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.

Went here with my mother for a thanksgiving break hike! It is a not too strenuous hike (but there…read moreare some hills) that can be fun for the family. Depending on the path you choose you can alter the distance to your liking. There is a parking lot at the reservation with a $5 fee that goes into maintaining the beautiful park. Things you can do: - see the sun stones! this is an easy route but it is up a hill - elephant rock! honestly it's just a rock, it isn't anything amazing but it is along one of the longer routes. - scenic overlooks of boston skyline! see attached pic I really commend those who marked the trails. It's really easy to follow and not get lost! Highly suggest checking it out :)

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!

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.

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

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.

I love the safe off road walk. We saw duck, 3 snakes and many turtles. I'll bring my bike next time.read more

Absolutely gorgeous, peaceful, easy swamp trail walk. There is a small parking area off of…read moreTopsfield Road. Wide gravel trail paths head both directions and there are several walks to choose. I opted for the trail down to the swamp walk. It's about .3 of a mile to the swamp walk and then the swamp walk itself is about .3 of a mile. I did the swamp walk twice so my total walk twice around, there and back was 1.3 miles. Lots of shade on the trail to and from, but the swamp walk is mostly sun. The boardwalk areas are sturdy, but a little uneven and slanted in places so you do want to use some caution. There are several stops with benches to take in the scenery. The swamp walk is absolutely beautiful. So quiet and serene. I went in July and saw tons of turtles, birds and even a beaver!

super cool place for a walk. interesting history and great ocean view at one point. would recommend…read moreoverall. parking is on street

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!

Love it here! The trails are well kept, peaceful, plentiful and a fantastic place to see so many…read moredifferent types of birds and wildlife! I highly recommend the refuge!

Even though the visitor center was closed we were still able to take an auto tour all the way to…read morethe Atlantic Ocean. It was a beautiful fall day with lots of walking paths to explore. Very cool place highly recommend.

this is a nice spot to go on a walk. there's tons of paths & they are well marked. would recommend…read morechecking it out. this is one of the places to park to access the same trail network but there's several other locations to park. there's only room for like 4 or so cars here.

From the owner: Conserving the farmland, wildlife habitat and scenic landscapes of Essex County since 1961.read more