Middlesex Fells Reservation

The Middlesex Fells, with their 2,575 acres of rocky, hilly terrain, draw both serious hikers and walkers out for a stroll in the woods. While the reservation has hikes for all levels, the Skyline Trail is both the most challenging and the most popular. It includes seven miles of rough terrain passing over hills, through wooded forests and around stunning lakes. Climb the observation tower along the trail for gorgeous views.

Following white blazes up Pine Hill, which is topped by an observation tower offering expansive views of the reservation and Boston, the main trail departs from Bellevue Pond. From the tower, follow the blazes on the rocks as you travel north.

Through the reservation's more than 100 miles of trails, you can see meadows, ponds, Wright's Tower, and Virginia Wood, the location of the long-gone mill village of Haywardville. A historical interpretive trail that winds through the hemlock forest can be found here. The park provides a wealth of information about the past of the area, including timbering, quarries, ice harvesting, and water that powered nearby mills.

The Rock Circuit and Crystal Springs loops in the eastern Fells, as well as the Cross Fells Trail, which circles the entire property, are all marked on a trail map that is available at the visitors center. One of the hardest hikes in the park, the 3.7-mile Rock Circuit, should take more than four hours.

Address: 4 Woodland Road, Stoneham, Massachusetts