Directions to Breakheart Reservation:
From north or south:
Take Rte. 1 to Lynn Fells Parkway exit, follow Lynn Fells Parkway a short distance,
(in vicinity of Target, Marshall's, and Shaw's,across from Petrie's Florist),
take a right onto Forest Street. Park entrance is after Kasabuski Ice Skating Rink.
The park is open year-round from dawn to dusk.
May 16, 2009 marked the 75th Anniversary of Breakheart Reservation as a state park.
Breakheart Reservation is a 640-acre hardwood forest with jagged, rockyoutcroppings,
two fresh-water lakes, and a rambling section of the Saugus River.
Seven rocky hills, over 200 feet high, provide vistas of Boston, southern New Hampshire and
central Massachusetts. An extensive trail system through the woodlands guides visitors to
various areas of the reservation. Fishing in Silver and Pearce Lakes, hiking the trails and birdwatching by the Saugus River are popular year-round activities.
The reservation is closed to vehicles year round, providing a fresh airatmosphere for visitors.
Parking is available at the Forest Street parking lot in Saugus, and the Northeast Vocational School parking lot in Wakefield.
The supervised swimming area at Pearce Lake, one of the few fresh- water swimming spots
north of Boston, draws crowds in the summer. In addition to its natural resources, the
reservation has a rich cultural history.
Full Access Trail The Friends of Breakheart, along with the General Electric Employee’s Good Neighbor Fund,
the Saugus River Watershed Council, and the Departmentof Conservation and Recreation are
currently constructing a full access nature trail at the reservation.As part of this project, the
Friends contributed an all-terrain wheel chair that can negotiate the majority of trails at
Breakheart and can also be taken into the water at the beach.Chair use is on a first come,
first served basis.Inquiries may be made at the Visitors’ Center. click here for DCR North Region Winter 2009 - 2010 programs
Rangers conduct year-round programs that interpret the plant and animal life
of the woods and ponds as well as reservation management issues and cultural
themes of the reservation's past. In the summer, most programs begin at the
Pearce Lake swimming area. Many of the programs are suitable for children.
Special school programs are offered in the spring.
Call for information (781) 233 - 0834
Click herefor an Animal Tracks Identification card
Friends of Breakheart Our Board Meetings are held at the Breakheart Visitor Center,
usually on the first Saturday of the month at 9:30 am
All members are invited and encouraged to attend meetings. Light refreshments are served.
Please contact Ed Murray with any questions (781) 245 - 1789
Donation is $4.00 per person
or $3.00 per person if you bring a can of food
to be donated to a local food bank.
Tour includes:
Tree identification, tapping, history of sugaring, boiling of sap,
PLUS pancakes, popcorn, and cocoa around a campfire
Pre-registration is NOT required. For additional information, please call (781) 233 - 0834
Jointly sponsored by the DCR and the Friends of Breakheart
Breakheart Reservation Needs You!
Due to recent cutbacks in staff and funds,
your beloved reservation faces a big challenge.
Without your help, some programs and services
may have to be curtailed or eliminated.
How can you help?
By joining the new Breakheart Volunteer Team. The need for volunteers currently exists for:
Opening and staffing the Visitors Center
Movie Night staffing
A number of opening Maple Sugarin' interpreters
Park wellness checks
For more information please contact Ed Murray at (781) 710 - 3129
Breakheart Offers Trails for Hiking, Walking, and Jogging
Healthy Heart Trails DCR is excited to launch the Healthy Heart Trails initiative
to promote better health. Over 50 trails will be designated
statewide in the hope Massachusetts residents will make
them part of their regular exercise routine. Healthy Heart
Trails measure approximately 1.5 miles or less in length
and are easy to moderate. The Fox Run Trail to Saugus River Trail at Breakheart has been designated a Healthy Heart Trail.
The trail begins off the main parking lot near the visitor center. 1.4 miles Moderate
Breakheart is a great place for you and your dog to go for a long,healthy walk. Just remember to bring a leash and please pick up after your dog.
Mutt Mitts ™ are available in the dispensers at the reservation gates. Mutt Mitts ™are photodegradable, biodegradable pick-up bagsprovided, as a courtesy to Breakheart, for your use, by Beauty in the Beast and the Friends of Breakheart Reservation.
Please dispose of used Mutt Mitts ™ in the trash barrels located
throughout the park.
Please help us by taking only what you need for your walk, 1 or 2 bags.
They are there for everyone. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
Picking up after your dog is a service YOU can do for the community.
To learn how your actions impact us all, please read:
"No Child Left Inside"is a special initiativedesigned to encourage
Massachusettsfamilies and visitors to enjoy all therecreational resources
and outdoor activitiesthat Massachusetts state parks have to offer!
From Cape Cod, to Boston, to the BerkshireHills, it's time to discover the fresh air
and fun of the great outdoors!
I would like to express the sincere thanks of the Friends Of Breakheart
for the generosity of those who contributed to our Stuff A Backpack
program this year. With your help we were able to fill over one hundred
backpacks and distribute them to schools in our surrounding communities.
Students who started the school year with no school supplies through no fault of their own, now find themselves on an even footing with their
classmates.
Rangers conduct year-round programs that interpret 
Just remember to bring a leash and please pick up after 
