Wayne F. MacCallum Wildlife Management Area
Managed by Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
296 acres3.5 mi of trail
Little Chauncy TrailTalbot TrailCole TrailCedar Hill Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0A+Outdoors
Outdoors in Northborough
Northborough has 43 miles of mapped trails, 2.3 for every square mile of land
23% of Northborough’s land is conserved, about 2,689 acres. 1,606 acres are parks and preserves, 102 per 1,000 residents. 92% of residents live within a half mile of a park.
Ahead of 98% of U.S. towns · #102 of 283 in Massachusetts. What drives it
Conserved land
23%
2,689 acres · of 18.5 sq mi of land
Trails
43 mi
2.3 per sq mi of land
Park land
1,606 ac
102 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
92%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
2.9 mi
0.7 mi paths
Highest peak
659 ft
Bartlett Hill
Lakes & rivers
6
1 boat launch
What kind of outdoors town is Northborough?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Northborough have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Northborough is ahead of 98% of U.S. towns, #102 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 Northborough’s overall grade.
Conserved land23% of the land · typical MA town 21% · U.S. 4%ATrails2.3 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (43 mi) · MA 1.9 · U.S. 0.4APark land102 acres of park per 1,000 residents (1,606 acres) · MA 91 · U.S. 13AParks close to home92% of residents within a half mile of a park · MA 93% · U.S. 72%A−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 98%
LessMore
Massachusetts towns of 2,500+ (283)Ahead of 64%
Massachusetts towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 21%; the U.S., 4%), so Northborough’s 23% is ahead of 55% of Massachusetts towns, while its trails per square mile lead 60% 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 Wayne F. MacCallum WMA, with 3.5 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Mount Pisgah Wildlife Management Area
Managed by Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game
91 acres3.3 mi of trail
Howard Brook TrailSouth Ridge LoopVernal Pool TrailHoward Ridge Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Mount Pisgah Conservation Area
Managed by Town of Northborough Conservation Commission
183 acres3.2 mi of trail
Sparrow Trail (white)Mentzner Trail (blue)Berlin Road Trail (red)Tyler Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Tyler Flood Control Site
Nature preserve
182 acres2.9 mi of trail
Old Farm Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto Michael P. Yellick Conservation Area
Edmund Hill Woods
Nature preserve
98 acres2.5 mi of trail
Edmund Hill TrailGoldfinch TrailSummit TrailSliding Boulders+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Sudbury Reservoir Watershed
Managed by MA Department of Conservation and Recreation
244 acres2.4 mi of trail
Crane Swamp TrailConnector TrailPlantation TrailWalnut Hill Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trail sign
Green Street Conservation Restriction
Nature preserve
52 acres1 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Cedar Hill Reservation
Managed by Sudbury Valley Trustees
87 acres0.9 mi of trail
Cedar Hill TrailPlantation Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trail sign
All 17 parks & preserves
Wayne F. MacCallum Wildlife Management Area296 acres · 3.5 mi of trail · Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
DirectionsMount Pisgah Wildlife Management Area91 acres · 3.3 mi of trail · Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game
Mount Pisgah Conservation Area183 acres · 3.2 mi of trail · Town of Northborough Conservation Commission
DirectionsTyler Flood Control Site182 acres · 2.9 mi of trail
DirectionsEdmund Hill Woods98 acres · 2.5 mi of trail
DirectionsSudbury Reservoir Watershed244 acres · 2.4 mi of trail · MA Department of Conservation and Recreation
DirectionsGreen Street Conservation Restriction52 acres · 1 mi of trail
DirectionsCedar Hill Reservation87 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Sudbury Valley Trustees
DirectionsMount Pisgah Wildlife Conservation Easement19 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
Sawink Farm Reservation31 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Sudbury Valley Trustees
Watson Park30 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsSouth Street Park46 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsHop Brook F.C.14 acres
DirectionsAssabet Park14 acres
Memorial Field10 acres
Casey Field3 acres
Howard Street Ball Field2 acres
Who protects it
2,689 conserved acres
23% of Northborough’s land. Who manages Northborough’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Town or city514 ac
Other state land505 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits296 ac
State parks175 ac
Regional agency43 ac
State conservation22 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)20 ac
Conservation Easement · 570 acAgricultural Easement · 525 acWatershed Protection Area · 455 acPrivate Other or Unknown · 360 acState Conservation Area · 345 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 567 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 8 of 88 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juniper Hill Golf Course Private Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 304 | Open |
| Wayne F. MacCallum Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | Not recorded | 255 | Open |
| Sudbury Reservoir Watershed Watershed Protection Area | Not recorded | 246 | Restricted |
| Mount Pisgah Conservation Area Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 170 | Open |
| Algonquin Regional High School Athletic Fields Research or Educational Area | Not recorded | 167 | Open |
| Hop Brook Flood Control Site State Resource Management Area | State parks | 161 | Open |
| Mt Pisgah Conservation Area Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 153 | Restricted |
| Wachusett Aqueduct Watershed Protection Area | Not recorded | 124 | Closed |
| Town of Northborough Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 123 | Closed |
| Mt. Pisgah Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | Not recorded | 90 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
29 places to go in Northborough
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Playgrounds in Northborough
12 playgrounds without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Dog parks in Northborough
Northborough Dog Park
DirectionsBoat launches in Northborough
1 boat launch without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Scenic views in Northborough
2 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Northborough
Bartlett Hill659 ft elevation
DirectionsBall Hill640 ft elevation
DirectionsMount Pisgah525 ft elevation · In Mount Pisgah Conservation Area
DirectionsSulphur Hill522 ft elevation · In Mount Pisgah Conservation Area
DirectionsTomblin Hill486 ft elevation
DirectionsMount Assabet463 ft elevation
DirectionsChestnut Hill459 ft elevation
DirectionsEdmund Hill446 ft elevation
Directions5 more peaks
Cedar Hill430 ft elevation · In Cedar Hill Reservation
DirectionsFay Hill423 ft elevation
DirectionsRock Hill407 ft elevation
DirectionsGhost Hill387 ft elevation
DirectionsRock Hill367 ft elevation
DirectionsTrails & water
25 named trails and 6 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 2.0 miUnpaved · 18.9 mi
Wachusett Aqueduct Trail1.3 mi
Carlstrom II Trail1.2 mi
Cedar Hill Trail1.1 mi
Old Farm Trail1.1 mi
Stirrup Brook Trail1.1 mi
Crane Swamp Trail1.0 mi
Berlin Road Trail (red)1.0 mi
Howard Brook Trail0.9 mi
Little Chauncy Trail0.8 mi
Edmund Hill Trail0.8 mi
15 more trails
Talbot Trail
0.8 miSparrow Trail (white)
0.7 miTyler Trail
0.7 miVernal Pool Trail
0.7 miMentzner Trail (blue)
0.7 miConnector Trail
0.6 miSouth Ridge Loop
0.5 miCole Trail
0.4 miSawink Loop
0.4 miGoldfinch Trail
0.4 miFisher Trail
0.4 miPlantation Trail
0.3 miHoward Ridge Trail
0.3 miSummit Trail
0.3 miSouth Gorge Trail
0.3 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
2.9 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
0.7 mi
off-road bike paths
2.2 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
19Tennis
14Basketball
14Baseball
11Soccer
6Pickleball
4Tracks
3Football
1Skate park
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →1 place on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 3 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
First Baptist Church of NorthboroughBuilding · listed 2016
About itWhen to get out
The best walking months in Northborough: April 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 | 46 | 59 | 70 | 78 | 84 | 82 | 74 | 62 | 51 | 40 |
| Rain (in) | 3.6 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.9 | 4.0 | 4.5 |
February is the driest month (3.4 in) and July the warmest (highs of 84 °F). 4.9 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Northborough →
Next door
Northborough and its neighbors
Northborough has the second most mapped trails of the 6 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northborough | 23% | 2.3 | 102 | 92% | A+ |
| Westborough | 22% | 2.0 | 113 | 82% | A+ |
| Marlborough | 19% | 2.8 | 35 | 95% | A+ |
| Shrewsbury | 8% | 1.7 | 18 | 86% | A |
| Boylston | 40% | 2.5 | 125 | 44% | A |
| Berlin | 29% | 2.7 | 368 | 97% | A+ |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Northborough
Where can I hike in Northborough?
The longest trail networks: Wayne F. MacCallum Wildlife Management Area, 3.5 miles; Mount Pisgah Wildlife Management Area, 3.3 miles; Mount Pisgah Conservation Area, 3.2 miles; Tyler Flood Control Site, 2.9 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Northborough 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 Northborough’s trails?
Wayne F. MacCallum Wildlife Management Area and Mount Pisgah Wildlife Management Area don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Northborough?
2.9 miles of bike routes are on the map: 0.7 of off-road paths and 2.2 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Northborough?
39,268 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Northborough or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 1,791 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Northborough have?
Ahead of 98% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #102 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 Northborough 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 →