Tips- Come super early (preferably on a weekday) Be out by 2pm when it gets a bit crowded. Enjoy the ducks that linger around and TAKE YOUR TRASH WITH YOU. keep it clean for the next person. read more

Went on a hot day recently in mid afternoon. There was someone smoking and drinking IN the pond. I mentioned to the smoker & the DCR official on site. DCR official was clearly stoned and gave some excuse about how the higher ups told him not to enforce the rules. No one stopped or did anything. Would avoid except off season and early in the morning. It's gross. read more

The free parking is a big draw but it fills up fast on hot days and leads to a packed beach. The water is dark but seems to warm up fast which makes swimming more enjoyable. It's super convenient if you're in the area but I wouldn't recommend traveling far to visit. read more

A great spot to unwind if you're in the area. The lake is peaceful and chill, especially earlier in the day when it's quiet and not too crowded. Perfect for a walk, a bit of reading, or just sitting and enjoying the view. read more

Building new restroom/shower facility. Beach area is opened on Memorial Day - Labor Day. No lifeguard on duty. Great place to hang out and there is something for everyone - playground for the kids, beach for swimmers, hiking around the area, ride your bikes, and bbq (bring your own grill). No problem finding a parking space at 3pm on a holiday long weekend but I bet it fills up quickly in the summer. A decent place to enjoy a warm summer day without having to pay through the nose for parking or the need to reserve a spot way in advance! Rangers there to manage parking situations and to answer any questions you may have. read more

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AKA Shannon Beach. This was a decent "beach" to cool off for the hot summer. Calm and not cold and ideal for small kids. Very family friendly as it's not too big so great place to cool off in the hot summer days. Restroom closed due to COVID, so only porter potty's available. Otherwise, ideal to take toddlers and kids. Parking is free, and access is free to the public. read more

Update: This beach was even more overpacked and gross the second time I went in warmer weather. I thought hey, maybe I'd give it a second try. Total mistake....these are some general observations: no rules enforced, no lifeguard, several naked kids running around the outskirts of the beach, chain smoking, and just general chaos. Many people/couples on the beach seemed to be having a crisis of some kind and yelling loudly to share it with the world. Music blaring in competition over other music from all corners of the small beach. Also, the water is seriously questionable for your health and I didn't feel comfortable leaving my things on the beach unattended even if I was going to consider going in to swim. Find another spot, this isn't it unless it's maybe to walk your dog in colder months. read more

Recently renovated with a new bathroom and improved paths (much more accessible!) Little beach for swimming, playground, big grassy area for picnics/cookouts. It's a nice place to cool off in the summer. Parking can fill up on busy days (especially summer weekends/holidays) so come early in the day if you can! There's often an ice cream truck in the summer for a treat. read more

It's swimmable, and there's sand. Not enough to be called "Sandy Beach" but are any lake beaches in MA really that sandy? The beach area is small and crowded, but the waters clear enough to swim away from all those people (but supposedly it's not clean all year round). read more

Mystic Lakes - Sandy Beach - Beach area - Parks Near Me - Winchester, Massachusetts

Love, love this place it's perfect! Not far from the city, free parking, grilling allowed, and sand with not salty water. I highly recommend this place always a good time. read more

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This is actually for the "off the beaten path" trail and beaches you can take your dogs to on both Upper and Lower Mystic Lake. A GREAT alternative to the congested, poorly kept dog park. (REMEMBER: Just make sure to pick up after your pets here, even in the woods! Scoop the poop - not everything about our furry friends is adorable!) It had been 7 months since my pup and I moved to MA and we were both missing the lakes of Colorado and Minnesota that we had grown accustomed to. Don't get us wrong...the ocean is awesome...but those waves, that salty water - it is just not the same (whew - the look on his face when he first drank ocean water...ugh....) I did it, I broke down - he was turning 9 yrs old and was in need of some serious swim time to cool his 85 lb fuzzy black butt off from this muggy humid summer, so off we went. Not far from the public access beach there are trails, trails that lead to little inlets of sand bars with broken sticks galore! It is a labradors dream! When he was not running into the cool lake water to fetch the stick, he was digging in the sand along the edge - having the time of his life! Better yet, I needed him to dry off before getting back in the car, so we found an old boat launching area to toss the frisbee around. BONUS: Dry him off AND tire him out - woo hoo! There is a lot of picnic spots and parking so it is a great place to spend an afternoon. There were a lot of dogs, some on leash, some off. All in all it is a pretty great place! read more

Mystic Lakes - Sandy Beach - Dog friendly waters off the trails, away from the public access beach - Parks Near Me - Winchester, Massachusetts

I don't know what's to like. The beach is small, the water smells and looks grimy. In fact, the smell is so bad, we kept looking around thinking maybe there's a port-a-potty overflowing next to us or something. Overall just gross. The one bright spot is that there was an ice cream truck in the oddly packed parking lot. We are never coming back. read more

Totally agree with the comment about this place being so dirty!!! The water is nasty and the people are slobs, I have seen beautiful lakes before and this one is far from beautiful!!! Revere Beach is cleaner then this place!!! If you really want to go swimming or sun bathing Nahant beach is where you want to be!!!!! read more

The beach here leaves little to desire. It's kind of gross and I would NOT go swimming here or allow my child in the water. However, this area is ADORABLE. There are mini trails that are perfect for your pup (and I saw some doggie bags lining the path), many areas are secluded for meditation and quiet walks. Loved this new little quiet and serene place. Can't wait to come back with my pup this next time!! read more

Mystic Lakes - Sandy Beach - So beautiful here. Lily pads and lots of nature. - Parks Near Me - Winchester, Massachusetts

Nice and quaint... Good for some relaxation, grilling and lake time with the family. You would enjoy the peacefulness

Great park if you want to smoke weed, not so much if you want quiet. I don't mean that in a negative way. There need to be places where young people can sit by water and get baked! Granted, it was Saturday on Labor Day weekend. Maybe it's not like that always. Well...To sum it up...it can get loud sometimes. We had a baby to keep asleep so it wasn't ideal...but given the massive ammount of bluntwrap wrappers everywhere, it seems like the kids dig it. read more

Ah, you couldn't PAY me to hang out here. In Winchester, there is this teeny tiny pond and at one end of it is this teeny tiny beach. It's gross. It's dirty, the water is dirty - and ever since the 60s people's kids have been getting skin and ear infections from swimming here. Why this area is not condemned is beyond me. Did you know this little pond feeds from the Aberjona river? Did you know the Aberjona River flows from Woburn? Did you know that WR Grace polluted the hell out of several water wells in Woburn that fed directly into the Aberjona? Did you know contaminants still exist in the water from that fiasco!? Don't ask me how I know all this. Just please, if you value your kids safety DO NOT GO HERE. read more

Just drove by there...gross...it is beyond packed. People arguing over parking. Mostly out of town-ers..if I ever were to go, it would be at 6 a.m. & then leave once the drones of people accumulate. read more

Mystic Lakes, situated on the corners of Arlington, Winchester, and Medford, MA is a series of three small lakes. It is great urban paddling complete with swans, herons, and ducks and surrounded by beautiful homes, wooded shores and two boat clubs. It is a great place for a quick work out, lazy paddling, fishing and has a swimming beach at one end. It can be full of racing sailboats (including the Tufts Team) or a class on kayaking run by REI. There is a great put in near the Tufts Boat Club. Today the Mystic Lakes are popular for freshwater swimming at Sandy Beach. Special sailing programs are available at the Tufts University Boathouse. The Upper Mystic Lake is for non-powered boats only. The Lower Mystic Lake is for powerboats with no wake (6 mph speed limit). The Mystic Lakes are a great place for kayaking, swimming (esp at Sandy beach in Winchester), dog walking, biking, and running/walking. It is connected to Boston via Mystic valley parkway and the Wedgemere Station (Commuter Rail from north Station). it is a short walk from Winchester Center as well (about a 10 minute walk) There is a field near Sandy beach at the parking lot that is perfect for Dogs! MYSTIC LAKES SNIPE FLEET http://www.mysticlakesnipefleet.org/ BIRD WATCHING ON MYSTIC LAKES http://mrines.com/Birds/MysticMerlin/ MEDFORD BOAT CLUB SAILING LESSONS http://www.medfordboatclub.org/Page.asp?n=14913&snid=21606417&org=medfordboatclub.org MEDFORD BOAT CLUB - MAIN PAGE http://www.medfordboatclub.org FRIENDS OF THE MYSTIC RIVER http://www.fomr.org/ MYSTIC LAKES PHOTO - WINCHESTER http://www.city-data.com/picfilesv/picv23744.php The Mystic Lakes, consisting of the Upper Mystic Lake and the Lower Mystic Lake, are closely-linked bodies of water in the northwestern suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts. The lakes lie at an elevation of 1 meter above sea level, within the towns of Winchester, Arlington, and Medford, Massachusetts. The Upper Mystic lake is fed by the Aberjona River, and drains south into the Lower Mystic Lake, which in turn empties into the Mystic River and thence Boston Harbor. read more

Just came back from the park today. I was yelping for a dog park around Burlington area and this turned up. I'm so glad I came here, it was so impressive! There is a small beach area with a lot of people swimming, with a beautiful summer breeze and plenty of trees along the side walks and trails to keep the summer heat at bay. There is a large grassy field where people simply napped, picniced or played some kind of sports. The trail/sidewalk area following the lake is very nice for jogging and cycling. It's also an ideal place for a stroll with my doggy, it's not crowded at all, quiet and peaceful, with plenty of area to walk around and share with other dog owners. The area is also extremely clean, there are no danger of stepping on poop. The lake is absolutely gorgeous with water lily leaves and swans, we saw plenty of people canoeing, fishing, and kayaking on the lake. Ample parking space in a public lot. Great park for family and taking doggies for a nice walk. read more

Mystic Lakes - Sandy Beach - Swans - Parks Near Me - Winchester, Massachusetts

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Why bother with Walden? Sandy beach is SO much nicer. I used to bike out here from Cambridge, and enjoy myself immensely. Kiddies, Walden is a bacteria pool by August. It's a kettle pool, with no outlet. Mystic Lakes are HUGE, with all kinds of activities. Check out Jeff D.' s noteworthy links. This is a gem, and a decent bike ride out, via the Mystic Valley Parkways. You can always toddle on over to Winchester Center, and grab a bite, or some ice cream. It's pretty convenient. If you don't want to bike, there's a commuter Rail stop, right in Winchester Center read more

Really close to Cambridge. WAY nicer than anything Arlington has to offer as far as swimming (I don't count it as swimming when you are basically just waiding through goose shit) and though it says you are swimming at your own peril, there are Staties walking around all the time, and way more lifeguards there than you could ever imagine them needing. My cousin and sister and I went for the whole day, and ate our lunch and then swam again - after sunning ourselves and enjoying the crossword puzzle and the screams of children and whistles of guards. Fantastic. I am glad I could find something to replace Walden - thats easier to get to and also doesn't have a disappearing beach! I think I shall be a regular here from now on. It was about a 20 minute ride - to stop and get coffees, ecc and the parking is free (I hope... I parked and didn't pay...) also there is a huge field for the picnicking and ball playing! read more

We came on a hot Sunday in July in the early AM. There were mostly young families with babies and toddlers. We decided this would be OUR beach and we went home to get our beach stuff. We returned about an hour later and it was PACKED. I decided this would only be OUR beach in the early AM as it was beyond crowded in the PM. Just know that and go early, or find another beach to go to. This is not a beach, it's more Walden Pondy/Lakey. Not bad though. We ended up going to Constitution Beach in Eastie. A lot different from Sandy Beach (but is says Memorial Beach, please make that note)! read more

Awesome little spot. It was a Sat early Sept. & still warm. I have a broken foot & was entertaining 2 kids. I was pleasantly surprised to find this beach a short walk from parking & super close to the street & there was a nice handicap ramp. All & all great experience. I'm very happy I found this gem. I look forward to bringing kids back there next summer. read more

It's a small beach but good for kids but no lifeguard. They have a great playground. They have a barbecue area and picnic tables.It has a small snack bar, bathrooms (porter potty) and over all the beach is clean from trash. No lifeguard, a lot of poop I'm not sure it's dog's or duck's so nobody to check the water. Too bad it's a nice lake with trees and it's free and there are plenty of parking spot. read more

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Crazy busy,maybe it's nice on a weekday?When school is in session? read more

Mystic Lakes - Sandy Beach - pine tree - Parks Near Me - Winchester, Massachusetts

I've been here a few times now, and it's never crowded before 11:30. Even when it's crowded, it's not really crowded. The restrooms have always been tidy, the lifeguards have always been present, and my kid's never gotten a funky infection from the water. I think those who do must have inferior immune systems. The playground is nice, too. Lots of safe climbing for the little ones, with plenty of sitting areas for mamas to watch. The entire playground is sunken down into a foam filled pit, so it's pretty well contained. read more

I had a lovely walk here. It seems like a lovely well kept area for locals to wander around.

The one-star reviews are basically like racist versions of the five-star reviews and say "this place is paradise. 1/5 stars."

One star because there were no life guards and the water was brown and it was disgusting

This place is disgusting. I don't know who in their right mind would give it a good rating. One star for location...that's it. I brought my paddle board here a few times before I realized I could launch from the much cleaner side of the lake at the Medford Boat Club. There are dirty diapers and trash EVERYWHERE. The beach smells, the water is dirty (probably from filthy people washing their grills in it) and the place is loaded with a bunch of creepers. Kids are running around screaming while unattended. It is absolutely horrible. If this is a "state" beach, then the state should probably pay a little more attention to the men in the woods shooting up in broad daylight and the toddlers swimming past the line into the "No Swimming Area". If you are looking for a nice place to hang out, go for a swim or have a little family time- DO NOT come here. read more

The beach is unfortunately closed as of a few days ago. 16 people have apparently contracted a bacterial infection after swimming there. Unfortunately, this was only news for us *after* we went to the lake and swam farther down from the beach. There was no indication that the water was not good for swimming. Here's the article: http://www.wickedlocal.com/winchester/news/x1528806240/Shannon-Beach-closed-by-health-officials-after-bacterial-infection-reports-surface read more

While the beach isn't that great, I used to like Sandy Beach as a quick place to take a swim. Now that is being called into question. I have tried to swim at Sandy Beach twice in the last week or so and both times the beach is closed due to high bacterial levels and algae growth. So, I may skip this place for the rest of the year. The beach is minimal anyway and there are only port-a-toilets this year. I would say for the time being, skip this place. read more

This beach and picnic area has very dirty grounds -- lots of garbage and food leftovers. I went there tonight after reading positive reviews so I was surprised. I think the people that go here must not take pride in this park. People that were leaving today just left there trash by their car. Further in the woods also has trash and just looks like a public bathroom, even with dirty tissues. It has a lot of potential, but overall is pretty trashy. Winter is probably better. read more

Back in business. Swim, walk around, play soccer, whatever. Enjoy the gorgeous scenery. Take it in! You're just a few miles from Boston and you'd never know it. However, DCR can we please make the swimming area bigger? I am 5'7" and it allows me to only go around waist deep. SERIOUSLY. If lifeguards are around I am stuck wading...not the best. If you're not around though, I am jetsetting (swimsetting?) off to the deeper parts of the lake. Have fun but I still wouldn't recommend swallowing the water. read more

I was there a couple of weeks ago and there was a lot of leaves in water and a bunch of dead fish floating around..... was not thrilled.

Free parking, smaller crowds, and closer than Walden to Cambridge. Count me in!

Wonderful view over the lake. Good for BBQ and swimming. Easy to park close by. Very kid friendly. Well kept restrooms with hand wash unit. We enjoy this place as often as we can! read more

Went there one evening after work to have a picnic dinner. The person sitting in front of us was chain smoking the entire time, even though there was a clear sign saying "no smoking." Next to us were naked children running around and peeing on trees. And every time the wind blew all we could smell was the stench of the porter potties. The smell was so overwhelming that we had to leave. The pond and beach are so cute and I really wish I had better things to say about this place but unfortunately I will not be returning. One extra star for free parking though. read more

I would never "swim" here but it's a great place for a dog and a stroll. I love it best in the winter when there are no screaming kids or sulking teenagers. If you're crafty you can even let your dog off leash for a bit. read more