1. Beaver Brook Historic Reservation

This 59 acre site is currently owned by the MA Department of Conservation & Recreation and is the first reservation in the Metropolitan Park System which in turn is the first such system in the nation. The park is dissected by Trapelo Road: the southern part has rocks and fountain playground for children, paved trails, and large open areas for picnicking. The part north of Trapelo has two duck ponds, a little waterfall, and historic buildings. Click here for more information and a map of the site’s trails (PDF file).

2. Upper Charles River Reservation - Landry Park/Lakes District

 A river touching the back of a town is like a wing. River towns are winged towns.  - Henry David Thoreau.

Charles River walk extends for 10 miles from Lakes District to Watertown Square and then Lower Charles River. It is continuous up to DCR boat launch on Woerd Avenue. Highlights include historic Waltham downtown, dam, waterfall, and of course the river itself! Click here for more information and a map of the site’s trails (PDF file).

3. Prospect Hill Park

Visit the largest park in the city (252 acres) containing the Waltham’s highest hilltop. Little Prospect trail is easy and wheel-chair accessible with a beautiful view of Boston at 435 ft above sea level. Other highlights include a Dinosaur rock, well-developed trail network, picnic table and old stone walls. Click here for more information and a map of the site’s trails (PDF file).

4. Berry Farm

This relatively small site (30 acres) is adjacent to the Prospect Hill Park and contains wetlands and a vernal pool. Many signs point to the parcel’s former agricultural use - the foundation of the old farmhouse, stone walls crossing deep in the woods and numerous ancient “wolf” trees (large heavy-branched trees, larger and older than the surrounding woods, which formerly stood alone in a farm field). Several white oak and white pine trees on site reach 150 years of age. Click here for more information and a map of the site’s trails (PDF file).

5. Storer Conservation Land

This 108 acre site belongs to the city and surrounds Stonehurst, the Robert Treat Paine Estate designed by an architect Henry Hobson Richardson and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. This parcel’s highlights include historic homestead gardens and remnants of old-style structures and of an old colonial road. Terrain consists of hilly and occasionally steep woodlands. Click here for more information and a map of the site’s trails (PDF file).

6. Chesterbrook Woods

These 26 acre beautiful woodlands augment the adjoining Storer Conservation Land. Historic trails extend across both properties, and connect to the City’s historic mansion, Stonehurst. Click here for more information and a map of the site’s trails (PDF file).

7. Jericho Hill

This 6 acre summit of a hill is roughly at the same height as the town’s Prospect Hill Park and provides unparallel views of Prospect Hill, downtown Waltham, Boston and beyond. We suggest that you also visit a viewing point at Hardy Pond (see 8 Smith Point) after visiting Jericho Hill. Click here for more information and a map of the site’s trails (PDF file).

8. Smith Point on Hardy Pond

The site is part of a precious strip of pond frontage that has escaped the onslaught of development. This viewing site (less than an acre long) with two benches can be used for canoe and kayak landing, picnicking and bird watching. Smith Point is the first acquisition of the Waltham Land Trust with a greater goal of protecting the entire ecosystem as the Great Pond Conservation Area. Click here for more information and a map of the site’s trails (PDF file).

9. Shady’s Pond Conservation Area

In 2005, the City of Waltham acquired the parcel (35 acres) from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston and the parish of Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted. Venerable stonewalls crisscrossing the woods manifest this land’s history, which dates to 1636. The area was long used for wood lots, pastures and orchards, and in fact, the remnants of an old hilltop orchard still stand there today. Click here for more information and a map of the site’s trails (PDF file).

10. Beaver Brook North Reservation

These are the largest contiguous woods in Waltham (254 acres) containing great views from Mackerel Hill and cultural remnants of old Met State Hospital and patient cemetery. Click here for more information and a map of the site’s trails (PDF file).