Autumn in New England is truly spectacular. The comfortable weather, bright foliage, and crisp air is the perfect recipe to enjoy a beautiful fall day.
Luckily enough, Revere has nature trails and reservations all around our city, which come alive with color and beauty as fall begins, including our own Rumney Marsh Salt Marsh!
If you’re looking to get outdoors and enjoy nature, there are an abundance of places to check out, just minutes from Revere, Massachusetts, and conveniently along the Route 128/95 corridor. Make a day of it in these three nearby reservations where you can hike, bike, and explore during these beautiful days of fall.
Middlesex Fells Reservation
Located just a short 15-20 drive from Revere to the South Border Parking Lot, the Middlesex Fells Reservation is a perfect spot to spend the day exploring this fall.
Not only is this almost 8-mile trail loop around Spot Pond in Medford, Massachusetts fun for hikers, walkers, bikers, or bird watchers, but you can also rent a canoe or kayak to explore the pond. This popular hiking trail is sure to allow for meeting friends to enjoy a full day of outdoor fun.
The trail is open year-round from sunrise to sunset, but the best times to visit are March through November. Bring your furry friend on a leash and let them explore with you or let them run free in the off-leash area of Sheepfold Meadow.
Free parking and access to the trails can be found at the following locations.
- Sheepfold parking area, Rte.28
- Flynn Rink, the Bottume House, and Virginia Wood on Woodland Road
- Greenwood Park, the Stone Zoo, and one “pull-off” on Pond Street
- Straw Point Parking Area on the corner of South Street and Rte.28
- Bellevue Pond, Long Pond, and other “pull-offs” along South Border Road
- Jerry Jingle Park on Lynn Fells Parkway (please use caution crossing to reservation)
- Crystal Springs Parking Area on Lynn Fells Parkway
- Additional “pull-off” on Fellsway East (Source Mass.gov)
Belle Isle Marsh Reservation
A quick six-minute drive from Revere, Belle Isle Marsh Reservation, located on Bennington Street in East Boston, Massachusetts is a perfect place to enjoy some solitude and a short walk among the marshes.
This nature walk is very child friendly as the trail is flat and short at a little more than half a mile in length. Most walkers can complete the trail in 15-20 minutes to the observation tower where you can savor the time to sit and enjoy the views.
The trail is open year-round from sunrise to sunset and is beautiful to visit any time of year but most especially in the fall when common pests like mosquitoes have seen their last bites this season. Dogs are also welcome and may be off-leash in some areas.
Parking is available in the lot inside the entrance gate at 1399 Bennington Street, East Boston, Massachusetts.
Breakheart Reservation
Managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation, Breakheart Reservation is located at 177 Forest Street in Saugus, Massachusetts a 15-minute drive from the heart of Revere.
Breakheart Reservation is a 640-acre hardwood forest with jagged, rocky outcroppings, two fresh-water lakes, and a rambling section of the Saugus River. There’s a lot to explore here with interconnecting hiking and walking trails.
Have fun swimming, hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, or enjoying the educational programs offered. The supervised swimming area at Pearce Lake is a crowd-pleaser every summer and is one of the few fresh-water swimming spots north of Boston.
Another popular destination within the myriad of trails is the hilly observation areas that provide vistas of Boston, southern New Hampshire, and central Massachusetts. Don’t forget to bring your camera as the leaves will be amazing during peak foliage.
Directions to the reservation: From north or south: Take Rte. 1 to Lynn Fells Parkway exit, follow Lynn Fells Parkway a short distance, and take a right onto Forest Street. The park entrance is after Kasabuski Rink.