Old Reservoir
Managed by Town of Bedford
64 acres3.5 mi of trail
Main Trail (blue) Reservoir LoopSecondary Trail (orange)OrangeSecondary Trail (orange) esker ridge+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0A+Outdoors
Outdoors in Bedford
Bedford has 48 miles of mapped trails, 3.5 for every square mile of land
23% of Bedford’s land is conserved, about 2,003 acres. Virtually every resident lives within a half mile of a park. 1,183 acres are parks and preserves, 80 per 1,000 residents.
Among the top 1% of U.S. towns · #42 of 283 in Massachusetts. What drives it
Conserved land
23%
2,003 acres · of 13.7 sq mi of land
Trails
48 mi
3.5 per sq mi of land
Park land
1,183 ac
80 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
99%+
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
12 mi
1.2 mi lanes · 7.4 mi paths
Highest peak
217 ft
Reservoir Hill
Lakes & rivers
11
2 beaches · 2 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Bedford?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
A trail town3.5 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, more than 98% of U.S. towns.Land that stays wild23% of the land is conserved; a typical Massachusetts town, 21%.Parks close to homeVirtually every resident lives within a half mile of a park.History along the way14 places on the National Register.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Bedford have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Bedford is among the top 1% of U.S. towns, #42 of 283 in Massachusetts. All four inputs put Bedford near the top nationally; trail miles rank highest.
A+
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Bedford’s overall grade.
Conserved land23% of the land · typical MA town 21% · U.S. 4%ATrails3.5 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (48 mi) · MA 1.9 · U.S. 0.4A+Park land80 acres of park per 1,000 residents (1,183 acres) · MA 91 · U.S. 13AParks close to homeVirtually all residents within a half mile of a park · MA 93% · U.S. 72%A
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Among the top 1%
LessMore
Massachusetts towns of 2,500+ (283)Ahead of 85%
Massachusetts towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 21%; the U.S., 4%), so Bedford’s 23% is ahead of 56% of Massachusetts towns, while its trails per square mile lead 84% of them.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would still be A+. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Old Reservoir, with 3.5 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Hartwell Town Forest
Nature preserve
120 acres2.4 mi of trail
Main Trail (blue)Secondary Trail (orange)Blue
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto Hartwell Town Forest parking
Huckins Farm Conservation Restriction
Nature preserve
217 acres2.3 mi of trail
Huckins Farm Perimeter PathTwo Brothers Approach Trail - OrangeHuckins Farm Perimeter TrailMain Trail (blue)+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
Managed by United States Fish and Wildlife Service
659 acres2 mi of trail
Huckins Farm Perimeter TrailMain Trail (blue)Secondary Trail (orange)
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto Concord River Parking
Wilderness Park
Nature preserve
73 acres1.7 mi of trail
Wilderness Park Loop- Main Trail (blue)Secondary Trail (orange)Access Trail (Yellow)Secondary Trail (Orange)
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto Wilderness Trail Parking
Fawn Lake Conservation Area
Nature preserve
40 acres1.7 mi of trail
Main Trail (blue)Secondary Trail (orange)Access Trail (yellow)
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto Fawn Lake Trailhead Parking
Murray York Conservation Area
Nature preserve
36 acres1 mi of trail
York Main Trail (blue)Blue BlazeYork Trail Access (yellow)Yellow
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Elm Brook Conservation Area
Nature preserve
19 acres0.8 mi of trail
Main Trail (blue)
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto Reformatory Branch/Bay Circuit Trail Parking
All 67 parks & preserves
Old Reservoir64 acres · 3.5 mi of trail · Town of Bedford
DirectionsHartwell Town Forest120 acres · 2.4 mi of trail
DirectionsHuckins Farm Conservation Restriction217 acres · 2.3 mi of trail
DirectionsGreat Meadows National Wildlife Refuge659 acres · 2 mi of trail · United States Fish and Wildlife Service
DirectionsWilderness Park73 acres · 1.7 mi of trail
DirectionsFawn Lake Conservation Area40 acres · 1.7 mi of trail
DirectionsMurray York Conservation Area36 acres · 1 mi of trail
DirectionsElm Brook Conservation Area19 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsGovernor Winthrop Conservation Area12 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsBuehler Ponds Conservation Area9 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
Concord Road Conservation Restriction40 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
DirectionsAltman Conservation Area16 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
DirectionsGeorge Jordan Conservation Area36 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsMinnie Reid Conservation Area20 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsLindau Farmland at Pine Hill17 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Town of Bedford
DirectionsMary Putnam Webber Wildlife Preserve17 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsClark Conservation Area14 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsConcord Field Station81 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
Shawsheen River Conservation Areas33 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
Vanderhoof Conservation Area9 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
Conservation Restriction20 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsSprings Brook Conservation Area19 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsLittle Meadow Conservation Area6 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsPine Grove Farm Conservation Area30 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsDellovo Conservation Area15 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsValente Land12 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Peppergrass Brook Conservation Area21 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Coffin Conservation Area12 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Sudbury Valley Trustees
Daughters of St. Paul Conservation Area11 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Town of Bedford
Marcus Conservation Area3 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsWilson Mill Park3 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Town of Bedford Massachusetts
DirectionsCarlson Conservation Area15 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsBrown/Page Conservation Area15 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsGreat Rd Shopping Ctr Con Ar11 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsEvergreen Meadows Conservation Area10 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsHosmer Way Conservation Area9 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Langone Conservation Area7 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsHayden Highlands Conservation Area6 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsRedmond-Anderson Conservation Area3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Reeves Road Conservation Area2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Town of Bedford Conservation Commission
Corey / Page Road Conservation Area1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsHartwell Brook Conservation Area27 acres
DirectionsWhite Cedar Swamp Conservation Area24 acres
DirectionsLantern Lane Conservation Area19 acres
DirectionsPapkee Conservation Area10 acres
Flightline Park9 acres
DirectionsCappadona Conservation Area8 acres
DirectionsLouise K. Brown Conservation Area8 acres
DirectionsLillian Carlson Conservation Area7 acres
Mongo Brook Conservation Area7 acres
Kiln Brook Conservation Restriction6 acres
Frost Conservation Area6 acres
Anthony Conservation Area6 acres · Town of Bedford Conservation Commission
Doyle Conservation Area4 acres
Aquifer Lot4 acres
Poock Conservation Area4 acres
DirectionsSheldon Conservation Area3 acres
DirectionsWilder Parcel3 acres
DirectionsBrennan Conservation Area3 acres
Moore Conservation Area3 acres
Pickman Meadow2 acres
Engelhardt Conservation Area2 acres
DirectionsVeterans Memorial Park2 acres
DirectionsPage School Outdoor Classroom1 acres
DirectionsLane Farm Conservation Area1 acres
Eliot Park1 acres
DirectionsWellington Conservation Area1 acres
Who protects it
2,003 conserved acres
23% of Bedford’s land. Who manages Bedford’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service1,452 ac
Town or city1,080 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits185 ac
State natural resources16 ac
State fish & wildlife16 ac
Private owners5 ac
Not recorded404 ac
National Wildlife Refuge · 1,452 acConservation Easement · 913 acLocal Other or Unknown · 334 acLocal Resource Management Area · 125 acResearch or Educational Area · 123 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 521 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 11 of 114 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 1,452 | Restricted |
| Hartwell Town Forest Local Resource Management Area | Town or city | 125 | Open |
| Middle & High Schools Research or Educational Area | Not recorded | 76 | Open |
| Woburn Sportsmen's Association Private Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 44 | Restricted |
| George Jordan Conservation Area Local Other or Unknown | Town or city | 40 | Open |
| Fawn Lake Local Other or Unknown | Town or city | 37 | Open |
| Murray York Conservation Area Local Other or Unknown | Town or city | 32 | Open |
| Bedfordshire Commons Golf Course Private Conservation | Not recorded | 30 | Closed |
| Job Lane School Recreational Fields Research or Educational Area | Not recorded | 30 | Open |
| Davis Road Conservation Area Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 29 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
34 places to go in Bedford
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Bedford
2 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Swimming spots in Bedford
deep water swim lanes
DirectionsPublic pools in Bedford
1 public pool without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Playgrounds in Bedford
Lane School Playground
DirectionsTown Center Playground
DirectionsPlus 10 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks in Bedford
2 dog parks without a name on the map.
Boat launches in Bedford
Canoe and Kayak LaunchIn Wilson Mill Park
DirectionsRoute 225 Boat Launch
DirectionsScenic views in Bedford
Two Brothers RocksIn Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
DirectionsPlus 4 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Bedford
Reservoir Hill217 ft elevation
DirectionsHartwells Hill200 ft elevation
DirectionsCrosbys Hill197 ft elevation
DirectionsPine HillIn Lindau Farmland at Pine Hill
DirectionsPicnic areas in Bedford
4 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Bedford
Hanscom Air Force Base FamCamp66th Force Support Squadron
DirectionsTrails & water
25 named trails and 11 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 10.4 miHorses · 1.8 miUnpaved · 25.2 mi
Main Trail (blue)7.1 mi
Secondary Trail (orange)3.2 mi
Access Trail (yellow)1.6 mi
Massport Designated Trail1.2 mi
Wilderness Park Loop- Main Trail (blue)0.9 mi
Main Trail (blue) Reservoir Loop0.9 mi
Huckins Farm Perimeter Path0.8 mi
Main (Blue Blaze)0.6 mi
Main Trial (blue) Shawsheen0.6 mi
York Main Trail (blue)0.5 mi
15 more trails
Access Trail (Yellow)
0.4 miHuckins Farm Perimeter Trail
0.4 miOrange
0.4 miLeaf Pile trail
0.4 miLittle Meadow Loop
0.4 miPerimeter Path
0.4 miBlue Blaze
0.4 miMinnie Reid Huckins Farm Trail (blue)
0.4 miMiddlesex Comm. College Trail
0.4 miSprings Brook Park Trail (blue)
0.3 miTwo Brothers Approach Trail - Orange
0.3 miAccess yellow
0.3 miClark Loop
0.3 miFitness Trail
0.3 miMain Trial (blue)
0.3 miBiking & sports
12 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
1.2 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
7.4 mi
off-road bike paths
3.5 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
18Tennis
17Baseball
13Soccer
9Basketball
6Pickleball
5Equestrian
3Football
3Tracks
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →14 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 26 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Job Lane HouseBuilding · listed 1973
About itBacon-Gleason-Blodgett HomesteadBuilding · listed 1977
About itBedford Center Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1977
About itNathaniel Page HouseBuilding · listed 1978
About itDavid Lane HouseBuilding · listed 1980
About itChristopher Page HouseBuilding · listed 1990
About itWilson Mill-Old Burlington Road DistrictDistrict · listed 2003
About itBedford DepotDistrict · listed 2003
About itCenter SchoolBuilding · listed 2006
About itShawsheen CemeterySite · listed 2007
About itOld Billerica Road Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 2007
About itFarley-Hutchinson-Kimball HouseBuilding · listed 2012
About it2 more on the History page.
When to get out
The best walking months in Bedford: May to September
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.4 | 10.5 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.6 | 15.3 | 15.0 | 13.9 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.7 | 9.1 |
| High (°F) | 36 | 39 | 47 | 59 | 70 | 78 | 84 | 83 | 75 | 63 | 52 | 41 |
| Rain (in) | 3.4 | 3.3 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.6 | 3.9 | 4.4 |
February is the driest month (3.3 in) and July the warmest (highs of 84 °F). 4.6 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Bedford →
Next door
Bedford and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Concord125 miLincoln81 miCarlisle67 miLexington66 miBillerica54 miBedford48 miBurlington39 miPinehurst6.7 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford | 23% | 3.5 | 80 | 99%+ | A+ |
| Concord | 37% | 5.1 | 198 | 99%+ | A+ |
| Billerica | 12% | 2.1 | 30 | 95% | A |
| Carlisle | 21% | 4.4 | 434 | 96% | A+ |
| Lincoln | 37% | 5.7 | 408 | 99%+ | A+ |
| Pinehurst | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Lexington | 22% | 4.0 | 61 | 99%+ | A+ |
| Burlington | 17% | 3.3 | 40 | 99%+ | A+ |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Bedford
Where can I hike in Bedford?
The longest trail networks: Old Reservoir, 3.5 miles; Hartwell Town Forest, 2.4 miles; Huckins Farm Conservation Restriction, 2.3 miles; Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, 2 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Bedford is conserved land?
23% of its land, against a typical 21% for a Massachusetts town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Bedford’s trails?
Old Reservoir and Hartwell Town Forest don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Bedford?
12 miles of bike routes are on the map: 1.2 of painted or protected lanes, 7.4 of off-road paths and 3.5 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Bedford?
43,334 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Bedford or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 1,241 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Bedford have?
Among the top 1% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #42 of 283 in Massachusetts. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Bedford neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →