Breakheart Reservation

InLine Skating in Greater Boston

Terrain

Lots of steep hills

Surface

Smooth with some gravel

Scenery

Trees and forest

Auto Traffic

Light

Pedestrian Traffic

Moderate:

Distance

3-4 miles

Saugus/Wakefield

Breakheart Reservation might be classified as the “black diamond”(experts only!) of inline skating. Its challenging, paved, tree-lined paths roll up, down, and around two beautiful lakes. The paths are smooth and narrow. If you’re looking for some leg work and don’t mind some speed on the downhill side, this is a good place to skate. Please be careful on the downhills your first time out at Breakheart–some have sharp curves and it’s easy to lose control. Be sure to wear all your pads and make certain your brakes are in good condition. Breakheart Reservation covers more than 600 acres of oak, hemlock, and pine forest. In the center of the reservation are two freshwater lakes: Pearce Lake and Silver Lake. The lakes support pickerel, small mouth bass, and sunfish. Red fox, mockingbirds, chickadees, and great horned owls have all been spotted on the grounds. Legend has it that Breakheart earned its name during the Civil War when solders who trained there found it “lonely and remote from civilization,” thus breaking their hearts.

How to Get There

How to Get There To get to Breakheart Reservation, take Rte. 128 north to Rte. 129. Travel south on Rte. 129 towards Wakefield. In Wakefield Center turn left on Water Street and proceed about a mile. Then turn right on Farm Rd. About half a mile down, on your left, will be the entrance to the Northeast Vocational School. The turn is just past the Wakefield High School. The trails can be accessed from the Northeast Vocational School parking lot. You may also enter the park from Forest Street, which is just off the Lynn Fells Parkway. Take Rte. 1 north from Boston past Saugus to the Lynn Fells Parkway west. Forest Street is less than a mile ahead, on your right. The park phone number is 617-233-0834.

Where to Skate

Where to Skate As you enter the reservation from the Vocational School parking lot, make an immediate right. The path (Hemlock Road) winds east towards the Pine Tops Road. Along this path you will encounter several steep hills. When you reach the road, bear right. Park headquarters is about a quarter of a mile down this road. Follow this road past the headquarters parking area until you come to the beach. If you bring your swim suit, there are rest rooms in which to change. On the opposite side of the parking lot, the path (Elm Road) begins again and takes you back to your starting spot.

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Disclaimer

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The materials provided here are used at one's own risk; injuries do occur while skating. By providing these materials, InLine Club of Boston and the authors makes no implicit or explicit guarantee that you will not be injured while skating at these or any other locations. Skaters should wear appropriate protective equipment including a helmet at all times and should have developed plans for what to do in the event they suddenly need to obtain medical assistance.

The ICB makes no guarantees that the information provided herein is completely accurate or current. If you know of any discrepencies, please notify us so that we may correct them.