Breakheart Reservation:
Two Free Lots, Two Lakes
Pick the Saugus or Wakefield entrance, then choose a blazed trail, a paved loop or, in summer, the guarded beach at Pearce Lake. Open sunrise to sunset.
Know Before You Go
- Hourssunrise to sunset
- ParkingFree
- DogsLeash requiredLeash no longer than 10 feet
- Swimming10:15 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.Lifeguard hours in season
Saugus or Wakefield: Which Entrance?
Parking at Breakheart Reservation costs nothing, and there are two lots on opposite sides of the forest. Use the Saugus lot at 177 Forest St., Saugus for the visitor center and the paved loops. Use the Wakefield lot at 100 Hemlock Road, Wakefield if you are heading to the beach: DCR says it is the closer of the two to Pearce Lake. Gates open sunrise to sunset, every day of the year, and DCR lists no entrance fee (parking details, hours).
Saugus Entrance
177 Forest St., Saugus. Visitor center, the paved loops and most trailheads. Parking guide.
Wakefield Entrance
100 Hemlock Road, Wakefield. Best for the beach: about half a mile on a paved path to Pearce Lake.
Park Office
DCR, 177 Forest St., Saugus, MA 01906. Phone (781) 233-0834.
Drive Times to the Saugus Gate
| From | Miles | Drive (typical, no traffic) |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | 11.5 | 19 min |
| Worcester | 56 | 1 hr 15 min |
| Providence | 61 | 1 hr 23 min |
| Manchester NH | 48 | 1 hr 7 min |
Each drive ends at the Saugus entrance, 177 Forest Street. Road distance and drive time from OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM), checked 2026-11-06, from each city hall. Drive times are typical, with no traffic.
Turn-by-turn from each cityToday at Breakheart
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Finding Your Way on the Breakheart Trail Map
DCR's own trail map, last revised in October 2024, is a free download (our map page links it, with GPX files). It labels both lakes, the two entrances and six named hilltops; Castle Rock is the tallest it marks at 287 feet, and Eagle Rock sits lower at 206. Routes carry painted blazes, so blue leads around the lakes, red climbs to Eagle Rock, and the paved Healthy Heart loop is marked with green hearts.
Trail Map
An approximate outline of the reservation from OpenStreetMap with both entrances pinned; GPX downloads are on the map page.
Open the trail mapSix Walks, From Eagle Rock to the Outer Loop
Mileage, blaze colors and difficulty come from DCR's Suggested Hikes, Rides and Paddles sheet.
The quick payoff: a short climb off the Pearce Lake Trail, with the Boston skyline about 7 miles to the south.
Circles the upper lake, where swimming is not allowed, and crosses the stone Flume the CCC finished in 1937.
Car-free pavement that works for strollers and wheelchairs, passing the Barking Lot, the beach and Silver Lake.
Out past rock outcrops and the beach, then home beside the Saugus River.
Starts at the Wakefield lot and follows the rocky edge of the swimming lake.
The longer, hillier ring of park roads: Pine Tops Road, Elm Street and Hemlock Road.
Pearce Lake Swimming: Dates, Lifeguards, Which Lot
Swimming is allowed only in the marked area of Pearce Lake, and only in summer; Silver Lake stays closed to swimmers. For 2026, DCR opened the beach on May 23, 2026, put lifeguards on duty seven days a week from June 13, 2026 (10:15 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.) and shut the swim area on September 7, 2026. Park in Wakefield and walk the half-mile paved path. DCR also keeps a beach mat and a beach wheelchair here.
Dogs, Bikes, Picnics and Winter Skiing
DCR's activity list for Breakheart runs from hiking and fishing to horseback riding and cross-country skiing.
Hiking
Six DCR routes, from a lap of Silver Lake to the rocky spur up Eagle Rock. Plan on roughly 1.5 miles an hour, the pace DCR uses.
Trails & Hiking →
Swimming
A free, lifeguarded freshwater beach in summer, a short walk from the Wakefield lot.
Pearce Lake →
Dogs
Leashes of 10 feet or shorter on the trails, and a fenced space called the Barking Lot where dogs can run loose.
Dog Rules →
Biking
Ride the gated paved loops, 2 and 3 miles, alongside walkers. Under-17 riders must wear helmets under state law.
Biking →
Picnics & Programs
Picnic tables, a pavilion and a playground. Bring propane, not charcoal. Free DCR programs start at the visitor center.
Plan Your Visit →
Winter
The gates stay open through the cold months. DCR lists cross-country skiing; walkers and snowshoers should keep off the set tracks.
Winter →Breakheart on One Card
From a Lawyer's Hunting Camp to a State Park
Neither lake is natural. A Lynn attorney, Benjamin Johnson, dammed two spring-fed marshes after he took over the land in the 1890s and ran it as a private hunting retreat. The state bought it in 1934, and Civilian Conservation Corps crews spent the next years building its roads, trails and dams (the full story).
Camp Nihan and Places a Short Drive Away
Camp Nihan, DCR's 65-acre education center at 131 Walnut Street, borders Breakheart and rents rustic cabins and group tent sites through ReserveAmerica. For salt water, Nahant Beach and Revere Beach are both DCR beaches nearby. Lynn Woods, Saugus Iron Works, Lake Quannapowitt and the Northern Strand Trail round out a day (more in Saugus).
Parking, Swimming and Map Questions
Where do you park for Breakheart Reservation?
At either of two free lots: 177 Forest St., Saugus (visitor center, paved loops) or 100 Hemlock Road, Wakefield (closest to the Pearce Lake beach).
Is there a trail map of Breakheart?
Yes. DCR publishes a free PDF trail map, revised in October 2024, showing the lakes, entrances, hilltops and blazed routes. Our trail map page links to it.
Can you swim at Breakheart?
Only in the designated area of Pearce Lake during the summer season. In 2026 lifeguards worked daily from June 13, 2026, 10:15 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., and the area closed September 7, 2026. Silver Lake is off limits for swimming.
How long is the loop at Breakheart?
There are two paved loops. The Inner Loop, signed as the Healthy Heart Trail, is 2 miles and easy; the Outer Loop is 3 miles with more hills. Both are closed to cars.
How big is Breakheart?
DCR's map gives it over 600 acres of forest across Saugus and Wakefield, holding two lakes: Pearce Lake and Silver Lake.
Does Breakheart Reservation cost anything?
No. DCR lists no entrance fee, both parking lots are free, and the visitor center programs are free too.
When is Breakheart open?
From sunrise to sunset, year-round. The beach and the visitor center run on their own seasonal schedules.
Can dogs come to Breakheart?
Yes, on a leash no longer than 10 feet. Inside the fenced Barking Lot they can go off leash. Pets are not allowed at Camp Nihan.
Is Camp Nihan part of Breakheart?
It is a separate DCR property right next door: a 65-acre education center with cabins and group tent sites, booked through ReserveAmerica.
Are grills allowed at Breakheart?
Propane grills only. DCR does not allow charcoal here.