend that you bring a real point-and-shoot or DSLR camera instead of taking pictures with your smart-phone. The reason is because the camera resolution on your smart-phone will not look good on tablet and computer monitors 10 or 20 years from now. Photos from smart-phones generally don't print or enlarge very well, either.
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11. WINTER SEASON - trails are generally snow and ice free in Northeastern Massachusetts from April through November.
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12. ELEVATION GAIN - although there are no significant mountains in Northeastern Massachusetts, many trails have enough rocky ups and downs to make the trails seem much harder than they would appear based upon mileage.
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13. HIKING CROWDS - generally speaking, there are little or no crowds on the trails in this region. Enjoy the solitude!
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14. DOGS/PETS - although many of the parks above allow pets, many require them to be on-leash. A few select parks allow dogs off-leash or have a long-history of tolerating well-behaved dogs off-leash.
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15. THE TRUSTEES OF RESERVATION - become familiar with this outstanding non-profit conservation organization. They have more than 100 conservation properties across the state of Massachusetts, many of which offer fantastic hiking trails. There are a half-dozen or so of these reservations that are located north of Boston that offer great hiking trails. Take note that a growing number of their properties now include a parking fee.

Crane Beach, Ipswich

TOP TEN PLACES TO HIKE NORTH OF BOSTON

Here are my top ten favorite places to hike north of Boston:

AVIS Conservation Lands (there are many AVIS properties, and some are interconnected)
Bay Circuit Trail (this 230-mile long trail is one of the finest semi-urban paths in the U.S.A.)
Dogtown
Harold Parker State Forest
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
Lynn Woods Reservation
Middlesex Fells Reservation
Ravenswood Park
Ward Reservation
Willowdale State Forest

Babson Boulders, Dogtown, Gloucester

Skull Rock, Lynn Woods Reservation, Lynn

Bradley Palmer State Park, Topsfield

Crane Beach, Ipswich

Halibut Point State Park, Rockport

J.C. Phillips Nature Preserve, Wenham

Babson Boulders, Dogtown, Gloucester

Dungeon Rock, Lynn Woods Reservation, Lynn

bridge over the Ipswich River, Bradley Palmer State Park, Topsfield

Appleton Farms, Hamilton

Babson Boulders, Dogtown, Gloucester

walking the Bay Circuit Trail in Hamilton

Halibut Point State Park, Rockport

Stone Tower, Lynn Woods Reservation, Lynn

Holt Hill, Ward Reservation, Andover

Danvers Rail Trail, Danvers

HELPFUL LINKS

Here are some helpful links that relate to hiking trails north of Boston:

Bay Circuit Trail & Greenway = link
Essex County Trail Association = link
Manchester-Essex Conservation Trust = link
Massachusetts Audubon Society = link
Massachusetts State Parks = link
The Trustees of Reservations = link
Town of Andover: AVIS = link

GUIDEBOOKS TO HELP GET YOU THERE

The following guidebooks are the most trusted resources that will guide you to great hikes north of Boston. Click on any book cover to read reviews and/or to purchase them on Amazon.com.

HIKING COMMUNITIES ON FACEBOOK

If you enjoy hiking or backpacking in Massachusetts, I recommend that you strongly consider joining some or all of these groups on Facebook. Once accepted into the groups, please share your photos and adventures of hiking and backpacking throughout Massachusetts:

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