This is a cool place! A decent escape without getting too away from the city. Parking is tight so go early or you could be shut out, people stay in their cars sometimes for a while stalking a spot. There is a good amount of trails great for walking, biking, dogs, whatever. As some other reviewers said, watch what trails you go on when biking. We wandered too close to a reservoir and were escorted back to real trails by a ranger in a SUV. I went with my roommate once to bike and witnessed a strange thing. As we were taking the bikes off the roof we noticed a lot inividuals checking us out in rear-view mirrors and people just sitting in their cars. Weird looks and whatnot also. Just then, it started down pouring rain. We went and biked anyway but all the parked cars drove off right away (maybe because of the ran) and lots of men came running out of the woods as anyone would (rain maybe) One of them said in passing "don't bother its all done now" very confused. I felt like we were being watched and like something not desirable (to me anyway) was going on in that parking lot and woods. Just speculating that it may be a rendezvous point for "FUN" Otherwise people are usually very friendly and polite. The trails were a lot of fun in the rain and were quite muddy, it was perfect! read more

We just moved to the area and were looking for a nice off leash park and walk. Yelp reviewers were right, this place is great! The off leash area at Sheepfold is HUGE; a wide open field that borders walking trails and there were tons of dogs. We read from other reviewers that you could easily get lost in the woods and so brought our phone and the google maps app has all of the trails! It seems you can get a print out of the trails at the station also, but we just came in and out by the dog park and didn't see the station. Also, not sure if this is any kind of indication, but this weekend is the first clear weekend in months here and the trails were really empty, we only saw a couple of other people. read more

We had a great time here with our dog! It's a great off-leash park with lots of space. There was a descent amount of parking as well which was nice (coming from boston and all..). I do have to say the lot was a bit difficult to find. However, it was out mistake by not looking at their map online, which clearly shows where the parking lot is. read more

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My girlfriend and I went here last weekend to let our 2YO Italian Greyhound run around. This place is awesome! The entrance is a wide-open field where we found many well behaved dogs running around a playing. Further back you can choose your own adventure by selecting many different trails to hike/bike along. Very nice to try and reconnect with nature for a short period of time. Highly recommend, and am probably going back this wkend! read more

This place is cool with some nice local trails. One of my personal favorites is to run on the roads around the reservation, but there are a great trails are the sides with endless options. There is also a zoo and a roller skating rink depending how bored you get. The best news is the neighborhoods are very safe for parking. read more

I love the Fells. So many trails with a view of the Boston skyline. Such a nice spot. My favorite spot is cascade trail so far with the waterfall. read more

I'm with Jeff D on the 5 star rating. I love going to the Fells to mountain bike, to walk my dog, to get away from the city for a few... It's a great spot, filled with friendly people of the same interest but contains some trails desolate enough to get away from people too. There is a reservoir there (Town of Winchester watersupply) that you have to avoid (else a $50 fine) but that's easy enough to do. read more

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Boston is so lucky to have such a huge park within the 128 ring road. To add another link to the list that Jeff D provided, this website has great photos of flowers by month, to give you an idea of what you can find in the fells, no matter what time of year you go! www.foundinthefells.com read more

For hiking available on public transportation, this place is pretty good. Really 3.5 stars, but a few details kept it from more. You can definitely forget that you are just a few miles from Boston and get lost in the fells. My beefs: There are no trail maps at all the entrances, and the trails within are poorly marked. What we thought was a loop took us to the other side of the park from where we had to figure out the path back to public trans. Its kinda dirty. I guess it is expected for how accessible this place is, but it definitely detracts from the hiking. That being said, I recommend walking around the reservoirs, they are beautiful. read more

Went on a hike here recently and I must say, it was pretty good. The paths are marked fairly clearly. I wish there were more paths of varying distances. Overall, it's a great path. Lots of bugs so bring your bug spray! read more

Perfect place for a hike with my dog. I never did find the off leash dog park and parking can be a challenge but I will definitely be back! read more

Middlesex Fells Reservation - Parks Near Me - Stoneham, Massachusetts

MOUNTAIN BIKER review: What a sweet and challenging place to ride. The diversity of terrain coupled with as-challenging-as you-want single-track, makes this place one of my favorite places to ride. NEMBA (New England Mountain Bike Assoc) also guides trail rides on Wednesday's - another great way to meet like-minded individuals sharing the same passion. Another great feature of The Fells is its proximity to: Arlington(10 minute dirve; 20 minute ride)- Medford- Somerville/ Cambridge and Reading! This feature alone is the reason for the 5-stars! read more

Nice enough woods to walk around in. I've been here countless times over the years. I used to know my way around these woods backwards and forwards. Now, I get lost in about 5 minutes. I hate that this reservation is here, because you have to drive alllll the way around it when you want to get from Stoneham to Winchester, but, fine ok you hippies want your "green space" so, here it is. I can only imagine what teenagers do here. Well, we went for a walk and it was kinda nice. Some easy trails, some interesting things to see along the way. Cute. Mountain biking paths are there. Rocks to climb. Etc. It's kinda nice. Assuming you can find a place to park nearby. read more

I love the Fells! Beautiful in any season, but especially Fall... read more

Middlesex Fells Reservation - fall leaves at the Fells - Parks Near Me - Stoneham, Massachusetts

Gorgeous! Came with a few friends today to get out of the city, and we weren't disappointed in the slightest. It's pretty accessible by public transportation- the 100 bus stops right outside and at Wellington Station, which gives it major points in my book. Plenty of paths and places to go for a walk, and we actually accidentally discovered Wright's Tower, which gives an awesome view of the reservation and the Boston skyline. I didn't notice any funny business, and I think it's hilarious that some people did- I think if you go on a weekend during the day, you'll see more families and less "couples." read more

The Fells is quickly becoming one of my favorite quick to-go places to spend some time in the woods without having to spend more than 15 minutes in the car. I spent a few afternoons biking through here years ago in college, and I remember always feeling turned around and not quite sure where I was. I've recently started going back to snowshoe, and I must admit I have the occasional heart-sinking moment that I'm heading even further from the parking lot in the 10 degree weather with no idea how long it's going to take me to get back. You can use the reservoirs as markers to pinpoint where you are, but I'd imagine that once the foliage fills in that becomes more of a challenge. That said, the place is big, but given it's location you can rest assured you'll eventually find your way back to something. I really enjoy how quiet it is in the winter. You'll come across a handful of people on the trails, but the majority of the time you're by your lonely surrounded by snow-covered trees and reservoirs that make you feel like you're hours away from the city. My one complaint is that the dog park people are a little intense, and have some work to do as far as cleaning up after their dogs. There's a little too much brown snow for my liking. read more

How can such an amazing park be so close yet not that known to Bostonians? I love hiking here. It has everything to offer from lake view to a quick stroll to a strenuous hike. Open all year round and is free entry. There are several hiking and biking trails and the location is so convenient! read more

Love this place and the fact that it's so close!!! Definitely recommend to go anyway that is not too hot or with too much humidity since that's when the bugs come out. Also, I would suggest kayaking in the main lake! There is a spot where you can rent kayaks from that isn't too expensive! read more

For the mountain bikers, the Fells make a great place to ride. I stopped here a few nights a week throughout the summer to get in a quick ride after work. I usually do the reservoir (orange) loop counter-clockwise, starting from the north end of the park. One of these loops lasts about an hour and covers roughly 6 miles. There are some great little technical sections and some flowy ones, too. I think this trail is a good practice track to work on your skills (there are obstacle options along the trail) but also hammer out some fast and fun sections. Plus, it's so convenient to Boston, you can make a trek up here quickly. Tip: People let their dogs roam without a leash. I have no problem with this, but since the orange loop is open to horseback (I think?) and definitely mountain biking, it's not a good place to let a dog run free. I've been chased, almost bitten and nearly run over a few. Also, word for the wise, there are a few very rocky (loose gravel) descents on the fire roads. I've been bucked off by loose rock on one and it was not comfortable. read more

One of my favorite places to take a walk or hike on weekends. There are many trails for hiking or mountain biking. It feels so refreshing after a walk through a forest of pine trees or by the lakes. read more

AWESOME place for dogs all year round. I should know, I spent 6 months unemployed and takign my dog all over in a quest for entertainment. The open field of the park is huge and there are always dogs there. If you are there at the right time of day there are any number of dog walkers there with 5+ dogs each. I let my guy off leash and he just tires himself out. Parking can be a real bitch on the weekend so be patient. Also bring water as there are no facilities in the 'Sheepfold' area of the park. There is a large fresh water reservoir, but you might get thirsty too ;) read more

The closest thing to wilderness you will find this close to a city! Beautiful! Wooded! Rocks and hills! I did an amazing and very challenging trail run with my sister and I figured we were in a giant forrest! Great for kids and dogs too! read more

Jesus, tough crowd! Just take this place for what it is and what it is meant to be - a lovely, large stretch of woods with lovely ponds and reservoirs just outside of the city, where you can go have a nice hike or run and clear your mind. If you want the White Mountains, drive further out. read more

This is a nice place! A couple things I noted on my visit today: 1) Google maps for "Middlesex Fells Reservation" takes you to the Sheepsfold entrance/parking area. Sheepsfold is functionally a dog park on the weekends. If you are scared of/not into dogs, start at one of the other parking areas. If you're like me and you love dogs, this is a great place to steal a pet from someone else's dog :) Just be careful because there are dog turds everywhere. GRAB A TRAIL MAP FROM THE TRAILHEAD SIGN. The trails are mostly marked with plastic tags and spraypaint, but you'll definitely be wanting a map. 2)There's a hole in the fence in the left middle of the sheepsfold area that will put you directly onto the reservoir trail, which is much nicer than the trails immediately connected to sheepsfold. The path through the hole is well-worn and it's obviously kosher to use it 3) The walk to Bear Hill Tower is easy, and there are good views to be had from the tower, but the tower itself and the area around it are an eyesore. The tower is covered in graffiti and there's garbage everywhere. I don't see the merit in hiking north from the sheepsfold on Bear Hill trail....you're either in earshot of the 93 freeway or in plain sight of a shipping facility the whole time; not super nature-y. 4)If you hit the reservoir trail and pick a hiking trail from there, there are lots of great pictures to be had and a good mix of steep/narrow trails and well-worn road-type trails. Just watch for rocks and tree roots if you're jogging. 5) Although it's pretty, there's not much wildlife to be had here outside of cute little birds hopping around and moody 11-year-olds dragged on a walk with their parents. If you are not a dog person, don't come here on the weekend. People are supposed to leash their dogs, but they definitely don't. I don't mind random dog encounters, but if you're afraid of big dogs loping towards you off-leash, This isn't really the place. All-in-all, a fun afternoon and a nice little neighborhood place that I will definitely be exploring again in the near future! read more

We've come to the Fells a few times now since moving to the area last fall and have really enjoyed our visits! If you live in the Medford-Somerville area and want to get away from the city environment for a bit, this is definitely a good spot to go. In addition to some great views of Boston (it can be busy on nice days, but climbing up to Wright Tower is worth it if you want a gorgeous view of the Boston skyline!) and a woodsy environment (you forget how close you are to 93), there are lots of different trails, at a variety of levels (but nothing too tough), for walking, jogging, running, hiking, biking, or dog-walking. I'm just getting into hiking, and the Fells is definitely a great place to start--we've done a piece of the Skyline Trail to-date, and it's not too tough in old sneakers (although hiking boots would be better). We're hoping to do the whole Skyline Trail at some point--I'm guessing that's going to require at least a half-day commitment. On the parts of the trail we've been on so far, the changes in elevation are quite manageable and the rocky areas aren't too bad--there were a couple of moments where I wished my rather short legs were a couple of inches longer, but I got through them without too much travail. The markings for the paths are so-so... if it's your first visit and you're not good with directions, you might want to print out a map beforehand. We've run across a couple of very lost people on our visits, and the area is big, so that can be a problem (although the paths do cross and loop around one another fairly frequently). The Skyline Trail hasn't been too busy, the days we've visited, although if you go into more popular areas like the Tower and/or stay on easier-to-navigate trails, you'll run into more people (and a bit more litter). We usually park in or around a small parking area by the Bellevue Pond, which starts you off only a short distance away from the Tower and Panther Cave (less exciting than it sounds). It can be a bit tricky to find a place to park on busier days, although this part of the reservation seems like it's much less busy than the Sheepfold area. Of course, now that I've said that, it's going to be impossible to find parking next time we go... As others have pointed out, there are a lot of dogs in the park, most of them not on leashes. I'm more of a cat person, so this makes me a little nervous, but generally-speaking the dogs we've run across on our visits have been quite well-behaved. They've generally been more interested in sticking near their owners and checking out all the smells along the trails than in us. Combined with the presence of lots of people, though, this does mean that you're not going to see quite as much wildlife as you would at a less popular park (the area isn't really ideal for serious birders). That being said, we were happy to see a few songbirds (mostly chickadees) and a vibrantly-feathered Mallard duck on our last visit! read more

Love it! Love it! Love it! I go here to mountain bike once or twice a week and would go everyday if possible. There is a ~7 mile mountain bike trail that surrounds the reservation which can be difficult to follow if it's your first time, but becomes second nature after frequent visits. You do meet hikers, dog walkers, joggers, etc along the way which are mostly friendly....so long as you are courtious to them ( a motto to live by everywhere). Be aware, this isn't that serious of a trail, so if you are serious rider you won't find much of a challenge, but you will find fun and exercise. However, if this is your first time mountain biking you will need the appropriate equipment (quality hardtail or full suspension bike) and can expect to walk some of the trail. My suggestion is to go around once one direction and then turn around and go once the other way. read more

Probably good if you're here for your dog, but completely awful for hiking. I parked in the main parking area and couldn't find the supposed "main trail" listed on the website and the sign. After finding it with google maps, it turned out to be a flat boring road for the full five miles and didn't have one single trail marker. Changed up and went on the difficult trail. Much nicer. Took it to the summit and lost the trailhead because the markers tapered off. Every so often you come across a fork without labels and that just seems to be the norm. No thank you, not for me. read more

For a close series of hikes to the city, I like the Fells okay - but find the terrain overused, un-necessarily paved, and sort of dirty (litter, cig buts, dog shite). You can catch amazing views of the skyline and the amount of lakes, ponds and streams is picturesque- but I prefer the more wilderness feel of Blue Hills for my close in mini hikes. read more

Yelp brings this up when I look up "parks" so I was annoyed when I got there and realized it's basically a bunch of trails. I had my twin infants with me and realized upon reaching there that it's not accessible to me. Wish someone had mentioned this. I'm sure it's a nice place once you get inside. read more

IF you are not familiar with the trails...BE CAREFUL. We decided to take nice leisurely hike with our dog (who was a puppy at the time). We ended up in the next city near 93 and had to follow the road back to our car, while carrying a 12 pound ball of fur. read more

This is a beautiful place to spend a day when you want to get out of the city. You can walk, run or hike the trails, bike, relax, bring your dog, etc. read more

I did the Skyline trail today, and it was really nice, especially for being so close to the city! It was reasonably difficult (not mountain climbing, but there were lots of ups and downs!) and took 3.5 hours, and I hike at probably slightly-above-average speed. Once you're on the trail, it's very well marked, but going from one trail to another is pretty tough, even with a map. There are a lot of trails! On that note, the other trails seemed pretty busy (Patriots Day, low 60s), but the one I was on was fairly quite, except when it intersected other trails. read more

One of the better options for hiking/walking in an area that feels somewhat secluded and is super easy and convenient to get to from Boston - you can do it entirely with public transportation by subway and bus. If you can't make it the Blue Hills or up to NH and want something to whet your appetite, I highly recommend the Skyline Trail for a nice warm up. It's the longest trail in the park (about 7 miles) and has at least a bit of cumulative elevation gain (I'd guess around 1,000 feet). read more

The Fells is a great place for dogs. Sheepfold, the park in the middle, is a place where dogs can legally run and play off-leash. Dogs are not allowed off-leash in other areas, but many dog owners do walk their dogs off-leash on the trails. I have never run into an aggressive, or even overly enthusiastic dog on the path- the dogs I've run into have stuck with their owners and largely ignored me. I appreciate that it's almost impossible to exercise some large breeds without long off-leash hikes, and have no problem with running into dogs off-leash on the paths, as long as they're under voice command, and not destroying the wildlife. To be fair, though, I do have a dog. Sometimes people try to have picnics in the Sheepfold area, which seems misguided. We take our dog most weekend/holiday days. She loves it. Minus one half star for cranky people for whom merely seeing a dog is enough to trigger an irritable (or even frightened) emotional response. Minus one other half star for the few people who give these people something to justify their crankiness (you know, the owners of the one dog that one time jumped on or chased all of these people who report that they're CONSTANTLY being jumped on and chased). Keep your doggies under control, and no one will have any complaints. What a mecca in the middle of Medford! read more

We saw so many dogs hiking today, it was mind boggling. Black dogs, brown dogs, white dogs, fuzzy dogs, 20lb dogs, 200lb dogs, dogs playing around, dogs going for a swim, dogs barking, sniffing, rolling on the ground... you think of a type of dog then turn around and WOOF there is that very dog wagging its tail and panting with its tongue out. If you want to imagine how many dogs we saw at this place, first think of a lot of dogs, then double that number of dogs, and double it AGAIN. There were THAT many dogs! We also got surprisingly lost during the hike. Initially trying to take the west side trail with orange blazers, we got lost and found our way onto trails with blue blazers, green blazers, red blazers, grey blazers and white blazers. As a result we ended up hiking on every single trail on the west side of the hill. Luckily a couple that had similarly gotten lost in the past were able to give us rough directions on how to get back to the parking lot. Be prepared to get lost but have a wonderful time. And be sure to check out the tower! read more

We live in stoneham so this is the place to go every weekend to walk my dog the people who go there are very respectful and super nice! You can rakish spend 3 hours hiking all around there are also small hikes nothing too steep. The only thing I wished was that they would allow swimming on the lake. Little tip if you are going on the weekend arrive around 9 or 10 at the latest the parking lot fills up fast and sometimes they close the parking lot until 1pm because it gets so full. read more

Hiked the skyline trail today with my pups. Very well maintained and marked, with exception of one spot where a few trails merge. Definitely will be back. Also- there was a ton of glass broken by the Wrights tower- which is so not cool when you have dogs... So watch out for that. read more

The Fells are great - awesome to have this so close to the city. Having lived pretty close to it for awhile and having walked my dogs all over the place I will have to say that I have more than once come across couples hooking up in the woods. Especially in and around the sheepfold - always a little surprising. So just keep this in mind and remember it spans a good area - you can get caught up in the walk and end up on the other side of town with no loopback. read more

This review is for Sheepsfold ONLY. The rest of the fells is WONDERFUL! We brought our BMD here on probably the busiest day of the year- over 50 dogs in one area and so therefore things are bound to get out of hand. There seemed to be some aggressive dogs and some irresponsible/ignorant owners. One dog actually attacked another dog (believe to be a pit bull) and the owners were yelling at each other about it for quite sometime. The owner of the dog who attacked the other did not take responsibility for his dog and was reluctant to take his dog elsewhere. It ruined the atmosphere. I think I will just stick to the trails from now on. read more

I love going to the Fells. Those of us who live in the greater Boston area are lucky to have it so close by. So what if it's bisected by a major highway? Just pretend that the all-pervading whooshing sound is not coming from the tires of thousands of angry motorists racing in and out of the metropolitan area -- but rather the rushing of an enormous pristine waterfall that you can never seem to find, at the bottom of which frolic some benevolent and man-loving magical creatures. read more