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Activity Recordings
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SaveClimb a hill for great views extending from the surrounding Merrimack Valley to the Boston skyline, or explore this sprawling landscape along almost 10 miles of trails.
What makes the Ward Reservation a special place?
Credit Mabel Ward for her foresight, generosity, and enduring love. In 1940, seven years after the death of her husband, Charles W. Ward, she paid tribute to his memory and their union by making an original donation of 153 acres to The Trustees. In ensuing years, the Ward family and others have made additional gifts; the reservation now totals 700 acres.
Trails link three major hills – Shrub, Boston, and Holt – and looking out from their summits you can see how the property melds with the surrounding landscape. The “Solstice Stones” mark the grassy summit of Holt Hill, the highest point in Essex County. This compass-like arrangement of stones indicates the cardinal points on the compass, the points of the summer and winter solstices, and the points of the spring and autumnal equinoxes.
At the base of Holt Hill, step onto a boardwalk that leads to Pine Hole Pond, at which point you may ask: Is this water or land? In fact, you are walking across a rare quaking bog, comprised of concentric rings of floating vegetation, each with unique growing conditions. The bog is home to a number of interesting plant species, including orchids and insect-eating pitcher plants. Stop at the numbered stations along the way, each of which signals an interesting botanical or geologic feature. Pick up an interpretive booklet at the bulletin board to follow numbered stations along the boardwalk and learn more about this rare natural phenomenon.
Trails
Almost 10 miles of trails, easy-to-moderate hiking, strenuous in places. Some of the trails here are part of the Bay Circuit Trail, a regional greenway linking the North Shore and South Shore.
When to Visit
Year-round, daily, 8am to sunset. Allow a minimum of 2 hours.
What makes the Ward Reservation a special place?
Credit Mabel Ward for her foresight, generosity, and enduring love. In 1940, seven years after the death of her husband, Charles W. Ward, she paid tribute to his memory and their union by making an original donation of 153 acres to The Trustees. In ensuing years, the Ward family and others have made additional gifts; the reservation now totals 700 acres.
Trails link three major hills – Shrub, Boston, and Holt – and looking out from their summits you can see how the property melds with the surrounding landscape. The “Solstice Stones” mark the grassy summit of Holt Hill, the highest point in Essex County. This compass-like arrangement of stones indicates the cardinal points on the compass, the points of the summer and winter solstices, and the points of the spring and autumnal equinoxes.
At the base of Holt Hill, step onto a boardwalk that leads to Pine Hole Pond, at which point you may ask: Is this water or land? In fact, you are walking across a rare quaking bog, comprised of concentric rings of floating vegetation, each with unique growing conditions. The bog is home to a number of interesting plant species, including orchids and insect-eating pitcher plants. Stop at the numbered stations along the way, each of which signals an interesting botanical or geologic feature. Pick up an interpretive booklet at the bulletin board to follow numbered stations along the boardwalk and learn more about this rare natural phenomenon.
Trails
Almost 10 miles of trails, easy-to-moderate hiking, strenuous in places. Some of the trails here are part of the Bay Circuit Trail, a regional greenway linking the North Shore and South Shore.
When to Visit
Year-round, daily, 8am to sunset. Allow a minimum of 2 hours.
Primary Trail Type: Cross-Country
eBikes Allowed:
No
Land Status: Conservation Reserve
Land Manager: The Trustees of Reservations

Access Info:
Most people ride to Ward Reservation from Harold Parker State Forest. It does, however, have two parking areas of its own, one on Prospect Road near the Bog Trail Board Walk and one at Brightview.
Links
Activities Click to view
- Mountain Bike
71 trails
- Hike
76 trails
- Trail Running
76 trails
Region Details
- 5
- 42
- 22
- 2
Region Status
Caution as of May 24, 2024Stats
- Avg Trail Rating
- Trails (view details)
- 76
- Trails Mountain Bike
- 71
- Trails Hike
- 76
- Trails Trail Running
- 76
- Total Distance
- 21 miles
- Total Descent
- 3,040 ft
- Total Vertical
- 245 ft
- Highest Trailhead
- 414 ft
- Reports
- 73
- Photos
- 68
- Ridden Counter
- 5,951
Popular Ward Reservation Mountain Biking Trails
Ward Reservation Mountain Bike Routes
title | rating | distance |
---|---|---|
Ward Fun Stuff | 4 miles |
Photos of Ward Reservation Mountain Bike
trail: Judy Family Trail
21 |
Oct 1, 2023 @ 6:19pm
Oct 1, 2023
trail: Elephant Rock Trail
51 |
Nov 1, 2021 @ 1:06pm
Nov 1, 2021
trail: Trail 7
33 |
May 3, 2021 @ 1:42pm
May 3, 2021
trail: Shrub Hill
21 |
May 3, 2021 @ 1:13pm
May 3, 2021
trail: Trail 39
27 |
May 3, 2021 @ 1:11pm
May 3, 2021
trail: Beth's Trail
22 |
May 3, 2021 @ 12:52pm
May 3, 2021
trail: Exit to Boston Hill CR
71 |
May 3, 2021 @ 12:41pm
May 3, 2021
trail: Lynn's Trail
36 |
May 3, 2021 @ 12:39pm
May 3, 2021Videos of Ward Reservation Mountain Bike

trail: Exit to Boston Hill CR
9:11 |
178 |
Nov 21, 2022 , Andover
Recent Trail Reports
status | trail | date | condition | info | user |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exit to Boston Hill CR | May 24, 2024 @ 7:30am May 24, 2024 | Unknown | mtbmike87 | ||
Five Crossings Trail | Jan 3, 2024 @ 6:22am Jan 3, 2024 | Icy | DeaDL0K | ||
Prospect Road Connector | Jun 24, 2023 @ 4:22am Jun 24, 2023 | Variable | Snowcrossmxz | ||
Bay Circuit Trail 1 | Jun 24, 2023 @ 4:22am Jun 24, 2023 | Variable | Snowcrossmxz | ||
Graham Trail | Jun 24, 2023 @ 4:22am Jun 24, 2023 | Variable | Snowcrossmxz | ||
Elephant Rock Extra Credit | Jun 24, 2023 @ 4:22am Jun 24, 2023 | Variable | Snowcrossmxz | ||
Cascades Trail | Jun 24, 2023 @ 4:22am Jun 24, 2023 | Variable | Snowcrossmxz | ||
Judy Family Trail | Jun 24, 2023 @ 4:22am Jun 24, 2023 | Variable | Snowcrossmxz | ||
Trail 46 | Jun 24, 2023 @ 4:22am Jun 24, 2023 | Variable | Snowcrossmxz | ||
BCT - Trail 40 | Jun 24, 2023 @ 4:22am Jun 24, 2023 | Variable | Snowcrossmxz |
Activity Feed
username | action | type | title | date |
---|---|---|---|---|
brindrel1 | ridden | trail | activity #59270115 | Sep 21, 2024 @ 6:30pm Sep 21, 2024 |
todd3324 | wishlist | route | activity #57010215 | Aug 10, 2024 @ 4:09pm Aug 10, 2024 |
Vooman82 | vote | trail | activity #54691144 | Jun 25, 2024 @ 3:30pm Jun 25, 2024 |
Vooman82 | vote | trail | activity #54691143 | Jun 25, 2024 @ 3:30pm Jun 25, 2024 |
KzW9dA | wishlist | route | activity #53950926 | Jun 11, 2024 @ 12:53am Jun 11, 2024 |
Recent Comments
username | type | title | comment | date |
---|---|---|---|---|
trail | Seriously fun rock gardens | Jun 18, 2022 @ 8:02am Jun 18, 2022 | ||
trail | This climb is incredibly steep. | Sep 5, 2021 @ 6:53pm Sep 5, 2021 | ||
trail | Tough climb but fun decent | Sep 5, 2021 @ 6:53pm Sep 5, 2021 | ||
trail | One of my favorite trails at Ward, with a... | Jul 21, 2021 @ 1:03pm Jul 21, 2021 | ||
trail | Best ridden the opposite way | Nov 11, 2020 @ 2:13pm Nov 11, 2020 |
Nearby Areas
name | distance | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stanley Reservation | 1.8 km | ||||
Purdon Reservation | 1 | 2 km | |||
Harold Parker State Forest | 12 | 101 | 26 | 2.4 km | |
Indian Ridge Reservation | 8 | 1 | 2.5 km | ||
Foster Farm Conservation Land | 4 | 2.8 km |
Local Badges
-
Completionist0 awarded
Activity Type Stats
activitytype | trails | distance | descent | descent distance | total vertical | rating | global rank | state rank | photos | reports | routes | ridelogs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mountain Bike | 71 | 20 miles | 2,887 ft | 9 miles | 246 ft | #2,146 | #1,153 | 67 | 73 | 1 | 1,239 | |
Hike | 76 | 21 miles | 3,041 ft | 10 miles | 246 ft | #1,650 | #1,012 | 73 | 177 | |||
Trail Running | 76 | 21 miles | 3,041 ft | 10 miles | 246 ft | #1,650 | #1,009 | 1 | 73 | 199 |
- By WillieJacobsz
Trailforks Map Team & contributors
- Admins: craftbeervanity, SiamDelightRules
- #27996 - 4,782 views
- ward reservation activity log | embed map of Ward Reservation mountain bike trails | ward reservation mountain biking points of interest polygons
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