Breakheart Reservation, Saugus/Wakefield, MA

It's quite fitting that we christen this new blog o' walkies with a post about a delightful walk at the Breakheart Reservation in Saugus and Wakefield, MA. It was a beautiful, if slightly warm and humid, New England day. We had been to Breakheart a couple times before -- once was a quick stop last Halloween to let the dogs off leash before going to see friends for dinner, and the other time was during the winter when it was rather icy and treacherous on the paved paths.

This was really the perfect day for a walk. We decided to follow the paths around the pond, rather than up the hill by the power lines. We didn't encounter that many people on the paths...they were all at the pond! Lots of folks enjoying the sun, and a few brave souls took a dip in what we're sure was still pretty darn cold water.

Toby and Simba didn't care about the water temperature, though! Once we got to some large rocks opposite the beach area, we took a break for fetch and swimming (for fuzzy friends, not us -- I was tempted, but didn't try it). We found some fishing line and a large hook left in the bushes -- oops! -- before it could hurt anyone, and hung it on a nearby tree.

The paths around the pond are a nice, leisurely walk with plenty of shade and flora to look at. At one point, you cross an earth and stone bridge over a small brook. Mosquitoes were out in full force, but manageable if you kept moving. A few rolling hills, but nothing at all strenuous. We let the friends off leash when we were far from the pond and not encountering many people, and we weren't the only ones. There is a small dog park area at the Breakheart -- we saw it during our icy winter walk -- but we didn't find the right path to it this time, and didn't feel too inclined to try it out on this visit anyways. We spoke with a fellow dog lover on the path who told us it isn't much, especially if no one else it there to play.

We have a feeling this will be a popular place once it warms up. The paved paths are nice for folks who prefer less rugged walking paths or want to push strollers in to the beach. We also saw some folks on bikes and scooters. The network of trails and walking paths, whether near the pond or not, is great for those who want a quieter walk or a little more woods.

This is one of those places just outside of Boston that you can't believe is so close to the city. Places like the Breakheart and the Middlesex Fells are so close to metro Boston, but are preserved, wooded areas for everyone to enjoy. We're enjoying exploring these nearby places on days when we can't venture terribly far afield.

We'll surely go back to the Breakheart. Perhaps once we get more readers, we'll want to come up with some kind of rating system or certain topical points we evaluate when posting about a new place? In the meantime, we'll just review the walk and post pictures for you to enjoy.