I very much enjoyed visiting this place! If there are no guards on duty, you can pull in and pay…read morethe entrance fee using the machine. We parked and took a walk by the ocean. We then drove about 1/2 mile and parked to explore some of the walking trails. The place is super popular with birdwatchers and nature lovers. A very lovely day.

The trails are amazing (especially the Hellcat trail). But let's talk about parking & signage. The…read moreWelcome Center is miles from the actual refuge area, and no one was working to ask where the trails were. Need to travel east (via car) to the coast and take a right on Sunset Dr to get to the actual refuge area. Once there - you'll love it!

this is a super cool spot to checkout overall! would highly recommend. scenery is fun to explore…read more paths are marked too.

This is one of my favorite places in Gloucester. I've been coming here since I was a kid; back…read morethen, we only walked the main trail and didn't do very much hiking. When I rediscovered it, I was surprised how many little trails there are! If you're directionally challenged, like me, you'll probably want to pick up a map before you start walking. The parking lot is pretty small and fills up quickly. Even when it's full, though, I rarely run into other people walking the trails. I love coming here to just pretend I'm in the middle of nowhere, away from all traces of human life... this is the one place I'm happy to be alone, with no music, no kind of stimulation besides the woods. Is there anything better than listening to leaves/branches crunch under your feet, the wind through the trees, the faint sounds of squirrels running on the ground? I think not. Best of all, the trails are easy enough for most people. There are many short trails that connect to longer ones, so if you find it too easy, you can just keep going. I tend to walk longer than I should and end up sore the next day-- but it's always worth it.

What a great park for the north shore!!!…read more We struggle to find places our dog is allowed off leash- so this place is a saving grace!!!! Love that you can spend just an hour or a whole day, since there are so many trails. Not a ton of hills or anything, but the occasionally slight ascent / descent. Followed the yellow and blue trails last time (can't remember the names) and there were a few very unavoidable muddy patches, so make sure you have some footwear you don't mind getting dirty. If you plug it into google maps you may get routed to some awkward non-entrance (we had this problem). Make sure you check Yelp or the Maps app (on iPhone) for the actual entrance. As others mentioned, small parking lot with plenty of street parking. Can't wait to go back!

Absolutely stunning views as you walk along the trail. So many great spots to take pictures and…read morejust enjoy the the sights. Trail can be quite busy, make sure to move to the side for faster travelers. Pathway is pretty easy, just a few ups and downs... very doable. We loved this spot so much, we came back again before we headed home.

The walk is a must to view the gorgeous coast of York. Definitely wear good walking shoes and pay…read moreattention to the trail. This not a paved sidewalk. There are any areas of uneven rocks and no railing, but it is a must . There are plenty of areas to stop and enjoy the spectacular views. The walk is just over one half mile and ends, or begins at the public beach. There are many signs warning of poison ivy, so it is best not to touch any of the plants.

If you're traveling on I-95 and need to stop to stretch your legs (and maybe take the dog for a…read morewalk) this is a scenic area to walk. Take exit 78A (MA-133 Rowley) and in less than a mile you'll arrive. Be careful to slow down as the parking lot is somewhat hidden. Part of the Greenbelt properties, you can download the app to view the trails. However, this property is fairly small, and easy to navigate. You start by walking through a field, and then enter a wooded path. Here you loop by the pond and can see plenty of wildlife. We saw mallard ducks, Canadian geese, turtles, and massive beaver dams.

there's only a couple or few spots to park here. overall is a nice place to walk. there's some…read morewater views and woodsy trail loop.

The reason we decided to visit this trail/area, is because one of the news channels always shows…read morethe view from the camera at this location. We were always impressed with the view and put this on our list of interesting places. We finally made it this year! The views were beautiful! One of the things we loved about this place, is the fact there are plaques or narrative cards that show what you are looking at with a little history behind it. There are places for you to sit next to the ranger station. A few hikers were enjoying a snack break while we were there. They were commenting on how dusty and dry it was. (the drought of 2025 - for future readers reference) There's not a lot of shade, so prepare accordingly. There was plenty of parking and plenty of trails and views to enjoy! We loved it!

Beautiful! Good bathroom facilities (composting toilets and sanitizer, but clean). Maps…read moreavailable. Ample parking, must pay to park. Well-marked trails. Can hike or drive to summit. Educational center at the top (limited hours). Nice lookout points. Easy to low-moderate hike on the trails we took, in my opinion. Not a terrible distance to the summit, mostly shaded hike. Will go back for sure.

Such a lovely, vibrant sanctuary! It's small and the trails are short - but definitely worth a…read morevisit if you have the time! I hiked the Kestrel trail - which might've just been the shortest trail I've ever done at 0.2 miles lol - but it was completely pleasant - especially on the brisk early morning. The trails were covered in crunchy leaves coated in frost - total fall vibes! My goal was to complete the other, longer trail: Professor Chandler's Long Walk trail, before the high tide rushed in but I was too late unfortunately. By the time I got to the warning sign, the water was already starting to cover the trail. All the signs at the trailhead, on their website, and at the start of the tidal area give you plenty of warning. If I had more time here, I would've timed my hike better to catch it at low tide! The part of this trail that I was able to do had a lovely wooden viewing platform with benches that overlooked the tidal grass flats. The fields were crawling with American Tree Sparrows which was exciting for me bc that was a new bird for me! The roads to the sanctuary are gravel, as is the parking lot - but they're well maintained with surprisingly no potholes or washboarding - was an easy drive! The parking lot has two entrances - one had a HUGE puddle covering it but you can still get in if you keep to the left or use the other entrance just a tad further down that was completely dry. Was a lovely sanctuary! I'll definitely try to catch it at low tide next time I'm in the area!

Gorgeous in winter! Some nice thin trails out of the wind. Wear your micro spikes because it would…read morebe super hard and a mistake could end your life into the river. My dog and i loveeeee this trail in the winter!

Feels like your at Sabbaday Falls. Beautifully tucked away where you would least expect it to be.read more

Very cool spot to enjoy easy trails and wonderful views. The Solstice Stones at the top of Holt…read moreHill are interesting to see, and on a clear day you can spot the Boston skyline in the distance. It's a peaceful and enjoyable place for a hike that isn't too difficult.

Ward Reservation is definitely recommended for spectacular views. We went on the Yellow and Blue…read moretrails before sunset. The trail was well maintained and easy for walking although it was called as "moderate" in some other mobile apps. All the trail signs are clear and easy to follow. When getting to the top of Holt hill, you will be amazed by the Boston skyline without occlusion. Compared to the breathtaking view at Holt hill, the one at the top of Boston hill slightly disappoints me. It is still an enjoyable walk surrounded by the view of the sunset, but the skyline is missing. You may not get too much out of the elephant rock. Again, overall it is a fantastic place for walking, jogging, and biking.

Fantastic place to walk dogs and meet people. Easy marked trails. Great find on the way to…read moreBerkshires.

not super duper blown away in terms of the scenery/variety. nice and vast trails. a couple spots…read morealong the paths were covered in water and it'd be nice to have boardwalks there maybe.