Absolutely loved hiking this mountain! We went up the back side- where the old ski area used to be…read more You park off of the road and walk up a path that takes you by a lake and up the back side of the mountain. This is the shorter side- but still long enough of a hike. It took about an hour each way. Beautiful at the top and we had a 360 of New Hampshire and Massachusetts. It was kept SO clean that it was just so beautiful. When hiking, we saw wildlife, so just be prepared. Recommendation: bring a lunch with you and go mid day. It's beautiful to sit at the top of the mountain and eat!

Love this little hike onto a small summit that overtakes a spectacular view. My pup loved it even…read moremore.

It was a damn fine day to be at the Wachusett Reservoir Dam, in the low 80's and partly sunny. This…read moreis a beautiful spot, with hundreds of steps to conquer if you want to go to the bottom of the dam and back up. There is also a picturesque fountain with a pool at the bottom of the dam, a great spot to picnic as there are shade trees around the fountain. There are many trails around the reservoir, boasting great views of the pristine waterfront. You can't walk on top of the dam however, as it's been closed off for security reasons. There are many aprking spots around the reservoir, and near the busy dam, you can park on the side of the road. Be careful crossing, it's busy there. We've been here multiple times, and would be happy to return.

It is not a business, it is run by the government. Totally roped off for safety concerns. So you…read morecannot go onto the top of the reservoir but can view Wachusett reservoir from the sidelines. Beautiful view, nice hike and street parking.

This site is near a major road and has free parking. The trails to the quarry and kiln are short…read moreand could easily be done with a young child. If you're more ambitious there are longer sections I went on with typical New England woodland plants. I and my hiking partner were the only ones there, so social distancing is not an issue. I did have to pee in the woods because there are no bathrooms.

Nice local place to take a walk, learn about the environment, and geocache. The trails are…read morerelatively flat but are not well marked as there is heavy geocaching traffic. The dirt parking lot is just off of 117 and there are maps and booklets to borrow during your trip. The booklet teaches you about fauna & flora found off the trails. Additionally, you can see the old lime quarries and lime kiln. Nice place to visit if you're a local.

5 stars Cool trails,…read morecreepy old bunkers, and beautiful trees. Even saw deer here! The only downside to this place is that it is a little close to the road and you can hear the cars speeding by if you are close. Other than that, it is a wonderful wildlife refuge.

There were a lot of cars, but who knows where the people were? I read there was a park center with…read morerest room, but unclear how much of a trek it was from the parking lot and I'm afraid of ticks. No animals were allowed, although my dog would have loved it. I get it, but it would be more convincing if there wasn't some huge plant next door. For a the path was well maintained though, and small areas off the path you could get to without injury.

Nice ride, free parking, benches and sculptures along the way. Safe ride from Ayer Culver DR to…read moreSmith Street acess.... I put that on Google maps years ago! Spot off at the library, continue to Salt and light downtown and even down to CVS or Shaws plaza. Safer than going main Rd the whole way and pretty views.

On a beautiful 68 degree day I came here to walk the rail trail with friends but would've loved it…read morejust as much had I run, biked or rollerbladed. There were many families out doing the same but because everyone is courteous and follows etiquette of passing and staying on the right or left, it remained quite enjoyable. The trail itself is a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. The locals are friendly, and the trail itself is flat and well maintained. Yet much of the landscape remains untouched and there is plenty of wildlife (great for bird watching), plants (native, non-native, and unfortunately invasives too), and interesting rock formations to observe. I like to take advantage of the tranquility offered only by nature (the sound of the streams, melodic bird songs, the stillness, and even the smell of the great outdoors). We also stopped by the little ice cream shop in Pepperrell which was a lovely break and a bit of a reward for all the excercise we all got. The only downside, as someone who is highly allergic to insect bites, is the highly aggressive mosquitoes. But just make sure you wear plenty of bugspray and bring enough to reapply. Also don't forget your hat and sunscreen!

I often stop by to admire the beautiful gardens at Beaver Brook. I'm not a hiker, so I can't speak…read moreto the inside of the property. I am, however, a (home) gardener and nothing gets me happy and smiling more than flowers -- annuals and perennials -- everywhere around me. All was good until a number of years ago when I read in a local newspaper that BBA had released rabbits on their property. I was floored then and wondered why that would be so. Then more recently, last spring to be more precise, I looked out my window at my newly planted and/or emerging plants and (gasp!) there was a rabbit eating away at my new zinnia plants. They were young (and succulent, I surmised while watching them be devoured) and stripped down to their stalks by the time I could get the hose so I could spray away the rabbit. It took 2-3 tries last year, and I hope I don't have to repeat that experience. Why?

This is a large network of trails with woodland and marsh habitat. The access roads are dirt and…read morewatch out for rocks on them. This might be due to heavy rains this year. Some trails were also damaged but passable. Saw a salamander and lots of flora including fall foliage. They have ample parking and a portable toilet.

Very short hike to witness beautiful waterfalls. If you are in the area, it's worth a stop.read more

Beautiful walk into nature and waterfalls. We went in the fall and it was absolutely beautiful.read more