Thanksgiving Ground Forest

3.8 mi

One of our favorite playgrounds for our kiddos(less than 7 years old). There are two separate play…read moreareas(one for younger kids and one for older kids), two types of ziplines(one with a rope and one to just sit in buckled in). Other favorites: swings, tall structure with multiple slides(and slide types) and a large climbing structure. A favorite among many families in the area - I was shocked to not see it on a yelp page. They are working on the field part so unable to kite fly like before but would imagine it would be opening soon. There's a small loop around the field as well for a quick stroll. Plenty of parking to be found and couple of picnic tables throughout including a few under a covered structure. There's also a small business that looks like it has snacks(fairly new but prior to the new owners it was a coffee shop). I only wish they had restrooms but they do have port a potties.

Safe and friendly, very fun and took out all the kids energy. Really recommend even for little ones.read more

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Freeman Lake, Varney Plaground

3.7

5.5 mi

Perfect for kids! Safe location. Clean water. Not too many people. Quiet. Nice playground!read more

Cool lake, life guard, public restrooms are clean…read more Cool wooden play structure for kids. What's not to love.

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Manning State Park

4.1

2.4 mi

Great spot for families with small children! Lots of shade. Not much seating at the splash pass so…read morebring a chair to watch your little run around.

$5? Literally $5? This park is beautiful and open! Such amazing trails for hiking, walking,…read moreprobably biking if you want! The splash pad is a lot of fun. The kids loved the workout trails. The mushroom population is flourishing in here. Thank you for this beautiful space.

Mushroom in natural nature.

Yay!

Kids playing

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Great Brook Farm State Park

4.6

(62 reviews)

0.9 mi

We went on a fantastic snowy walk here with our dog. The Acorn trail is open for hiking in the…read morewinter- dogs allowed. We parked in the lot for the ski touring, crossed the road, and were on our way. We did the North and South loop of the Acorn trail, totaling about 2.5-3 miles. The trail was decently traversed, but I would definitely recommend hiking/snowboots in the winter. It was very peaceful and beautiful here - tall pines and some big pastures.

One of my favorite places to go for the summer . They have great hiking and biking trails ! There…read moreis a delicious icecream place with animals as well . Such a beautiful scenic place definitely a summer must see

In the warm months Biking, Hiking Canoeing, Kayaking & Fishing. In the winter Cross Country Skiing @ Great Brook State Farm Carlisle MA.

Great Brook Farm is a 1000 acre state park with tours of the dairy farm with ice cream lots of outdoor activities including hiking $3.00

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The Peach ice Cream is Very Good @ Great Brook State Farm Carlisle It's a 1000 acre state park with Free tours of the dairy farm/activities

Bruce Freeman Rail Trail

4.6

(23 reviews)

2.3 mi

This is a great trail. I've taken it from Lowell all the way to Sudbury. We're at connects to MA…read moreCentral Trail. St Sudbury you can extend your ride/hike on Central Tail all the way to Marlboro. Once you're out of Chelmsford the trail is paved and smooth. There are a lot of frost heaves and roots that affect the ride in Chelmsford. Enjoyable and mostly shaded ride

Big fan of the Bruce Freeman! I actually took the Commuter Rail to the West Concord stop to hop on…read morethe trail, bonus points for accessibility! The path was nicely maintained and not too busy. On the way back from Lowell, I decided to ride all the way home to the city. I was able to mainly take back roads and trails (Bruce Freeman to Reformatory to Minuteman), which was very cool! I'd definitely come back again.

Paintings

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Sign

Heart Pond

3.8

(14 reviews)

2.2 mi

Heart pond is closed due to harmful algae bloom. Park has some flooding at this time. Check the…read moretown camera at the link below. If you see fencing is up it's closed. 100% keep your dogs out of the water. Town positing ion closure is poor online. No water contact , including fishing and boating https://www.chelmsfordtv.org/channels/live-views-of-chelmsford/

It a cool little place. The water was warm but a little dark and there were little fishes swimming…read morearound. Its quiet and there is free parking. Its really peaceful.

The beach is closed when the fencing is up. This is for hazardous Algae

Beach area

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Shedd Park

4.3

(16 reviews)

5.3 mi

The park is clean and has a lot of room. People were sledding and it was the perfect size hill to…read moresled on. Some teenagers brought their speakers and we enjoyed their music. They stayed there distance and were respectful. The hill has a rough bump that you should be aware of if you sled down.

Bring a blanket picnic basket and watch the kids have fun in both splah pad and playground..dont…read moreforget the hand wipes!!

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Kids Konnection

4.0

3.6 mi

The kids love this playground. It has different types of activities for them to explore and have…read morefun!

it's a really cool park for warm days but the metal really rusts on the monkey bars and the slides…read moreleave some rug burns. I understand this is normal and it is a really good park for kids but not for kids 10 and over. My 10 year old has lost interest for it but will go if her friends go to hang out. there is also a baseball field and some benches and table to hang out if you don't want to use the playground. There is also a little roofed area with no walls but it is a perfect place to eat.

Such a cool spider web climbing device

Park in the winter is empty haha

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Cute little stage area

Rynne Beach

2.8

(6 reviews)

5.4 mi

Rynne Beach in Lowell is part of the Vandenberg Esplanade, better known as The Boulevard. This…read morepark is on the Merrimack River in Lowell and includes a long walking path along the water and an open-air stage across from Heritage Ice Cream. At the far end is the Lowell University Boat House. At the other end is Rynne Beach. The water isn't crystal clear (it's Lowell), but it really isn't very dirty. It's a nice sandy beach, good for children and adults. There's usually a life guard on duty in season. There are restrooms right behind it. There's a tiny parking lot there and a slightly larger one just on the other side of the stage area (next to the beach), but parking is allowed on the street. Picnics/bbqs and camping are allowed on the grassy areas on either side of the beach.

Love this park! I see a lot of age group walking /running/biking here. Great for doggies too! Nice…read moreview!a great find! Plenty of parking on the side street. Dunks and Ice cream place very near, a plus!

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Rogers Fort Hill Park

3.9

(11 reviews)

5.1 mi

overall this park is super cute and nice to check out. not very busy. has cool features and a steep…read morehill.

This is a great park. It's one of the only areas of Lowell where you can actually "climb" a hill,…read morealthough with all the trees in summer you won't get much of a view ;) You can catch glimpses of the mountains of New Hampshire if yoou're lucky though. The park is about 35 acres, 22 of which are wooded, meaning unkept. There are some awesome old gnarly trees growing in there, and lots of birch and maple I think. It's a great palce to get away from "the city" and be in nature for awhile. I didn't see any facilities like playgrounds or bathrooms, so if you bring kids, make 'em pee ahead of time, and bring some toys or something. No dogs allowed in the wooded area according to a sign, but we saw dogs (on leashes) in there anyway. It felt so good to be up high again after living in Colorado, even though the hike to the "summit" only takes about 5 minutes. BONUS: just down the street is a hand-held car wash with vacuums. Part of the Belividere neighborhood, this park is definitely worth a visit at least once per season just to see how it changes. There's a paved trail to the top of the hill so you don't have to climb through the woods unless you want to. BONUS 2: Geocaching spots nearby...

Golden Beech Grove In Early Summer

February

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April Evening

Veterans Memorial Park

3.9

(11 reviews)

7.7 mi

This is a large recreation/sports park…read more It seems to be new-ish, very clean and well maintained. There's a huge parking lot right next to a great sprinkler park (and there's a large, new playground next to the sprinkler park) with concession stand and bathrooms. It's great for kids on a hot summer day.

Pretty nice local splash pad. There's usually a monitor here to keep things civil if they get…read morecrazy. Nice big park with swings for the babies and the big kids, as well as two jungle gyms for different age groups. There are fields for baseball, soccer, and a mini football field, as well as a nice long walking track around them. I really like that everything is open for visibility's sake, so I don't have to work hard to keep an eye on my kids, even from all the way across the park. It makes it somewhat hot without any shade, but it's not too bad since everyone is getting soaked on the splash pad anyhow. My only complaint is that it's pretty crowded here for much of the summer, so you have to keep a close eye on the little ones so they don't get run over by the bigger kids.

The splash pad on a rare quiet moment.

Summer spray park area

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Summer spray park area

Heart Pond

3.8

(14 reviews)

2.2 mi

It a cool little place. The water was warm but a little dark and there were little fishes swimming…read morearound. Its quiet and there is free parking. Its really peaceful.

The beach is closed when the fencing is up. This is for hazardous Algae

Beach area

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Mine Falls Park

4.6

(51 reviews)

15.6 mi

Nice park, came at sunset ... Perfect timing to watch the…read moresun set. Nice park, came at sunset ... Perfect timing to watch the sun set.

Everything is perfect. There are no needs for any concerns. Family oriented. Fun for the whole…read morefamily.

Dam at Mine Park, near gate house

Rules at Mine Falls Park

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Thanksgiving Ground Forest - parks - Updated August 2026

People who viewed Thanksgiving Ground Forest also viewed

John E. Sheehy Memorial Park

3.8

(4 reviews)

This is a very nice park along the Merrimack River in Lowell…read more It's across the street from Gary's Ice Cream and U Mass Lowell South. There is a long walk way and a couple of wide open, green spaces with a few trees. There's a long, paved pathway. I guess it gets only three stars because its parking lot is terrible. It's big enough, but it's unpaved and there are huge depressions in it, making it hard to drive through. The paved path is a mile long, which makes is good for an urban hike.

There is off-street parking available and if you walk a way's away, you'll see public lots. This is…read moreone of the nicer areas along the boulevard where one can relax (with loud cars and music from the passerby in their cars) with her dog... I've heard from locals that the area isn't great, but I've yet to encounter a problem. It's small compared to the bandstand area. Plus, in the spring and summer, the ample trees offer refuge from the sun.

Beaver Brook Association

4.4

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.

Pawtucket Farm Wildlife Sanctuary

One of the most random and beautiful finds I've made recently. I was aimlessly walking to pass the…read moretime when I wandered into a quiet neighborhood. Tucked away in a small dirt parking lot was a sign -- Farm open to everyone Curious, I stepped in and found a small Christmas tree farm! There were small, well-kept trails that (imo) felt safe. I spotted a few unique birds and bugs, none of which were intrusive. It was such an unexpected escape. If you live in the area I would definitely recommend taking a scenic walk through this farm/sanctuary!

Easy short walking trails. The trees here are beautiful!…read more A nice getaway from the sidewalks. (No dogs are allowed though.)

Den Rock Park

3.5

(6 reviews)

What a sweet park! Beautiful views of a river, "beaver pond", and the famous Den Rock. Honestly…read moreblew my mind this place is so much to offer so close to the city. Overall a great spot, not the most remote and quiet but still great. Very safe to hike alone!

Uhhhh... this place is NOT great! Covered in garbage at all times, right next to the road and…read moreapartments so that's all you can see and hear.. very small trails.. and just all around suspicious. My boyfriend once found a suitcase full of passports and IDs and one shoe that was off of a trail here... he brought it to the police and we have never been back to Den Rock Park since.

Salem Town Forest

3.9

(8 reviews)

Nice easy walking trails with plenty of hiking. The trails are pretty well maintained and are…read morelettered with markers and the map is pretty easy to navigate nice relaxing trails with lots to explore and see nature.... A place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of life.

This was a nice walk for me and my dog -- however I have concerns about running into off leash…read moredogs. The bugs were horrible for us both, even though I had sprayed my legs and arms. Couldn't keep them out of my face. It's a hot summer day with little rain as of late so didn't have to worry about paths under water.

Windham Town Forest

4.5

Just a nice place to walk or ride your bike well groomed trails with interesting views of the…read moreforest different rock formations little streams and brooks. Well marked trails with red and yellow systems even have a little camping area caves cliffs that you can climb and explore also you can walk your dog there. Nice place to explore with ample parking nice trails

What a great day!!!! My husband and I ventured out to the…read moreWindham Town Forest for a nice hike with lil Jack! :) It was a little muddy and icy in some spots, but the trails for the most part were very walkable. Took some great photo shots today! There is a rusted piece of machinery that looks like was left behind with difficulty of removal. Very neat to take some vivid photos with. My husband spotted a few platforms that look like are set up for camping ... if that is the case, we are in for some camping in the summer! :) Definitely a place to go for some nice walks ... change it up with Robert Frost Farm and the Windham rail trail! And! please note that it is easy to drive right by this place ... the sign somewhat blends in with the surroundings.

Wildcat Falls Conservation Area

4.7

(6 reviews)

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

Al Retelle Reservation

(1 review)

such a beautiful piece of land and nice walking trail distance. cool water views and well marked…read moreand upkept. there was even somebody out w a lawnmower --so it's not ignored and there's not long grass to walk thru. not busy.

Acton Arboretum

4.8

Great place to get outside and walk around a little. There are a ton of benches to rest of read a…read morebook. Lots to see.

Beautiful conservation land in Acton. Largish parking lot on Taylor street at 27…read more The area by the parking lot has some formal gardens - a Day Lilly garden, hosta garden, butterfly garden, etc. all surrounding a large open field with plenty of shade trees, picnic tables and benches. You see lots of people relaxing, lunching, reading, moms with kids etc in this area. There is also a paved wheelchair accessible trail in this area. The back area is woods complete with streams and a bog. The trail overall is 1-1/2 miles (including the handicap accessible portion). A leisurely 30-40 minute walk.

Billerica State Forest