Winter Walks North of Boston: Six Trails and Parking
Six winter walks north of Boston, the Fells to Halibut Point, with where to park, what it costs now, and the dog rules at each.
Leaves down, views open, lots half empty: winter is the easy season for these six. Parking is the part that changes, so each entry says what it costs now. Details are from DCR and The Trustees as of November 9.
At a glance
| Place | Trail miles | Parking now | Dogs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex Fells | 100+ | Free in the lots DCR lists | Allowed; off-leash area at Sheepfold Meadow |
| Breakheart | Large trail system | Free, Saugus and Wakefield | Allowed; fenced off-leash area |
| Bradley Palmer | Trail map on DCR page | No fee after October 12 | Allowed |
| Appleton Farms | Nearly 12 | Fee for nonmembers | Grass Rides only |
| Halibut Point | 2.5 | Free through April | On leash |
| Ward Reservation | Almost 15 | Fee for nonmembers | On leash |
Middlesex Fells
Over 100 miles of mixed-use trails across Medford, Malden, Melrose, Stoneham and Winchester, open sunrise to sunset; DCR says the gates open at 9 am. Parking is free at the Sheepfold lot on Route 28, at Flynn Rink, the Botume House and Virginia Wood on Woodland Road, at Bellevue Pond and Long Pond on South Border Road, and at the other lots on DCR’s page. Sheepfold Meadow is the off-leash dog area. Cross-country skiing is a listed activity when there is snow. Pick a loop from DCR’s trail map; the reservation’s address is 4 Woodland Road, Stoneham.
Breakheart Reservation
Two lakes and a large forest in Saugus and Wakefield, open sunrise to sunset, with trails that climb to views of Boston, New Hampshire and central Massachusetts. Parking is free at 177 Forest Street in Saugus and at 100 Hemlock Road in Wakefield, and DCR says the Wakefield entrance is closer to Pearce Lake. Dogs are allowed, and there is a fenced off-leash area called the Barking Lot. Cross-country skiing is listed. Phone (781) 233‑0834.
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Bradley Palmer State Park
A former estate of 721 acres in Topsfield and Hamilton, open sunrise to sunset, at 40 Asbury Street. DCR charges daily parking only from May 23 through October 12 ($5 for Massachusetts plates, $20 otherwise), so there is no fee now. Dogs are allowed, and the activity list includes hiking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Phone (978) 887‑5931.
Appleton Farms
In Ipswich and Hamilton, with more than six miles of footpaths, bridle paths and farm roads on the main property and another six miles on the connected Grass Rides. Trails are open year-round, sunrise to sunset. The main entrance and Farm Store are at 219 County Road, Ipswich. Parking is only in the designated lots; nonmembers pay a fee, and The Trustees suggest buying a ticket online for weekends. Dogs are allowed on the Grass Rides only, reached from the Highland Street lot, and not on the farmstead side.
When there is snow, the ski trails are groomed by North Shore Nordic Association. Snowshoe rentals start in January at the Farm Store, Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 2 pm, first come, first served. The Farm Store’s winter hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm.
Halibut Point
Rockport’s 2.5 miles of moderate trails, open daily sunrise to sunset. The Trustees list parking as free from November through April; it is paid for nonmembers from May through October. The lot at 4 Gott Avenue has 70 spaces. Dogs must be leashed at all times. Plan at least an hour, or two with the state park’s visitor center and museum. For the quarry and the rest of Cape Ann, see our winter day trip.
Ward Reservation
Almost 15 miles of trails in Andover and North Andover, open daily 7 am to sunset, easy to moderate and strenuous in places. Holt Hill is 420 feet, the highest point in Essex County, and the Solstice Stones there mark sunset on the shortest and longest days; The Trustees list a Winter Solstice Walk on Sunday, December 20. The lot is at 65 Prospect Road, Andover. Nonmembers pay for parking. Dogs must be on a leash.
For indoor days, see the North Shore cold-weather plan.
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Sources
- DCR: Middlesex Fells Reservationmass.gov
- DCR: Breakheart Reservationmass.gov
- DCR: Bradley Palmer State Parkmass.gov
- The Trustees: Appleton Farmsthetrustees.org
- The Trustees: Halibut Pointthetrustees.org
- The Trustees: Charles W. Ward Reservationthetrustees.org
Details such as dates, hours and prices come from the sources above and can change. Check with the organizer before you go.
How we report: every date, price and address comes from a linked source.
