J. C. Phillips Sanctuary
Nature preserve
371 acres7.5 mi of trail
Mystery Train
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Photo: Fletcher6 · CC BY-SA 3.0A+Outdoors
Outdoors in Boxford
Boxford has 82 miles of mapped trails, 3.5 for every square mile of land
2,522 acres are parks and preserves, 307 per 1,000 residents. 24% of Boxford’s land is conserved, about 3,572 acres. 91% of residents live within a half mile of a park.
Among the top 1% of U.S. towns · #60 of 283 in Massachusetts. What drives it
Conserved land
24%
3,572 acres · of 23.6 sq mi of land
Trails
82 mi
3.5 per sq mi of land
Park land
2,522 ac
307 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
91%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
6.8 mi
6.8 mi paths
Highest peak
328 ft
Bayns Hill
Lakes & rivers
15
1 beach · 4 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Boxford?
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.Room to roam307 acres of park per 1,000 residents; the typical U.S. town has 13.Land that stays wild24% of the land is conserved; a typical Massachusetts town, 21%.History along the way9 places on the National Register.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Boxford have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Boxford is among the top 1% of U.S. towns, #60 of 283 in Massachusetts. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; trail miles rank highest, the share of residents near a park lowest.
A+
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Boxford’s overall grade.
Conserved land24% of the land · typical MA town 21% · U.S. 4%ATrails3.5 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (82 mi) · MA 1.9 · U.S. 0.4A+Park land307 acres of park per 1,000 residents (2,522 acres) · MA 91 · U.S. 13AParks close to home91% of 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 79%
Massachusetts towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 21%; the U.S., 4%), so Boxford’s 24% is ahead of 59% of Massachusetts towns, while its trails per square mile lead 82% 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 J. C. Phillips Sanctuary, with 7.5 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Boxford State Forest
Nature preserve
580 acres7.3 mi of trail
Winding Oaks TrailPrice TrailMystery TrainSummit
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Wildcat Conservation Area
Nature preserve
288 acres4.7 mi of trail
Marsh TrailWitch Hollow TrailLong Marsh TrailWolf Pit Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailhead
Coolidge Woods
Nature preserve
91 acres3.5 mi of trail
Coolidge TrailMaddock Trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Wunnegen Conservation Area
Nature preserve
141 acres3 mi of trail
Overlook TrailNorth Loop TrailEast Loop Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Cleaveland Farm State Forest
Nature preserve
178 acres2.4 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Potters Farm
Managed by BTA/BOLT
71 acres2.4 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Lockwood Forest Conservation Area
Nature preserve
112 acres2.3 mi of trail
Bay Circuit Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 69 parks & preserves
J. C. Phillips Sanctuary371 acres · 7.5 mi of trail
DirectionsBoxford State Forest580 acres · 7.3 mi of trail
DirectionsWildcat Conservation Area288 acres · 4.7 mi of trail
DirectionsCoolidge Woods91 acres · 3.5 mi of trail
Wunnegen Conservation Area141 acres · 3 mi of trail
DirectionsCleaveland Farm State Forest178 acres · 2.4 mi of trail
Potters Farm71 acres · 2.4 mi of trail · BTA/BOLT
Lockwood Forest Conservation Area112 acres · 2.3 mi of trail
DirectionsPrice Property276 acres · 1.9 mi of trail
Baldpate Pond State Park35 acres · 1.7 mi of trail
DirectionsBoxford Common Conservation Area75 acres · 1.5 mi of trail
DirectionsWillowdale State Forest112 acres · 1.2 mi of trail
Mary A. Herrick Forest95 acres · 1.1 mi of trail
DirectionsNason Conservation Land46 acres · 1.1 mi of trail
DirectionsWitch Hollow Conservation Area17 acres · 1 mi of trail
DirectionsPrice Reservation84 acres · 0.9 mi of trail
Boy Scout Park42 acres · 0.9 mi of trail
DirectionsElmlea Woods41 acres · 0.8 mi of trail · Essex County Greenbelt
DirectionsAnvil Farms Conservation Area27 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsLord Forest & Fields Conservation Area36 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
Shaven Crown Conservation Woods37 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · BTA/BOLT
DirectionsBoxford Town Forest29 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsMaddock Wildlife Reserve21 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Essex County Greenbelt Association
Perkins Woods18 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
Leonhard Farm75 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
Baldpate Pond Pasture19 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsBergstrom Land17 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
Carter Fields84 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsLord Main Street Cr24 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
Georgetown-Rowley State Forest23 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Dorman Woods8 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · BTA/BOLT
Fish Brook Parcel7 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Haverhill Water Supply Land14 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Peabody Pasture13 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Stephen Maddock Memorial Woodlot5 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsAlpers' Woods15 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · BTA/BOLT (Boxford Trail Association / Boxford Open Land Trust)
DirectionsChaplin Fish Brook13 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Holyoke Lot13 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Windrush Farm Conservation Area8 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Chaplin Perley Woods8 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Barker Property (BTA/BOLT)6 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Haynes Hay Field Conservation Area5 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsLowe Pond Trailhead3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Chadwick Mill2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsHemlock Junction2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Ingalls Memorial Wetlands51 acres
Stevens Pond Wetland22 acres
Killam-Wheatland Island20 acres
DirectionsPerley-Spofford Woods17 acres
Cargill Fields Conservation Area15 acres
DirectionsHaynes Wood Lot15 acres
French Family Woodlot15 acres
Greenler Reservation12 acres
Millbrook Farm Field Conservation Area12 acres · Millbrook Farm
DirectionsNobody Swamp10 acres
DirectionsWhitney Woods10 acres
Well Field9 acres
Livermore Woods9 acres
Shulman Wetland8 acres
Hovey's Pond Meadow8 acres · Millbrook Farm
Conservation Land6 acres · Essex Count Greenbelt
Johnson Field6 acres
DirectionsPeabody Orchard6 acres
Cross Meadow Reservation5 acres · Essex County Greenbelt Association
Peabody Field4 acres
Lanes Fish Brook2 acres
Fish Brook Conservation Land1 acres · Essex County Greenbelt
Dubrule Acre1 acres
Town Land1 acres
Who protects it
3,572 conserved acres
24% of Boxford’s land. Who manages Boxford’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Land trusts & nonprofits1,184 ac
Other state land575 ac
Town or city474 ac
State parks437 ac
State conservation138 ac
Private owners88 ac
Joint70 ac
Conservation Easement · 1,401 acState Resource Management Area · 841 acPrivate Conservation · 530 acAgricultural Easement · 388 acLocal Conservation Area · 342 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 834 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 24 of 179 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boxford State Forest State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 539 | Open |
| J. C. Phillips Sanctuary State Conservation Area | Not recorded | 334 | Open |
| Unknown Park Local Park | Other state land | 187 | Open |
| Cleaveland Farm State Resource Management Area | State parks | 162 | Open |
| Far Corners Golf Course Private Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 155 | Restricted |
| Wunnegen Conservation Area Local Conservation Area | State parks | 138 | Open |
| Willowdale State Forest State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 115 | Open |
| Rowley Village Forge Conservation Area Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 98 | Open |
| Mary A Herrick Forest Private Conservation | Not recorded | 94 | Unknown |
| Bradford Street Conservation Area Local Conservation Area | Private owners | 84 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
27 places to go in Boxford
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Boxford
1 beach without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Playgrounds in Boxford
5 playgrounds without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Boat launches in Boxford
Baldpate Pond Ramp
DirectionsFour-mile Pond RampIn Alpers' Woods
DirectionsPlus 2 boat launches without a name on the map.
Fishing spots in Boxford
1 fishing spot without a name on the map.
Scenic views in Boxford
Long Marsh Elevated BoardwalkIn Wildcat Conservation Area
DirectionsWildcat Ledge OverlookIn Wildcat Conservation Area
DirectionsWildcat Ledge OverlookIn Wildcat Conservation Area
DirectionsPlus 3 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Boxford
Bayns Hill328 ft elevation
DirectionsShaven Crown Hill322 ft elevation
DirectionsMount Hayman312 ft elevation
DirectionsRussell Hill302 ft elevation
DirectionsAustin Hill299 ft elevation
DirectionsWood Hill278 ft elevation
DirectionsBald Hill243 ft elevation · In Boxford State Forest
DirectionsLong Hill220 ft elevation
Directions2 more peaks
Mound Eleanor177 ft elevation
DirectionsJobs Hill161 ft elevation
DirectionsTrails & water
25 named trails and 15 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 16.8 miHorses · 9.4 miUnpaved · 57.8 mi
Bay Circuit Trail2.5 mi
Boxford Rail Trail1.4 mi
Price Trail1.2 mi
Marsh Trail1.1 mi
The Pearl Trail1.1 mi
Witch Hollow Trail0.9 mi
High Ridge Trail0.9 mi
Long Marsh Trail0.8 mi
Wolf Pit Trail0.7 mi
Coolidge Trail0.7 mi
15 more trails
Overlook Trail
0.7 miMaddock Trail
0.6 miWinding Oaks Trail
0.6 miMystery Train
0.6 miNorth Loop Trail
0.5 miSpofford Pond School Trail
0.5 miShaven Crown Trail
0.4 miLedge Trail
0.4 miThurston Woodlot Trail
0.4 miEast Loop Trail
0.3 miHovey's Pond Road Trail Easement
0.2 miWildcat Trail
0.2 miOverlook
0.2 miBeaver Stalagmites
0.1 miJacob Perkins Trail
0.1 miBiking & sports
6.8 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
6.8 mi
off-road bike paths
Border to Boston TrailBike route
1.4 miCourts & fields
13Baseball
12Soccer
6Tennis
3Tracks
2Lacrosse
2Basketball
1Field hockey
1Football
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →9 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 11 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Holyoke-French HouseBuilding · listed 1972
About itHowe Village Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1973
About itBoxford Village Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1973
About itSpofford-Barnes HouseBuilding · listed 1974
About itJohn Boardman HouseBuilding · listed 1990
About itPhineas Foster HouseBuilding · listed 1990
About itSawyer HouseBuilding · listed 1990
About itPalmer SchoolBuilding · listed 1998
About itTowne FarmDistrict · listed 2012
About itWhen to get out
The best walking months in Boxford: 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) | 35 | 38 | 45 | 58 | 68 | 77 | 82 | 81 | 74 | 62 | 51 | 40 |
| Rain (in) | 3.5 | 3.3 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 4.8 | 3.9 | 4.5 |
February is the driest month (3.3 in) and July the warmest (highs of 82 °F). 4.8 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Boxford →
Next door
Boxford and its neighbors
Boxford has the second most mapped trails of the 8 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
North Andover97 miBoxford82 miHaverhill68 miGeorgetown43 miMiddleton40 miTopsfield30 miRowley30 miGroveland24 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boxford | 24% | 3.5 | 307 | 91% | A+ |
| Topsfield | 37% | 2.5 | 222 | 87% | A+ |
| Middleton | 21% | 3.0 | 178 | 99% | A+ |
| North Andover | 21% | 3.7 | 73 | 96% | A+ |
| Georgetown | 26% | 3.4 | 230 | 95% | A+ |
| Haverhill | 19% | 2.1 | 10 | 85% | A |
| Groveland | 17% | 2.7 | 273 | 92% | A+ |
| Rowley | 36% | 1.6 | 362 | 94% | A+ |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Boxford
Where can I hike in Boxford?
The longest trail networks: J. C. Phillips Sanctuary, 7.5 miles; Boxford State Forest, 7.3 miles; Wildcat Conservation Area, 4.7 miles; Coolidge Woods, 3.5 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Boxford is conserved land?
24% 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 Boxford’s trails?
J. Phillips Sanctuary and Boxford State Forest don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Boxford?
6.8 miles of bike routes are on the map: 6.8 of off-road paths. Named routes: Border to Boston Trail.
Is there public land near Boxford?
51,975 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Boxford or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 2,845 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Boxford have?
Among the top 1% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #60 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 Boxford 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 →