A hidden gem. Interesting trail around the lake marred by lots of dog poop - people really need to…read morepick up after their pooches poop! But worth a visit!

This review is for the Chauncy Lake trail which runs alongside Chauncey Lake in Westborough, MA…read more Note that the trail does not go all the way around the lake to where the beach is. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful, easy hike in the fall! In order to get to the trail if you're going south on Lyman, you'll turn off on Hospital Road and go towards the lake. There is a paved parking lot. Note that there are no bathrooms or water fountains at the trail. There may be some at the beach area but we didn't make it there because the trail ended and we turned around. As a Floridian, I really enjoyed the lakeside hike to see some gorgeous fall colors!

Visited this beach a few times now. Clean, open space with plenty to offer. Enclosed area for…read morekids/families, a playground, benches, beach/pool chairs, grills, you can rent boats/paddle boats, snack bar. I only wish there was a rinse off station by the entrance for my sandy toes. $5 for Wayland residents $10 for non-residents.

Beautiful, fun, welcoming & well guarded. A bit pricey, and when summer heat is high the algae…read moreblooms interfere with accessibility.

Of all the state parks in the area, Ashland has always been my favorite. It's not human-made and…read morehas great nooks and crannies that are fun to explore from a kayak or canoe on the water or along the perimeter on trails. We've been coming here since we moved to the area 25 years ago and because the entire reservoir is within the park property, it looks much the same as it did a quarter century ago. This morning I met a friend and we took our dogs for a walk. We were shocked that on a summer morning, we only passed two people along the trail- one with a dog (on leash as required) and one friendly solo human. The trails are very rooted and while I've done mountain biking here in the past, it's definitely easier to maneuver this one on foot. The trails are *sort of* marked with yellow spray paint on trees. As other people have mentioned, despite many times walking here I still always question if I'm going the right way. Even in the trail area, it's easy to wander off a bit. But also as someone mentioned, the beauty of this trail is that as long as you keep the reservoir on the same side and within view, you'll be fine! I like to park at the Boat Launch side of the park because you can access the trail right there without walking through a giant parking lot- so it feels more natural. I also like to head to the right (facing the water at the boat launch), therefore keeping the reservoir on my left the whole time. The public beach area (no lifeguards) is about halfway from the boat launch which is a great water/snack/bathroom break. The ranger station was open and the bathrooms were, as well. This section of the park has tons of shaded picnic areas and plenty of sandy and grassy space to spread out. This area used to get very busy on weekends with large gatherings - I'm not sure if that's still the case. But today there was one family group having a quiet picnic but the beach was empty. The trail around the reservoir is almost completely shaded except for the elevated causeway across the dam which is about .3miles of exposed trail- also of note are the annoying bugs that zip around this tall grass but seem to not bother humans. Ashland State Park is a great place to visit! Definitely recommend checking out this gem!

The lake is like a mirror. It blends into the blue sky and reflects the surrounding beauty. Walking…read morein the sun by the lake makes people feel relaxed and happy.

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.

We were looking for an activity for the kiddos. Decided on Callahan State Park and parked off the…read moreEdmondon road. There are many different trails. We stayed on the main train from the middle of park and went south to Rock Road over a newish looking bridge. We turned back around after one hour with two young kids. We all had a lot of fun, especially the youngest walking through mud.

This large park has many maintained hiking trails for runners/joggers/bicycles and of course people…read moreand pets. Depending where you go in the park, there is a lot of bio-diversity. It is also a little obscure and gets much less foot traffic. Bring a printed map from the net.

Tripps Pond is a nice little space to spend some time outdoors... I had the opportunity to do so…read morewhile visiting friends this past weekend! Located on River Street, Hog Brook runs into the pond which in turn becomes the Assabet River. There are paths and trails on each side of the pond which are great for a stroll or a change of pace but certainly aren't built for lengthy hikes of any sort. One path travels through the woods over a couple small bridges and ends on a small peninsula at the pond's edge. The other side of the pond is well manicured with wide walking paths and multiple benches and picnic tables. When I was here, a few dedicated Hudson families were cleaning up the park and clearing away fallen trees and branches in anticipation of Earth Day! Plenty of space to soak in the early spring sun. There is a bench dedicated to George Chiasson (at one time a park commissioner who firmly supported the return of an annual fishing derby at the pond). The event is so aptly named the "George Chiasson Memorial Trout Fishing Derby". Sounds like the pond is stocked with trout for the event with a single tagged fish that if not caught on the day of the event, remains part of a prized contest until such day that some lucky person reels it in! The flowers are starting to bloom and the buds starting to emerge from the trees. Looks like the local boy and girl scout troops dedicate work and time to the park. There is a weeping willow and white birch tree there with plaques from the groups. I found a "#kindnessrocks" rock nearby to a bench in the park, a welcome message during my visit. A nice place to breathe in the fresh air and come together with the residents of Hudson.

Nice little pond for strolling, dog walking, and even fishing. On one side, there are several stone…read moreand wooden benches for sitting, a couple picnic tables, and swings. On the other side there's a path through the woods for a short nature walk. Plenty of Great Blue Heron sightings!

Had a lovely Sunday here, it was a perfect halfway meet up spot. The Main beach was closed, making…read morethe upper beach area more crowded. People set up to spend all day here. There are charcoal grills at the picnic tables. Lifeguards monitoring the swimming area, however the swimming area was very small. You can rent kayaks not too far away, although not familiar on the price. We bought our own paddleboards and there are several inlets along the water to load/unload the paddleboards. The beach area was crowded and all the picnic tables in this area was taken so we didn't get a chance to take advantage of those but that's ok we spent most of the day out on the water and then a short walk around the area. There seems to be quite a few hiking trail options as well, something to consider another time. Parking for out of state residents is $30!! Which is a lot, MA residents only $8 for all day parking.

A nice swimming area if it is not closed due to bacteria. It is a nice park. Lifeguards on duty and…read morea bathhouse. Pay online for parking.

I love walking in here. The trails are easy to navigate and I love seeing the herons, ducks,…read morebeavers, and turtles. You can easily spend an hour in the refuge. It's a great place to walk and clear your head.

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.