Middlesex Fells Reservation

Malden, Medford, Stoneham, Melrose, Winchester.
781-322-2851 or 781-662-5230

Open year-round, dawn to dusk. The Middlesex Fells Reservation's 2,575 acres offer a welcome retreat for city dwellers and a suitable terrain for hikers, horseback riders, rock climbers, cross-country skiers and picnickers as well as natural and cultural history buffs. "Fells" is the Saxon word for rocky, hilly tracts of land - an apt name for this scenic area which is rich in local history. This picturesque area was once favored for timber, granite quarrying, ice industry, and water power for the many mills including one that manufactured some of the first vulcanized rubber products.

Special features for visitors include the Sheepfold picnic area, Bellevue Pond, Virginia Wood, and Spot Pond. The Sheepfold is 10 acres of open field, ideal for picnics, frisbee playing and informal games. Bellevue Pond is a seasonal pond surrounded by trails and wide fire roads, some leading up to Wrights Tower which looks out over the Boston Basin. Virginia Wood, the site of a vanished mill village called "Haywardville" is now a dense hemlock enclave.

Things to know before you go
Trail maps for the Middlesex Fells Reservation can be obtained in the following ways:

• Sold at Bookends Bookstore. Located at 559 Main St. Winchester.
• Sold at Map Shack, Located at 185 New Boston St. Woburn.
• Or order by sending a SASE (with 2 first class stamps for each map) along with a personal check or money order made out the The Friends of Middlesex Fells Reservation (or FOF) for $5.00 per map.

Friends of the Fells
c/o DCR 4 Woodland Road
Stoneham, MA 02180

Special Programs
Programs focusing on the natural and cultural history of the Middlesex Fells Reservation are free and offered to the public year-round by the DCR and Friends of the Middlesex Fells. Mountain Biking rides and trail maintenance are sponsored by the New England Mountain Biking Association NEMBA.


Mountain Biking at the Middlesex Fells
Mountain biking in the Middlesex Fells allows the off-road cyclist the use of all Fire Roads. In addition to fire roads, there is a designated loop trail, which offers riders an easy to follow path around the Western Fells. This trail is marked by "Mountain Bike Loop" signs and green blazes on trees. This loop trail is about 85% on fire roads and 15% on a single-track trail. All other single track trails are off-limits to bikers. Trail restrictions are based on the sensitivity of soil, slopes, wildlife habitat, and public safely concerns. Please stay off trails marked with "No Bicycle" signs.

Recreational Opportunities
Mountain biking , Horseback riding, Observation tower , CC Skiing, Swimming , Fishing , Skating, Tot lot, Hiking, Swimming.

Directions:

MBTA: Orange Line to Wellington Station, MBTA bus #100 to Roosevelt Circle Rotary, walk south to the rotary, turn right on South Border Road, Bellevue Pond is 1/5 mile right on South Border Road. Sheepfold section exit on Elm Street, walk north on Route 28 about one mile underneath the overpass, sign is on the left.

From North 93 South to exit 35 at stop take a left under hightway at next stop sign take a right at first set of lights (rt28) take a right for Sheepfold enterance. OR 93 South to exit 33(RT28N) take first right onto South Border Road. Bellevue Pond on right. From South 93 North to exit 33(RT28N) for Sheepfold or proceed halfway around rotary and take South Border Road for Bellevue Pond.