Leominster State Forest
Managed by DCR - Division Of State Parks And Recreation
1,530 acres20.1 mi of trail
Hell's HighwayMidstate TrailKing Tut's HighwayParadise Alley+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0A+Outdoors
Outdoors in Princeton
49% of Princeton’s land is conserved: 11,196 acres
3,637 acres are parks and preserves, 1,031 per 1,000 residents. 66 miles of mapped trail cross Princeton, 1.9 per square mile of land. The biggest trail networks: Leominster State Forest (20.1 mi), Wachusett Mountain State Reservation (12.8 mi), Wachusett Meadows (8.9 mi).
Ahead of 98% of U.S. towns · #114 of 283 in Massachusetts. What drives it
Conserved land
49%
11,196 acres · of 35.4 sq mi of land
Trails
66 mi
1.9 per sq mi of land
Park land
3,637 ac
1,031 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
72%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
2.6 mi
Highest peak
1,998 ft
Mount Wachusett
Lakes & rivers
12
What kind of outdoors town is Princeton?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Land that stays wild49% of the land is conserved; a typical Massachusetts town, 21%.Room to roam1,031 acres of park per 1,000 residents; the typical U.S. town has 13.A trail town1.9 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, more than 92% of U.S. towns.History along the way7 places on the National Register.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Princeton have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Princeton is ahead of 98% of U.S. towns, #114 of 283 in Massachusetts. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; conserved land ranks highest, the share of residents near a park lowest.
A+
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Princeton’s overall grade.
Conserved land49% of the land · typical MA town 21% · U.S. 4%A+Trails1.9 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (66 mi) · MA 1.9 · U.S. 0.4APark land1,031 acres of park per 1,000 residents (3,637 acres) · MA 91 · U.S. 13A+Parks close to home72% of residents within a half mile of a park · MA 93% · U.S. 72%B
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 98%
LessMore
Massachusetts towns of 2,500+ (283)Ahead of 60%
Massachusetts towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 21%; the U.S., 4%), so Princeton’s 49% is ahead of 98% of Massachusetts towns, while its trails per square mile lead 46% of them.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from A to 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 Leominster State Forest, with 20.1 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Wachusett Mountain State Reservation
Managed by Division of State Parks and Recreation
1,440 acres12.8 mi of trail
Harrington/Mid State TrailBicentennial TrailMountain House TrailOld Indian Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Wachusett Meadows
Nature preserve
958 acres8.9 mi of trail
Brown Hill LoopChapman/Midstate TrailPasture TrailFern Forest Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Calamint Hill Conservation Area
Nature preserve
143 acres2 mi of trail
CHCA East LoopCHCA West LoopConnector
Dogs allowed
Directionsto CHCA Parking
Wachusett Reservoir Watershed
Managed by Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
2,174 acres1.3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Red Fox Farm Conservation Area
Nature preserve
44 acres1.2 mi of trail
Red Fox LoopHiuckory TrailConnector TrailMason Field Connector
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Savage Hill Wildlife Conservation Easement
Nature preserve
239 acres1.1 mi of trail
Midstate Trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Giard Property
Nature preserve
51 acres1.1 mi of trail
Giard TrailCobb Brook TailSouth Pond SpurSouth Link+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trail sign
All 20 parks & preserves
Leominster State Forest1,530 acres · 20.1 mi of trail · DCR - Division Of State Parks And Recreation
DirectionsWachusett Mountain State Reservation1,440 acres · 12.8 mi of trail · Division of State Parks and Recreation
DirectionsWachusett Meadows958 acres · 8.9 mi of trail
DirectionsCalamint Hill Conservation Area143 acres · 2 mi of trail
DirectionsWachusett Reservoir Watershed2,174 acres · 1.3 mi of trail · Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
DirectionsRed Fox Farm Conservation Area44 acres · 1.2 mi of trail
Savage Hill Wildlife Conservation Easement239 acres · 1.1 mi of trail
Giard Property51 acres · 1.1 mi of trail
DirectionsPLT Bullock36 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsPLT Appell33 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsWare River Watershed262 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
Savage Hill Wildlife Management Area372 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Department of Fish And Game
Goodnow Park6 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Town of Princeton Massachusetts, Parks and Recreation
DirectionsPLT McElroy18 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsSusan B. Minns Sanctuary143 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Four Corners Hay Fields17 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Old Colony Road Conservation Area32 acres
Hubbardston Road Park4 acres
Sawyer Field2 acres
DirectionsHidden Meadow1 acres
Who protects it
11,196 conserved acres
49% of Princeton’s land. Who manages Princeton’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State conservation4,374 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits518 ac
Other state land495 ac
Private owners271 ac
State fish & wildlife247 ac
State natural resources247 ac
Town or city217 ac
Watershed Protection Area · 7,135 acConservation Easement · 2,482 acState Resource Management Area · 1,608 acState Park · 1,542 acPrivate Conservation · 1,381 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 1,149 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 1 of 302 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wachusett Reservoir Watershed Watershed Protection Area | Not recorded | 2,978 | Restricted |
| Leominster State Forest State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 1,591 | Open |
| Wachusett Mountain State Reservation State Park | Not recorded | 1,559 | Open |
| DCR - Division of Water Supply Protection 10 Watershed Protection Area | State conservation | 1,104 | Closed |
| Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary Private Conservation | Not recorded | 978 | Open |
| Savage Hill Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | Not recorded | 418 | Open |
| Nimrod Rod and Gun Watershed Preservation Restriction Watershed Protection Area | State conservation | 361 | Closed |
| Worcester Water Supply Land Watershed Protection Area | Not recorded | 343 | Closed |
| Norco Sportsmans Club Watershed Preservation Restriction Watershed Protection Area | State conservation | 258 | Closed |
| DCR - Division of Water Supply Protection 24 Watershed Protection Area | State conservation | 248 | Closed |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
25 places to go in Princeton
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Playgrounds in Princeton
2 playgrounds without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Dog parks in Princeton
The Right Paw
DirectionsScenic views in Princeton
Harlow OutlookIn Wachusett Mountain State Reservation
DirectionsPlus 8 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Princeton
Mount Wachusett1,998 ft elevation · In Wachusett Mountain State Reservation
DirectionsLittle Wachusett1,562 ft elevation · In Susan B. Minns Sanctuary
DirectionsPine Hill1,444 ft elevation
DirectionsBrown Hill1,316 ft elevation · In Wachusett Meadows
DirectionsCalamint Hill1,096 ft elevation · In Calamint Hill Conservation Area
DirectionsSavage Hill1,076 ft elevation · In Savage Hill Wildlife Management Area
DirectionsFlagg Hill1,030 ft elevation
DirectionsWolfden Hill974 ft elevation · In Leominster State Forest
DirectionsPicnic areas in Princeton
5 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Trails & water
25 named trails and 12 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 20.1 miHorses · 9.6 miUnpaved · 46.6 mi
Midstate Trail4.5 mi
Harrington/Mid State Trail1.3 mi
Chapman/Midstate Trail1.2 mi
Hell's Highway1.2 mi
Brown Hill Loop1.2 mi
Pasture Trail1.1 mi
Bicentennial Trail1.0 mi
CHCA East Loop1.0 mi
Bullock McElroy Loop0.9 mi
CHCA West Loop0.8 mi
15 more trails
King Tut's Highway
0.8 miMountain House Trail
0.8 miOld Indian Trail
0.7 miSemuhenna Trail
0.7 miPLT Appell Loop
0.7 miDonbrowo Trail
0.7 miRed Fox Loop
0.6 miFern Forest Trail
0.6 miJack Frost Trail
0.6 miPeabody-Metcalf Loop
0.6 miBeaver Bend Trail
0.6 miBrook Loop
0.6 miWest Border Trail
0.5 miParadise Alley
0.5 miWolf Den Trail
0.5 miBiking & sports
2.6 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
2.6 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
6Tennis
5Soccer
3Baseball
3Basketball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →7 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service).
Elbridge Gerry HouseBuilding · listed 1973
About itPrinceton Center Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1999
About itFernside-Vacation House for Working GirlsBuilding · listed 2002
About itEast Princeton Village Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 2004
About itRussell Corner Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 2006
About itWest Village Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 2009
About itFour Corners-Goodnow Farm Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 2015
About itWhen to get out
The best walking months in Princeton: 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) | 33 | 36 | 43 | 56 | 67 | 75 | 80 | 79 | 72 | 60 | 48 | 38 |
| Rain (in) | 3.8 | 3.4 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 5.2 | 4.0 | 4.5 |
February is the driest month (3.4 in) and July the warmest (highs of 80 °F). 5.2 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Princeton →
Next door
Princeton and its neighbors
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton | 49% | 1.9 | 1,031 | 72% | A+ |
| Sterling | 38% | 0.8 | 113 | 65% | A |
| Westminster | 31% | 1.4 | 256 | 73% | A+ |
| Hubbardston | 46% | 0.8 | 446 | 54% | A |
| Leominster | 35% | 2.4 | 50 | 89% | A+ |
| Rutland | 46% | 0.9 | 148 | 36% | A |
| Holden | 45% | 1.9 | 112 | 55% | A |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Princeton
Where can I hike in Princeton?
The longest trail networks: Leominster State Forest, 20.1 miles; Wachusett Mountain State Reservation, 12.8 miles; Wachusett Meadows, 8.9 miles; Calamint Hill Conservation Area, 2 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Princeton is conserved land?
49% 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 Princeton’s trails?
OpenStreetMap records dogs as welcome at Calamint Hill Conservation Area. For the rest, check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Princeton?
2.6 miles of bike routes are on the map: 2.6 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Princeton?
53,617 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Princeton or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 5,365 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Princeton have?
Ahead of 98% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #114 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 Princeton 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 →