Pearce Lake

Pearce Lake is Breakheart Reservation's swimming lake, and the beach there is free, lifeguarded in summer and only a short walk from the Wakefield entrance. In 2026 DCR opened the designated swimming area on May 23, put lifeguards on duty every day from June 13, 10:15 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., and closed it on September 7. Swimming anywhere else in the park, including Silver Lake, is not allowed.

The Beach and Swim Area

DCR's page for the reservation says supervised swimming at Pearce Lake draws a crowd each summer. On DCR's trail map, the beach sits on the lake's shore with symbols for a lifeguard first-aid station and a playground, and the lake is labeled "swimming in designated area only." The designated area is the only place in the park to swim. DCR's lifeguard table lists the lake by its formal name, John A. Pearce Lake; the trail map and older guides call it the Lower Pond. DCR's hiking guide describes the beach as picturesque, with swimming, picnic areas and a playground beside it. With no parking fee and a lifeguard on duty, it is the obvious summer stop for families in the towns around it.

2026 Swim Season and Lifeguard Hours

From DCR's published table for its guarded beaches:

• Opened: May 23, 2026.
• Early season: lifeguards on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, May 23 to June 12.
• Full coverage: seven days a week, 10:15 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., from June 13.
• Closed: September 7, 2026, when lifeguard coverage ended.

DCR says opening dates and lifeguard schedules depend on staffing and training. It posts each year's dates on the same page; we will update this page when the 2027 table appears.

Getting to the Beach

The quickest way in is the Wakefield entrance at 100 Hemlock Road, which DCR names as the closer lot to Pearce Lake Beach. From the gate, take the paved path to the left; it reaches the beach in about half a mile. From the Saugus entrance at 177 Forest Street, the paved Inner Loop and Outer Loop both pass the beach, and the Fox Run Trail climbs over gentle hills to reach it. Parking at both lots is free. See parking for directions.

Accessibility

DCR provides a beach mat at the Pearce Lake beach and has a beach wheelchair available, and the paved loops to it are suitable for strollers and mobility aids. Accessible restrooms and picnicking are on DCR's list for the reservation. More on plan your visit.

The Pearce Lake Trail

If you would rather walk around the lake than swim in it, the blue-blazed Pearce Lake Trail is one of DCR's signature hikes: 2.4 miles, rated easy, from the Wakefield entrance. Walk the paved path to the beach, then follow the shoreline into the woods to find the blazes. The lake circuit itself is 1.4 miles and passes rocky outcrops with views across the water. The trail shares some sections with other blazed paths, so watch the color. A red-blazed side trip climbs Eagle Rock, which DCR says gives some of the best views in the park, including the Boston skyline.

Pearce Lake vs. Silver Lake

Breakheart has two lakes, and only one is for swimming. DCR's map labels Silver Lake, the Upper Pond, "no swimming." The two are connected by the Flume, a stone channel built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and finished in 1937, which sends Silver Lake's overflow into Pearce Lake. Both lakes were made by damming spring-fed marshes after 1891, when a Lynn lawyer turned the land into a private hunting retreat. The story is on the history page.

What to Bring

• Water: DCR warns drinking water may not be available on site.
• Sunscreen and a hat; DCR's notes recommend sunblock.
• Food for the picnic areas. Grills must be propane; DCR bans charcoal grills here.
• A bag for your trash: DCR asks visitors to carry in and carry out.

Also see the rules and fishing, and check hours before you go.