Spring has sprung in Massachusetts, and it is the perfect time to get outdoors and experience our state’s diverse landscape. Every region of Massachusetts has a wide variety of trails for both seasoned hikers and beginners. Whether you want to push yourself to your limits or get the perfect shot for Instagram, we have a hike worth taking.
Greater Boston
Blue Hills Reservation, Dedham, Milton, Quincy, & Randolph
There are over 125 miles of hiking trails across Blue Hills Reservation’s 7000 acres, located just outside of Greater Boston. Trails range from easy to difficult over all sorts of terrain – hills, marshes, forests, meadows, beaches, and more. The area’s highest peak, Great Blue Hill, has a summit of 635 feet and gives you stunning, one-of-a-kind views of Boston.
Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area, Boston
Boston’s Harbor Islands are one of the city’s many hidden gems, giving residents and visitors alike an opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. For hiking enthusiasts, walking around Spectacle Island – the highest point in Boston Harbor – provides spectacular views of the city. Getting to the islands is just a short ride on a public ferry, but they feel like an entire world away.
Cape Cod & the Islands
There are a lot of popular hiking spots across the Cape, but this one-mile loop around the historic Fort Hill also happens to be one of the area’s best places for bird watching. Along the winding boardwalk trail you’ll encounter beaches, marshes, boulders, and water. Nearby, the Edward Penniman House is a unique historic site worth seeing.
The Knob is a great place to have a leisurely stroll along the coast and offers one of the most fantastic views of Buzzard’s Bay. The narrow trail makes for panoramic views of the bay. Weather permitting, you can see across the bay’s crystal-clear waters and rocky beaches all the way to New Bedford Harbor. There aren’t many parking spaces available, so if you’re interested in visiting, plan ahead and arrive early.
North of Boston
Walden Pond State Reservation, Concord
See the flora and fauna that inspired Henry David Thoreau and many more at Walden Pond, one of Massachusetts’ best and most well-known natural areas. Visitors can also visit a replica of the cabin Thoreau lived in. Walking around the pond takes about an hour.
Breakheart Reservation, Saugus & Wakefield
Breakheart Reservation is made up of 600 acres of lakes and forests. Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of activities besides hiking along the 2-mile moderate loop including swimming, fishing, horseback riding, and see wildlife viewing. The route offers scenic views of Boston and New Hampshire. You’d never know that Route 1 is so close by!
South of Boston
Frederick Law Olmsted designed the landscape of this scenic area, which includes 4.5 miles of moderate, tree-lined trails. Throughout the property you’ll see views of forests, marshland, Hingham Harbor, and Boston. World’s End is a perfect place to go for a long walk or pick a scenic spot to spend some time reading a book or having a picnic.
Mass Audubon’s Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, Norfolk
Enjoy 2 miles of easy and moderate trails that give visitors the perfect opportunity to see open water and a variety of wildlife. The Pond Loop will take you through a series of different habitats over a half mile of level, boardwalk terrain where you can see muskrat, otters, and more. Stop by the Nature Center to learn more about the animals that call Stony Brook home.
Central Massachusetts
Purgatory Chasm State Reservation, Sutton
The 2 miles of trail throughout Purgatory Chasm will take you around some of the most unique rock formations in Massachusetts. With names like “the Devil’s Pulpit,” “Fat Man’s Misery,” and “Lover’s Leap,” the only thing more fun than going on the hike might be picking your favorite landmark. No matter how many times you go, there will always be something new to discover along the route.
If you want, you can hike the Midstate Trail through Spencer State Forest all the way from Rhode Island to New Hampshire – 92 miles across Massachusetts. Even if you don’t have that kind of time, there’s more than enough hiking in the 965-acre forest to keep you active. The 2-mile Depot Rail Trail will take you along an abandoned railroad.
Western Massachusetts
Mount Greylock State Reservation, Lanesborough
Massachusetts’ highest point makes for some of our best hikes. You’ll find an enjoyable hike for all skill levels at Mount Greylock, At the top, you’ll find the Veteran’s War Memorial – a gorgeous stone tower that offers views of Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont. Hikes at Mount Greylock range from the easy 1.8 mile-Bradley Farm trail to the 13+ mile Greylock in the Round trail, which as the name suggests, will take you around the entire reservation
Mount Everett State Reservation, Mt. Washington
The trails here are some of the harder hikes on our list, but they are well worth the effort. Be sure to stop by Race Brook Falls – a tiered waterfall that gets more rewarding as you make your way up, and the southern section of Massachusetts’ leg of the Appalachian trail, which will take you across 2 mountains and a ravine.
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TOPICS: Boston, Dedham, Eastham, Falmouth, Hiking, Hingham, Lanesborough, Milton, Mt. Washington, Norfolk, Quincy, Randolph, Saugus, Spencer, Sutton, Wakefield
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