Breakheart Reservation Trail in Massachusetts

Living in the Boston metro area, there is always a beautiful place to hike, no matter the season. Since moving here, Mike and I have been exploring the big recreational areas near the city and also the small preserves located in all the little small towns around the metro.

This weekend, Mike and I decided to find a new place to hike as opposed to our usual, Myles Standish State Forest. We had heard about this hiking gem near the city, called Breakheart Reservation. We heard that there were some great views of the skyline from the top of one of the hikes, which would be interesting to see.

Beautiful hiking just outside the city

Breakheart Reservation water views

There are several hiking trails which intertwine to produce longer hikes. We probably hiked for 2 and a half hours. The views of the lake were gorgeous, unfortunately many of the trees still did not have any leaves. I imagine it would be quite scenic during the summer months with all green trees. The views of the skyline from one of the 200 feet hills was not as majestic as I was expecting, but pretty nonetheless.

Pond at Breakheart Reservation
The scenery is so relaxing
Boston views from Breakheart Reservation
The tiny skyline view from afar
Hiking at Breakheart Reservation near Boston
There are several nice pond views
Overlook at Breakheart Reservation
I imagine this overlook would be much more scenic in the summer

Altogether, the hiking was decent, although not the best in the area. Trails were not marked as well as I would have liked, and we almost got lost at several points. There are plenty of hills to get a decent workout in on the trails, and also a flat paved path for those looking for a less intense workout. The prime benefit was that this place was nice and quiet too with barely any crowds. Most of the visitors seemed to be walking dogs along the paved trail.

We prefer hiking amongst the trees, so we stuck with a few of the hillier trails like the Ridge trail. Hiking at Breakheart Reservation is a relaxing way to explore nature and get some exercise in on a weekend afternoon, especially if you are coming from the city. The beach is a nice stop for relaxing scenic views.

Beach at Breakheart Reservation in Massachusetts

Location/Parking

Plenty of free parking was available at the Saugus entrance. There are bathrooms, vending machines, and maps for your convenience. This is a great place to visit if you are looking for a bit of nature right out of Boston.

Breakheart trail map
177 Forest St
Saugus, MA 01906