4 stars if you like to walk in nature. 1 star for the beach part, First visit here and last. Have to walk i think over a mile to get to the beach part. Not fun when you have a chair cooler and its 85 degrees. Got to the beach part and was nothing great. Hard sand, can only go up to maybe your thighs in the water because they have it roped of for safety. People smoking that huka stuff and playing loud music. It is nice scenery looking out at the water and trees. But i went to swim and suntan not look at nature. O well lesson learned read more

My dog and I were down in the Boston area this past weekend and with time to kill on Sunday, I took her to Breakheart to check out the dog park, Bark Place. First, I think it's worth noting that the walking/bike path that runs through the reservation is pretty nice. Lots of smells and friendly dogs for Agatha to sniff. And on such a nice day, how could you not love the reservation? With that said, I feel so badly for Boston dogs because their dog parks are horrible. As a Vermonter, I'm used to dog parks the size of football fields with plenty of room to run without having to stop and turn around every four seconds. I understand that in a city, space is limited, and that's precisely why I went to Breakheart. It's a reservation with plenty of land, so their dog park must be huge, right? Wrong. Oh my dear lord, how very very wrong. Bark Place is situated in a shady after-thought of a corner of the reservation. It's shady to the point that, while the rest of the reservation is free of mud, the dog park is still draining its moisture. It's fenced in so the dogs can run around off-leash, yes, but the fenced in area is the size of a Little League infield. There's no way a medium-to-large-sized dog can get enough exercise from running around this park. Not only that, but with so many dogs in such a small place, you're more likely to run into aggression problems. The doggy bag dispenser was nice, but of course it was empty. This place was so disappointing that in the 20 minutes Agatha and I spent in it, four dog owners walked up to the park, looked around, and walked away. Come on Boston, you can do better. read more

Yuppie-proofed by the cultural electric fence that is Saugus, Breakheart reservation is an ideal day out for nature lovers of all ilks as it has both something for everyone and is surprisingly uncrowded. There are trails from easy to moderate, lakes for fishing, a play area for kids, a dog park, a fire pit and actual clean bathrooms. We were there this past weekend--the first sunny weekend after Doom June *and* the 4th of July holiday, and it was remarkably unpeopled. We went on the moderate Ridge Trail hike (sweat-inducing, but definitely doable for all but the morbidly obsese) which takes you past a nice view of Boston's skyline as well as old crumbling rock walls from the farmers that used to live here. We only saw three people on the whole trail. Three! Most people, admittedly, were at the little beach (complete with an ice cream truck that cruises by every hour or so). But still, given the factors of both holiday weekend and first time we'd seen the sun since May, it was not overwhelmingly crowded. Even at 1 in the afternoon, all six of us in my group would've been able to spread out with a blanket and a book. So if you're willing to venture into the wasteland of Route 1, there is an amazingly vast and unspoilt bit of nature for you to enjoy right nearby. For free! read more

Water is always perfect temperature perfect area for kids and family hang outs Would definitely recommend!

Breakheart is easily one of my new favorite spots. I don't know why it took me so long to actually go and explore here, as I've lived 10 minutes away my entire life. Parking is never an issue, as there is one entrance on the Saugus side & another entrance on the Wakefield side by the Vocational High School. As far as trails are concerned- I LOVE the Saugus River Trail (yellow). The Red trail may definitely be the most challenging as a good portion of it is uphill. To be honest, the only reason I'm giving Breakheart 4 stars instead of 5 is because sometimes the trails just stop randomly and you may or may not be lost in the woods for a period of time. FYI- the cabin/welcome center by the Saugus entrance has coffee, vending machines, maps, and a turtle! The turtle was actually the only reason I went in, but he was pretty rad! read more

I just visited Breakheart for the first time yesterday and LOVED it (i even went back today - what a great place to spend a day like today!). It really is a hidden gem. I haven't tried any of the actual trails, but I'd walked both loops of the paved path and they make for a great workout. Lots of hills, but I didn't mind because of the beautiful scenery and atmosphere. The visitor center is also very nice and seems well maintained. I would have easily given it 5 stars, but my co-worker also told me about the car break-ins, which I was totally surprised by, but seem to be a sad reality. read more

How have I not reviewed Breakheart???? It's only been my go-to nature spot for, oh, about four years now. It is a beautiful nature reservation in the middle of Saugus, complete with both paved and unpaved pathways, a beach, a pond, playgrounds, a dog park, and a visitors center. In other words, it's basically everything you could ever want in a nature reservation. On beautiful spring mornings like this one, I like nothing better than to trek on over there and walk. On beautiful summer days, I enjoy going there for a swim. The water is rather shallow most of the time, but it gets the job done when you're looking to cool off sans salt and oceany grossness. I feel lucky to live in such close proximity to Breakheart and it provides me with a great place to clear my head and enjoy trees and fresh air. read more

This place is breath-taking. You wouldn't believe it's in the middle of Saugus (aka Strip-Mall City). My family just recently discovered it, but the combination of the trails, scenery, and swimmable lake is a wonderful package. It has become our go-to swimmin' hole when the ocean is just too cold. read more

Breakheart Reservation - View of some tress and part of Pearce Lake. - Parks Near Me - Saugus, Massachusetts

Gotta say I was disappointed by this place. The paved route is nice if you're a runner, pushing a stroller, or looking for a nature-y place to walk without having to worry about spraining your ankle on a rock. The trails were pretty subpar though. I arrived before 8 AM on a Sunday and was unable to find a map and the visitor center hadn't opened yet. I looked online beforehand and was unable to find one online anywhere. I knew I was looking for the Ridge trail, so I wandered around on the paved route (in the wrong direction apparently). Eventually (after 15 or 20 minutes or so of walking) I was able to find a map and made my way to the Ridge Trail. The trails are well-marked off the paved path but after that it's a crapshoot. Some of the trees are spray painted but without a key designating which color belongs to which trail, things get complicated. I hiked part of the Ridge Trail. The area near Castle Rock was littered with trash and beer bottles much to my delight. I was surprised I didn't come across some used condoms or a couple boning in the bushes to be honest. I haven't been hiking much around Massachusetts but there has to be better places than this. A nice place for a leisurely stroll on a paved path, but skip this one if you're looking for a decent hike. read more

Located 20 minutes outside of Boston is a well maintained, peaceful, nature reserve replete with visitor center, canopied walkways, pine needle paths, plenty of fresh air, small, life guarded, fresh water beach, playground, gas grill only picnic areas, off leash dog enclosure, friendly people, fishing, swimming, lake vistas, dog walkers, joggers, couples, families, wild turkey, squirrel sized chipmunks, and positive energy. Exactly what a New England reservation should be - clean, quiet, undisturbed, green, and a reminder of the pre-industrial age. Hard to believe this haven is in Saugus. N.B. The dog enclosure can get muddy after a rain. Warning: There could be mud wrestling. However, there are inlets along the lake's perimeter to rinse Fido. Just keep him off the beach. read more

Wow, it's been over 5 years since I have been here, but I went hiking here today and I was pleasantly surprised. There are some great trails and everybody we ran into today was so friendly. There were dogs everywhere and the view from Eagle Rock is just so breathtaking. It's kinda funny that nestled next to Target is this beautiful slice of nature. I can't wait to go back and try some other trails. There is even a small beach and dog park! It's a great option for North Shore or Boston families who want to feel removed from the city, but not have to drive too far to "get away" from the hustle and bustle of city life. read more

This is a great place for half hour to hour walks, moderate hills add a bit of challenge. It's a medium walk, and strenuous jog. You can either stay on paved walkways or choose any of the numerous paths that wind through the hills, along lakes, and occasionally take you to the hill summits! If you climb up those, there's nice views in all directions, all the way to Boston! Dog friendly, and a great place for kids! There's a nice playground with swings, picnic tables, and a kids beach for the summer. read more

Breakheart Reservation - Parks Near Me - Saugus, Massachusetts

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I was so excited to be here over the weekend - we saw some pretty foliage and it was crisp enough to be a great walk! Never in my life have I seen dog owners pushing their dogs around in baby strollers though. Wha? Yep, crazy-cat-lady types pushing muffy and twinkles along in a baby stroller "we're going home for dinnies soon, see, we go get yum yums now" in this squeaky baby talk voice. I think my eyes did a 360 in my head. Other than encounters of the strange kind it is really a beautiful place and I am looking forward to my next hike here. Crossing my fingers that the weather holds out for an end of October foliage hike. read more

i don't like this spot very much. too busy and too long of a distance for lack of variation in scenery. hills are too steep to rollerblade safely imo. read more

I love taking my dog here for hikes! Attached are some incredible photos. Definitely go in autumn when the trees are different colors. And then in the winter (be careful), the ice is frozen and you can stand on it. We'll definitely be back in spring and summer time for a picnic. read more

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Completely beautiful! Especially in the morning. A nice long walking spot to talk to people with. There's even a little beach like part where I've seen people go into the water and at the end there is a playground. I've been trying to walk here at least one a week with friends. read more

Love this place! Favorite things: - dog park - pet friendly - paved path (about 2 miles) - lovely lake - plenty of hiking trails Cons: - parking is limited + a bit far. Overall, perfect for a walk, run, or just walking with your dog. read more

Breakheart Reservation - Parks Near Me - Saugus, Massachusetts

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How does this oasis exist next to the chaos that is Route 1? It is quite jarring to be driving along Route 1 and then enter this amazing place that is Breakheart. There are a lot of options, from fishing to hiking to strolling/biking to lounging on their beach area. It is well-kept and very well organized/labeled. My favorite part was walking along the paved 'road' that must have welcomed vehicles in the past but is now a tranquil, very spacious path to traverse and enjoy the outdoors. The trees provide great shade so it's awesome. The beach area is somewhat spacious and the swimming area is quite small. Great for kids and a simple place if you don't want to fuss with the 'real beach' scene. The ice cream truck onsite is cash only btw. read more

There we were, man and dog, ready to brave the elements and traverse the landscape in search of: Bark Place. Bark Place - where dogs run free and there is no law. OK, so it's a dog park along the various (very cool) hiking trails at Breakheart, but the drama really adds something, doesn't it? Breakheart is truly a hidden jewel. Located right near Kelly's Roast Beef, Soc's Ice Cream, and the ubiquitous Target, you'd never know it was there unless you were looking for it. My advice: pick a warm day, pack the puppy and a picnic, and have a blast. You won't regret it.... 5 Stars, and 4 Paws up! read more

Breathtaking views, i took amazing pictures, Very friendly people everywhere Had an amazing workout, burned 400 cal free of charges, lol I am definitely coming back. read more

The fact that they have this advertised as a lake you can swim in is disappointing. You can swim in a small area where the water doesn't even reach 4 feet. It says dogs were allowed..... They told us the dog could not be anywhere near the water it's like okay? Really the kids can't wear floaties because that mean you aren't taking care of them yes that is the answer we got from the lifeguard like are you kidding? I love hiking and I'm sure this place is great for it but the swimming part is just a joke maybe they should let people swim on their own risk? read more

Breakheart Reservation - This is where they want dogs to swim there is gargabe and even a condom wrap? This is a joke right? - Parks Near Me - Saugus, Massachusetts

Very nice park with a good variety of trails and terrain for locals. Some trails are paved, many are not. Two lakes, one beach, and a nice visitor center. Lots of families, and many dog people. It's conveniently located off Route 1,at the Lynn Fells Parkway exit. Parking is often a problem, especially on weekends if the weather is good. read more

This place is great! I bring my dog here as much as I can. I let him off leash in their dog park and keep him on leash for the trails. The dog park is a long walk from the parking lot, so its not good for quick trips. Also, bring your own bags. They have a few doggie stations, but they're always out. read more

I just moved back here from California and the one thing I miss the most other than my friends is the hiking & trail running. One of my friends told me about the reservation and I decided to explore it, I went on a rainy day and didn't care, it was still amazing & breathtaking views. I tried both the blue & red paths; both were wonderful. I have a dog and I'm looking forward to bringing her with me next time for a walk and to the dog park. I would highly recommend this reservation to anyone and I look forward to bringing my clients here as well! read more

This place is awesome!

Awesome spot for hiking! Great paths and beautiful views! Plenty of places to park too!

Ahhhhh, in my youth I remember Breakheart as a great place to go for a midnight skinny dip or keg party. As an old man I find it a great place to walk, run, jog and take in some fresh air. My dog loves the many trails available, along with the awesome closed in doggy park that is provided. I try to drive up there at least once a week. Breakheart is only about 15-20 minutes from Boston and is truly a hidden jewel. read more

Nice place to go walking or jogging, but watch your step! I walk my dog there almost every weekend, and it seems like only a handful of people actually clean up after their dogs, which makes the rest of us look bad. I also have to agree that the fenced in dog run is quite small, and my dog can't really get up to speed before he has to slow down to turn. I realize that space is a premium, but this dog run is so small, it's almost like the people planning the park said "Hey, we've got a couple hundred extra feet of fence, want to build a dog park?" read more

Was hoping for a better swimming area, that's why we came here. Was disappointed to walk a mile from parking lot to find a small beach area. I guess you can park elsewhere and there's a shorter walk though. The park looks very clean and spacious. Even the small beach has room to keep 6 feet apart from others. If we lived closer we'd come back more often to check out the trails. Will come back in cooler weather for hiking read more

I was here last Sunday as well. Heard the band briefly as I was jogging by, quite a lot of people! I've been coming here a 1-3 times a week for the last 3-4 years for biking, jogging or walking/dogs. It's a fantastic area for people looking to get an excellent cardio workout. Depending on which entrance you use (I use the Wakefield side since I live here) the direction which you walk/run can make a SIGNIFICANT difference on the difficulty of your hike. Coming from the Wakefield side at the entrance; if you go off to the right side of the road(outter trail) it is a long hike but you will be going mostly downhill, if you choose to go towards the lower lake side and take the longest paths you will hit the most difficult hills and the toughest hill for a runner/biker will be right after you go past the Saugus side entrance and hit a hill of at least 250-300 yards of continuos hills at a steep grade. If you are used to walking on flat pavement most of the time, this will be a much more difficult hike. The outter paved trail is 2.9 miles and the inner trail/road is around 1.8 miles that loops around the lower lake. The beach is generally very busy during the weekends and summer holidays. During the summer there is always at least 3 lifeguards on duty until around 5pm. The swimming area is rather small given the size of the beach. I have been up there on a couple occasions last year on a hot weekend and they had park officials standing at both entrances turning cars away because both the parking lots and beach were over their capacity! As far as bathrooms at the beach, there are several "sani-cans" place about 100 yards from the beach. There was at one point a building near the water that served as a lavatory, but it's been closed now for a couple years I believe. read more

One of my absolute favorite places! I try to walk breakheart at least once or twice a week in spring, summer and fall and I have never had a bad experience. It is so nice to have such a beautiful piece of nature in the midst of busy cities and route one. I enjoy the option to walk either the 2 or 3 mile path and also if your up for more of an adventure there are plenty of trails throughout the reservation. There is also a great dog park if you bring along your pup. It is the perfect break from city living and I feel lucky to only be ten minutes away, this walk beats the gym anyday!! read more

We went to Breakheart for a ride with the kids today.. this is a real gem within striking distance of the commercial mess of Route 1. We took the short loop and it was just right for today. The paved roads were perfect for bikes... would probably be good on rollerblades too. read more

I really enjoy coming here. During the spring/summer I come once a week to mix up my fitness routine. We park at the Wakefield Vocational School, so there's plenty of parking. (100 Hemlock Rd /Wakefield for those of you looking for an address for your GPS) and we generally do the Ridge Trail which is nice and hilly to get your heart rate up. When we get to the paved road at the end we jog back. The last few times I've gone I've opened up MapMyRun app so I knew exactly the distance we were going. It's 2 miles of trail, 2 miles back on the paved road. Perfect little workout for us. It's also not overcrowded and the people you do pass are always friendly. I would for sure suggest coming here. read more

Who would have known that this great green space is located right in the middle of the concrete jungle known as Saugus? I will be forever grateful to my friend Ericka for telling me about this gorgeous place! Now, granted, I have only been here a handful of times, and each time, all we did was walk the paved trail (it's an oft-hilly loop of approximately three miles). The trail is really nice... it is paved, so I can bring the chibble in her stroller. About halfway through, there's a little beach area that also has picnic tables, porta potties, and a children's playground area. There's also a dog park called Bark Place (if you enter from the entrance on the right, it's about one mile in. If you enter from the left, it's two miles in). The few times we went to the dog park, there were no other dogs there, so we just let our mutts run free for a few minutes. Things we love about Breakheart: -- The walk is do-able by just about anyone - kids, adults, seniors, and animals. -- Terrain is hilly, which makes for a good workout that you can fit in in under an hour -- Trees everywhere, and a beach halfway through so you can stop and relax -- Facilities are available (bathrooms, and there are also trashbarrels all around). -- Easily accessible by car, free parking Things that could be improved: -- no water fountains, anywhere :-( I thought my small dog was going to pass out the first time we hiked here. From now on, I bring water with me, but it'd be nice if they had drinkable water around (the lake water doesn't count). -- gets crowded during peak hours. The path is wide enough for two lanes of people to walk past each other, but when there are a lot of people, it gets a little squishy. -- mosquitoes. Everywhere! bring bug spray if you go at dusk or dawn. -- I read in the paper a few weeks ago that a woman was assaulted here. PLEASE be careful when you are walking (not just here, but anywhere). Be alert of your surroundings, and don't go when it's dark. Stick to the paved path if you are alone. It has more foot traffic than the dirt trails. -- The two trail entrances are incredibly NOT stroller friendly. They have these little roadblocks in the way that aren't wide enough for a stroller to get through. HIGHLY annoying. All in all, we really enjoy coming here! read more

Saugus isn't generally seen as a place to enjoy the great outdoors (unless you sit in the parking lot of Prince Pizzeria with the windows down and enjoy the delicious smells of oregano and cornmeal), but Breakheart Reservation isn't just a great place to get outside, but it is also one of the most rugged spots in the Greater Boston area. Some of the trails are very steep and dicey in places, and the trails around the ponds bring people to some really pristine spots. The place can get crazy in the summer (there is a popular beach here), but most of the time it is a pretty peaceful place. And the visitor center is actually a rustic lodge complete with a fireplace. Tough to beat that.... read more

Breakheart is conveniently located halfway between Medford and the Salem-Peabody area, just off Route 1. The park has nicely paved walking trails as well as offroad trails. The reservation is big enough that once you're inside, you won't realize how close you are to a major highway. Also, parking is free and I've never had a problem getting a spot. About a 10 minutes' walk from the Saugus parking lot is Bark Place, a fenced-in off-leash dog park. There are trash barrels (not all state parks have them away from the lot!) and the dog park's surface is mulch chips, which is nice because it doesn't turn to mud. read more

Great and peaceful park NH atmosphere My husband and I luv waking the trails :) Parking is just ok always crowed Pond view is peaceful and relaxing read more

I can't believe that I grew up in Wakefield and never walked Breakheart. It was a great workout!!! The scenery is beautiful. It is wooded so you are somewhat shaded from the sun which is nice on really sweltering day. The path that I took was a little over 3 miles with quite a few hills. I have a feeling I used some muscles trekking over those hills!!! I'm heading there again tomorrow! read more

We love this place! We love it so much I do not want to write a review about it because I do not want more people to come here! Great place for kids and strollers! Walking paths are paved and in the shade, lots of hills so it is a good work out. read more

They were doing fire alarm testing in my building one day so my bf and I packed up the dog and headed to Breakheart. There isn't a ton of parking there but they have a nice visitor center with decent bathrooms (though I overheard two women blaming Obama for the thin toilet paper). They also have free maps so you can access their many many trails. It takes some getting used to, especially if you aren't used to hiking, but it was a lot of fun roaming through the woods with the dog. I recommend finding the bridge over the creek. It's nothing remarkable, I just like little foot bridges. They also have an enclosed dog run area. It's not the nicest, but it's completely enclosed with no visible holes in the fence. It was November so we did not go to the beach, but I really enjoyed our trip there and will be back. read more