Five Amazing Parks to Visit This Winter
Winter doesn’t have to mean bringing all of your workouts indoors. The Bay State offers a slew of parks boasting the ideal terrain for sledding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing near Boston and beyond. Plus, just two hours of snowshoeing can burn 1,192 calories! True story.
The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) manages more than 100 parks and estates around the Commonwealth and just released a new app called the “Go Trustees” app, which is available for free on iPhone or Android smartphones. While the app currently only showcases 20 properties, it includes the parks with the most established trail networks (a.k.a. the places you want to visit the most).
“A downside of our increasingly digitized lives is that we are spending less time outside,” says Barbara Erickson, The Trustees president and CEO. “This app provides an opportunity for technology to help reverse that trend. With Go Trustees, we hope to inspire more Massachusetts residents of all ages to get out, be active, and enjoy our many wonderful sites together.”
The interactive app has maps that can help plan your outdoor winter adventure, whether you prefer a Sunday slushy stroll or a more fitness oriented cross-country skiing afternoon.
Below, five parks that get even better after the snow starts to fall.
all photos provided by the Trustees
This park features 4.5 miles of trails, perfect for cross-country skiing, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Plus, you’ll find gorgeous water-edge views of the Charles River and abundant wildlife (even in winter).
At this 700-acre reservation, there are 17-miles of trails and woods, perfect for winter hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.
One of The Trustees’ newer, more off-the-beaten path reservations boasts 50-acres of land, a terrific sledding hill, and a one-mile hiking loop.
4. Francis William Bird Park, Walpole
Bird Park was created in 1925, and the 89-acre park offers 3 miles of flat pathways, duck ponds, and stone arch bridges, making it perfect for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
The Frederick Law Olmsted-designed reservation offers 4.5 miles of foot and carriage paths, perfect for snowshoeing, hiking, and cross-country skiing. Planter’s Hill, a popular sledding area, can also be found on the property.
