Breakheart Reservation in Massachusetts, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-30. Check linked official notices before travel.

Breakheart Reservation offers lake walks and forest trails in Saugus and Wakefield, Massachusetts. Choose a paved loop for a less demanding outing or one of the hill trails for a viewpoint. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation manages the reservation.

Lakes, hill views, and woodland routes

The Inner Loop, also called the Healthy Heart Trail, and the Outer Loop are introductory choices. Eagle Rock and the Fox Run–Saugus River loop are among DCR’s more demanding signature routes. Use these categories to choose a walk before setting off.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Choose the right walking route

An introductory loop and a signature hill hike are different outings. Carry the DCR trail map, allow time to return before sunset, and supervise children beside the lakes. Summer swimming arrangements do not establish a guarded beach outside that season.

Picnics and dogs

Use propane for grilling; charcoal is prohibited here. Hunting is also prohibited. The Barking Lot provides a fenced area for dogs to exercise off leash. Keep dogs under control elsewhere and respect other trail users.

Programs and group plans

Ask the park office about educational programs and arrangements for a pavilion or organized gathering. Confirm the requirements for your particular event before inviting a group.

Two entrances to plan around

The Saugus entrance is at 177 Forest Street. The Wakefield entrance, at 100 Hemlock Road, is closer to Pearce Lake Beach. Choose your arrival point before starting navigation rather than following a general map pin into the forest.

Nearby places for another outing

Camp Nihan Education Center is nearby at 131 Walnut Street in Saugus; check its limited weekly opening days before visiting. Revere Beach Reservation offers a coastal walk along Revere Beach Boulevard in Revere. Observe the posted street-parking restrictions there.

Follow a route through local history

The self-guided route collection includes Stories in Stone. Its five stops use surviving stone artifacts to explain different periods of the reservation’s past. Download the directions first so you can find the individual stops.

Picnic and accessible facilities

Facilities include picnic areas, a playground, restrooms, and a visitor center. DCR lists paved walking trails and accessible picnic, restroom, and visitor-center facilities, along with a beach mat and beach wheelchair. Ask about the equipment and route your group needs before arrival.

About the reservation

Forest and two lakes shape the landscape, but traces of earlier land use also remain along the paths.

Reading the landscape

The stone artifacts interpreted by Stories in Stone connect the present-day woodland to the people who lived and worked here. Follow the interpreted stops to connect the woodland walk with its earlier land uses.

Contact the park office

For conditions, programs, and group arrangements, call 781-233-0834. The official reservation page lists current visitor information.