Great Hiking, Biking, and Walking Trails Around the North Shore

As the school year winds down and the weather starts to warm up, many will look to hiking, biking or walking trails to stay active after a lousy winter. Multiple trails can be found in the spacious, 640-acre Breakheart Reservation on 177 Forest Street in Saugus, right off Route 1. Breakheart features over 10 miles of biking trails, 5 miles of paved roads, and 5 miles of unpaved fire roads. For the aquatically inclined, there are two freshwater lakes in which to swim, Silver Lake and Pearce Lake. Fishing spots are abundant throughout the reservation as well.The Middlesex Fells Reservation boasts 2,575 acres of hiking, running, mountain biking, rock climbing, and skiing trails. There are two observation towers featuring scenic views of Boston and the surrounding area. There are also numerous vernal pools that provide habitat for many different plants and animals. In the summer months, sailing lessons are provided on Spot pond. The address for this reservation is 4 Woodland Road in Stoneham.
There are some shorter local trails if you’re looking for convenient, routine exercise. The Danvers Rail Trail is a non-motorized path that runs through the heart of Danvers. The path starts at the Wal-Mart on the Danvers/Peabody line and ends in the center of Topsfield, 7.76 miles later. Another trail is the Independence Greenway Rail Trail, which is newly instituted and runs through Peabody and Middleton. The trail is 7.4 miles long, beginning on Russell Street next to the Bostik Plant in Middleton and ends at the North Shore Mall in Peabody. A third popular trail on the North Shore is the Marblehead Rail Trail. The trail is shaped like a Y and winds through Marblehead, Salem, and Swampscott. The trail is 4.1 miles long. Bicyclists will particularly enjoy the Minuteman Bikeway that runs 10 miles long, starting in Arlington and ending at the Alewife train station in Cambridge.
If you would like to just relax and soak up some rays, Singing Beach in Manchester-By-The-Sea is one of many beaches that is popular among residents of the North Shore. Crane Beach is another popular beach and is part of the Crane Wildlife Refuge in Ipswich. It is a beach that features white sand stretching for miles. Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester has been patronized by sunbathers for many years. Besides the clean, sandy beach, it features a concession stand. During low tide there is a sand bar that opens up so you can walk out to a rocky island nearby. Salisbury Beach State Reservation is an ideal spot to go camping, boating, or lay out on the beach. It features a 3.8 mile long beach and a 483-site campground. Harbor seals are known to lounge on the jetty as fall approaches.

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