Breakheart Reservation

Great place to go for a walk either on or off the road. Have visited at all times of the year for about 50 years. Trails are mostly well marked. Trash barrels are scattered which helps to keep it clean. Staff are friendly and do a great job on what is likely a very limited budget.

Love this place!
Favorite things:
— dog park
— pet friendly
— paved path (about 2 miles)
— lovely lake
— plenty of hiking trails
Cons:
— parking is limited + a bit far.
Overall, perfect for a walk, run, or just walking with your dog.

It’s time for another review by Daisy!
My parents and my grandpaw took me here since it was pretty close by. I had such a good time! There were not any dogs at Bark Place, however, so we did some of the trails. I like to run up hills, so this was a good place for me. *shhh* Sometimes I get to go off leash since I am pretty good at recall and I wear a GPS tracker, so I got to go off leash here on one of the trails. I saw an animal while we were on a really elevated part, so I ran off. Oops. I had to walk the rest of the way on a leash since it is not a good idea to be distracted. I still had a good time! There are bathrooms at the beginning of the reservation and a small area for children to play at. There is something here for everyone — easier trails, trails with elevation, a dog park!

What a beautiful, beautiful state park. Now that the weather is warming up, I’ve been looking for somewhere a close to the city to get some nature time.
I did the smaller loop around Silver Lake last weekend — about 2.5 miles which was the perfect amount to squeeze into my afternoon before it got dark. Trails were fairly easy to follow if you pick up a map from the visitor center, and there were tons of people: kids, dogs, strollers, skateboarders, etc.
Parking was sufficient even though it was a nice enough day to be busy. They also have free coffee in the visitor center with a jar for donations. I didn’t have any, but it’s a sweet gesture.
Apparently there’s a beach on the larger of the two lakes. I’ll have to come out for a swim this summer!

Nice place to come for a walk. They have a little beach and two playgrounds. Its very dog friendly. The visitors center is nice and it has a seating area, a fireplace, maps, bathrooms and coffee and hot coco. It a a very pretty place to come. I want to come back in the summer.

They were doing fire alarm testing in my building one day so my bf and I packed up the dog and headed to Breakheart. There isn’t a ton of parking there but they have a nice visitor center with decent bathrooms (though I overheard two women blaming Obama for the thin toilet paper). They also have free maps so you can access their many many trails. It takes some getting used to, especially if you aren’t used to hiking, but it was a lot of fun roaming through the woods with the dog. I recommend finding the bridge over the creek. It’s nothing remarkable, I just like little foot bridges. They also have an enclosed dog run area. It’s not the nicest, but it’s completely enclosed with no visible holes in the fence. It was November so we did not go to the beach, but I really enjoyed our trip there and will be back.

So pleasantly surprised by this park not too far north of Boston. Really nice trails that go up and down a few very small peaks. Also some easier, paved paths which are pleasant as well. The swimming area is not something I would partake of… lots of small kids roped into a very small area… but walking around the rest of the pond was very picturesque.

Pretty tall pines and some good elevation for cardio. Too many loud group of revelers to fully commune with nature.

Breakheart is easily one of my new favorite spots. I don’t know why it took me so long to actually go and explore here, as I’ve lived 10 minutes away my entire life.
Parking is never an issue, as there is one entrance on the Saugus side & another entrance on the Wakefield side by the Vocational High School.
As far as trails are concerned– I LOVE the Saugus River Trail (yellow). The Red trail may definitely be the most challenging as a good portion of it is uphill. To be honest, the only reason I’m giving Breakheart 4 stars instead of 5 is because sometimes the trails just stop randomly and you may or may not be lost in the woods for a period of time.
FYI– the cabin/​welcome center by the Saugus entrance has coffee, vending machines, maps, and a turtle! The turtle was actually the only reason I went in, but he was pretty rad!

Love this place! A little nature oasis in the burbs :-) there is a playground for kids, a couple lakes, two paved paths and many dirt trails, a nature center (with bathrooms), a dog park etc.

Very nice park with a good variety of trails and terrain for locals. Some trails are paved, many are not. Two lakes, one beach, and a nice visitor center. Lots of families, and many dog people. It’s conveniently located off Route 1, at the Lynn Fells Parkway exit.
Parking is often a problem, especially on weekends if the weather is good.

Breathtaking views, i took amazing pictures,
Very friendly people everywhere
Had an amazing workout, burned 400 cal free of charges, lol
I am definitely coming back.

Completely beautiful! Especially in the morning. A nice long walking spot to talk to people with. There’s even a little beach like part where I’ve seen people go into the water and at the end there is a playground. I’ve been trying to walk here at least one a week with friends.

I think I found a great new place to walk.
Feels like your in a country setting far from the city ‚
Amazing views, relaxing and if your Looking to breath some fresh air it’s here !!
I found the regulars to be extremely friendly to say hello along to you along the path, you don’t get that these days !!
Cute place to BBQ and their is a ««««amazing beach «««» and a cute «««doggie «««park … lot’s to do for everyone ! Everyone one should check it out !!!

Gotta say I was disappointed by this place. The paved route is nice if you’re a runner, pushing a stroller, or looking for a nature-​y place to walk without having to worry about spraining your ankle on a rock. The trails were pretty subpar though.
I arrived before 8 AM on a Sunday and was unable to find a map and the visitor center hadn’t opened yet. I looked online beforehand and was unable to find one online anywhere. I knew I was looking for the Ridge trail, so I wandered around on the paved route (in the wrong direction apparently). Eventually (after 15 or 20 minutes or so of walking) I was able to find a map and made my way to the Ridge Trail.
The trails are well-​marked off the paved path but after that it’s a crapshoot. Some of the trees are spray painted but without a key designating which color belongs to which trail, things get complicated. I hiked part of the Ridge Trail. The area near Castle Rock was littered with trash and beer bottles much to my delight. I was surprised I didn’t come across some used condoms or a couple boning in the bushes to be honest.
I haven’t been hiking much around Massachusetts but there has to be better places than this. A nice place for a leisurely stroll on a paved path, but skip this one if you’re looking for a decent hike.

I really enjoy coming here. During the spring/​summer I come once a week to mix up my fitness routine. We park at the Wakefield Vocational School, so there’s plenty of parking. (100 Hemlock Rd /​Wakefield for those of you looking for an address for your GPS) and we generally do the Ridge Trail which is nice and hilly to get your heart rate up. When we get to the paved road at the end we jog back. The last few times I’ve gone I’ve opened up MapMyRun app so I knew exactly the distance we were going. It’s 2 miles of trail, 2 miles back on the paved road. Perfect little workout for us. It’s also not overcrowded and the people you do pass are always friendly.
I would for sure suggest coming here.

I absolutely love this place, one of the hidden gems of the area.
The place is massive, with numerous trails that intertwine all over the place. My cousins bring their dogs here and we hike for hours at a time, their dogs love it here. I love going off the trail and exploring the wilderness, seeing overturned trees covered in moss. it’s really a sight to behold. I love stumbling on local wildlife like Mantises and plants like vividly colored mushrooms.
The best part about this place is that for a big place. there isn’t a lot of people that get in the way which is perfect for those who come here to run. As I mentioned before, there are numerous trails that vary in difficulty for those who want to run either incline or on a straight leveled path. After your run, just sit back and relax, enjoy the scenery of the lake or just people watch.
The downside of this place is that there isn’t a lot of parking so come prepared to sit for a bit and wait for a spot to open. Another downside is the fact that a lot of people don’t like to pick up after their animals which is very nerve racking when you’re running and smash your shoes into a pile of turd.
Overall, like Deer Island and Lynn Woods Reservation, this place is a gem for runners and nature enthusiasts.

I visited this park during the weekend. It was a cool cloudy day so it was perfect for a walk through a forest. We visited through the Saugus entrance and was able to find parking very easily. My first impression of this park was that it was very popular with dog walkers. I think we passed by almost 2 dozen dogs and their dogwalkers while walking along Saugus River Trail. We don’t own a dog through so this feature is lost to us.
I was expecting the ponds to be impressive from the existing photos here. Perhaps we came at the wrong day but it looked quite ordinary. There was one lifeguard keeping watch over a few kids playing in the water. Unfortunately, there was a swarm of flying insects occupying the beach so we didn’t stay to get a closer look.

Houston, we have a new favorite park.
Grab nine of your friends and three generations of four legged friends, rush them to this sprawling piece of the Wakefieldish/​Saugusian forestry. Why so many? Something for everybody, of course!
«I want elevation, holmes!»
— A half dozen peaks scattered throughout the southwest acreage, averaging around 260 feet. You’re not gonna break ankles ascending the terrain, but you will get sweeping views of the tree tops (especially from Castle Rock).
«I’m amazed by what’s trail-​blazed!»
— Well-​marked and plentiful, all trails begin and end at paved walkways, so even the meekest of hikers can find solace in rejoining the masses. First time out here? Ridge Trail with a detour at Ash Path.
«Beeeeeeeeach. Beeeeeeeach.»
— Pearce Lake has a sandy shore. Rock that bikini, Bob.
«My three generations of dogs want to run free!»
— There’s a fenced in pooch park called Bark Place. Not much in the bonus plaything department (I think there’s a tire and a filthy tennis ball) but hell, the best dog toy is another dog.
«Screw nature. Give me urban comforts.»
— Breakheart Reservation Headquarters has vending machines, bathrooms and free coffee. Plus, you can hang with the house tortoise. Not the best conversationalist, but your ugly mug won’t send her screaming.
«I live for danger.»
— Saw some ants. They looked fierce.
Breakheart’s got more going for it than Captain Planet, plus fierce ants. If that doesn’t bring you out for a look-​see, nothing will.

So I’m trying to take my dog for a hike in the fells, and the roosevelt circle exit is closed on 93N. Well… wtf… back up plan, drive a bit further and head towards breakheart.
I’ve always gone in the melrose entrance off route 1, near the target and the hockey rink. This place is like the fells, only maintained and fairly clean. There are two loop paths that are paved, perfect for people just wanting to walk in nature. There is a visitors center w/​bathrooms and trail maps… two essentials.
Big things I like about this place are:
o trash cans along the paved trail.
o Beach that is dog friendly in the autumn and spring
o dog park for off leash fun
o fitness area for some plyometric action
o dog friendly water fountain (seen in photos)
Really a great place to trail run, walk, bring the pup, take the family, etc. A lot of pretty views of the boston sky line and the ocean. I did the ridge trail, which had 3 hills.