Most Scenic Walking Trails North Of Boston

Nature lovers of Massachusetts can easily find a favorite walking trail north, south, east or west of our state capital. One more reason to love Boston's versatility and location. Take a leisurely stroll along hiking trails, or simply go out running with the family pet during fall season — magnificent. Winter? Can't beat the frost glittered landscape. Spring is delightful, with fragrant flowers and newly born wildlife, so are the coastal trails and shade trees in the summer heat. It's official, with easy access to breathtaking and thought-provoking nature walks, why go anywhere else?

The Acorn Trail is clearly marked by blue swatches along windy woodlands and fields. It's a simple short walk complete with rocky knolls and a place to park the car. Great Brook Farm diary is a wonderful stop for a snack that stays open year-round and is adjacent to the state park. Bring the sunglasses and the insect repellent and stop by the shack for a trail map; 700 acres of state park is typically a perfect way to break in the novice or tempt a seasoned walker.

This sanctuary offers a total of twelve miles of trails, making this a prime location easily accessible by Boston natives. The landscape takes a visitor from the banks of Ipswich River to a grotto of stacked boulders both formed by a glacier 15,000 years ago. Imagine what scenes await your view! The sanctuary hosts cabins, canoes and camping, just in case you tire of walking there are plenty of options!

Trails at Ward Reservation link three hills, Boston, Shrub and Holt. If you're in the mood for panoramic views of the Boston skyline, a brisk walk up Holt hill is a must. The grassy mesa is home to a compass-like arrangement of stones that mark the beginning of the seasonal equinox. If hills are not your cup of tea, travel the Pine Hole Pond trail with it's numbered stations along the boardwalk. Walk across a rare quaking bog and witness the circular rings of vegetation and orchids that float in patterns atop the water.

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The Saltmarsh Sparrow spends its entire life on the Parker river, and habitat biologists keep a close watch on this fragile species. Feeding, nesting and resting is the order of the day among the marshes, and many different species including the human variety find respite here. While walking within 4,700 acres of wildlife, enjoy the scattered trails in cadence with swaying reeds, trickling brooks and pristine beaches. In search of the rare Piping Plover bird? Bird watchers who frequent the Quincy sanctuary come for photo opportunities. All are welcome to walk with wildlife, and don't be surprised if you're accompanied by a deer or two, or three ... sometimes a family will seek out their visitors.

Acres of woodland trails are offered for hikers, bikers and rock climbers, and a short distance from Boston. There are walking trails with open spaces for a simple picnic, lakes for fishing enthusiasts who don't mind toting along their rods, tackle box and licenses, and it can easily be found by auto or public transportation. Malden, Melrose, Medford and Stoneham residents are seen along these trails daily, and bicyclists have one of the best routes to travel between So. Border road and Spot Pond, in Stoneham. MDC equestrian rangers have been using these trails to exercise their mounts for decades. There is plenty to experience, or just pick a quiet place for a scenic moment in serenity.

Related: Boston's Best Scenic Running Paths