Massachusetts trails · Ward Reservation
Ward Reservation
A 9.2-mile network in Massachusetts, with 225 ft of climbing. Reaches Holt Hill and other summit destinations. Managed by WARD RESERVATION.
Elevation profile
The climbing leans toward the middle third: 46% of the ascent falls between mile 6.3 and mile 12.7. It gives back about 1,086 ft along the way, so it rolls rather than climbing steadily.
3-D terrain
USGS 3DEP ELEVATION × ESRI WORLD IMAGERY · VERTICAL ×1.5
Reaches
- Holt Hill (summit)
- Boston Hill (summit)
Heads up
Getting there
OLD CHESTNUT ST. access. 42.65179, -71.10175 · directions
Daylight at the trailhead
On August 31, 2026 — the day this page was generated — first light reaches this trailhead at 5:38 a.m., the sun rises at 6:07 a.m. and sets at 7:20 p.m., and the last usable light fades about 7:50 p.m. (EDT) — 13 h 13 min of daylight. At about 2.7 mph plus 30 minutes per 1,000 feet of climbing, the 9.2-mile route takes roughly 3 h 32 min, so leaving the trailhead at sunrise puts you back around 9:40 a.m. — 9 h 41 min before sunset.
Loop options
- BAY CIRCUT TRAIL + JUDY FAMILY TRAIL + WARD RESERVATION — 12.5 mi loop, 1,642 ft gain
- WARD RESERVATION + JUDY FAMILY TRAIL + BAY CIRCUT TRAIL — 9.3 mi loop, 939 ft gain
- NICK'S TRAIL + WARD RESERVATION — 9.8 mi loop, 503 ft gain
Nearby trails
- Peabody Bikeway Part 1 — 9.3 mi
- Essex Railroad Rail Trail — 11.7 mi
- Rock Circuit Trail — 14.6 mi
- Battle Road Trail (multi-purpose recreational path) — 17.4 mi