Hope you enjoy this list of family friendly hiking and walking trails. Some are also dog friendly with leashes. I have added some YouTube videos for those who like visuals.
*The videos were not recorded by me but are public on YouTube.com
- Ward Reservation in Andover - get a mini workout and awesome view by going from the main parking lot to the top of Holt Hill. (Add Boston Hill to your route if you’re feeling ambitious!) There is also a beautiful and interesting ‘Bog Walk’ super close to the parking lot as well.
- Boxford State Forest
- Georgetown-Rowley State Park- The park offers various outdoor activities such as snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and hiking trails for snowshoeing.
Address: Rte. 97, Georgetown 978-887-5931 - Maudslay State Park- is a landscaped and decorative park along the banks of the Merrimack River. It features 19th-century plants and gardens, rolling meadows, tall pines, and one of the largest naturally occurring stands of mountain laurel.
74 Curzon Mill Rd
Newburyport, Massachusetts - Castle Hill on the Crane Estate
- Weir Hill North Andover Hours: Open for day use only (sunrise to sunset) Leashed dogs are allowed on the trail.
Directions to the trailhead: From I-93: Exit 41, take Rt. 125 North 7.3 mi. Merge left onto Rt. 114 West and then right back onto Rt. 125. Follow for 0.2 mi. and turn right onto Andover St. Continue for 0.6 mi., bear right at the fork, and continue 0.2 mi. to the intersection. Proceed straight for 0.1 mi., turn left onto Stevens St., and continue for 0.8 mi. to entrance and roadside parking on right. From I-495: Exit 42, take Rt. 114 East 1 mi. Turn left onto Rt. 133 East and follow for 0.2 mi. to traffic light. Proceed straight onto Andover St. Continue as above - Winnekenni- Haverhill
- Pug Pond - The park offers trails for snowshoeing, and Cross-country skiing. Address: 347 Kenoza Ave, Haverhill, MA 01830
- Bradford Rail Trail- Paved trail, great for running and strollers, bikes- The Bradford Rail Trail occupies a former Pan Am rail corridor, beautifying an area that once lay strewn with garbage and weeds. The city and numerous dedicated volunteers created the mile-long path for pedestrians, cyclists, joggers and other non-motorized users. The path extends between Middlesex Street and South Elm Street in Bradford. As yet, it has no benches or other amenities, and the trail is surfaced with a thin layer of recycled asphalt chips. As the Bradford Rail Trail has no lights, it will be closed at dark.
- Clipper City Rail Trail & Harborwalk
Methuen Rail Trail
Salisbury Point Ghost Trail
Newburyport Rail Trail- Start at Cashman park or Metzy Cantina Paved trail great for bikes and scooters.
- Salem Bike-Ped Corridor
- Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail- Crossing through wooded areas and featuring magnificent wetland vistas, the Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail (Fremont Branch) offers an 18.3-mile trail adventure from Epping to Windham
- Ipswich Wildlife Sanctuary (closed on Mondays) head down to the Rockery loop around a lovely marsh pond keeping an eye out for ducks, geese, and turtles. Bring some bird seed to feed the friendly chickadees.
- Diana's Baths- Diana’s Baths is a series of pools and cascading waterfalls on Lucy Brook about a three quarter mile walk on the Moat Mountain Trail (northern terminus). The section of the trail up to the Baths is ADA with benches along the way. There is a large parking lot, toilets, and trash collection at the site along with a self serve pay station. The parking lot is maintained for winter use. Due to safety concerns, parking along the roadway at this location is specifically prohibited.
- Breakheart Reservation in Saugus
- Ravenswood in Gloucester -Relatively flat but tons of rocks for kiddos to hop to and from in a beautiful forest setting. Tons of snails, frogs and nature sounds.
- Mt Agamenticus in York Maine - The absolute perfect first family mountain. Start at the intersection of Mountain Road and Mt Agamenticus Road and take the Ring Trail to Blueberry Bluff for some kiddo friendly bouldering. At the summit is Big A, a 1 mile universally accessible path around the wide open summit that’s worth a trip in its own right. Fisher is another trail option to the summit that offers more gradual switchbacks instead of bouldering.
- Check other locations on the Hike Trustees website
*Thank you Jenny Miller Houlahan for your tips on some of these travel locations- Jenny and her young family or three are avid hikers.
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