Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
Nature preserve
887 acres10.1 mi of trail
Drumlin TrailAverill's Island LoopMill Pond TrailWhite Pine Loop+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Photo: Fletcher6 · CC BY-SA 3.0A+Outdoors
Outdoors in Topsfield
37% of Topsfield’s land is conserved: 2,831 acres
30 miles of mapped trail cross Topsfield, 2.5 per square mile of land. 1,460 acres are parks and preserves, 222 per 1,000 residents. The biggest trail networks: Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary (10.1 mi), Bradley Palmer State Park (5 mi), Willowdale State Forest (2.3 mi).
Ahead of 98% of U.S. towns · #85 of 283 in Massachusetts. What drives it
Conserved land
37%
2,831 acres · of 11.9 sq mi of land
Trails
30 mi
2.5 per sq mi of land
Park land
1,460 ac
222 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
87%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
3.9 mi
3.9 mi paths
Highest peak
246 ft
Great Hill
Lakes & rivers
5
1 beach · 1 boat launch
What kind of outdoors town is Topsfield?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Land that stays wild37% of the land is conserved; a typical Massachusetts town, 21%.A trail town2.5 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, more than 96% of U.S. towns.Room to roam222 acres of park per 1,000 residents; the typical U.S. town has 13.History along the way9 places on the National Register.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Topsfield have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Topsfield is ahead of 98% of U.S. towns, #85 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 Topsfield’s overall grade.
Conserved land37% of the land · typical MA town 21% · U.S. 4%A+Trails2.5 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (30 mi) · MA 1.9 · U.S. 0.4A+Park land222 acres of park per 1,000 residents (1,460 acres) · MA 91 · U.S. 13AParks close to home87% 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 70%
Massachusetts towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 21%; the U.S., 4%), so Topsfield’s 37% is ahead of 87% of Massachusetts towns, while its trails per square mile lead 65% of them.
Water is 7% of Topsfield’s area (1 of 13 square miles), so every share here is of land; over land and water together, the conserved share would read 35%.
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 Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, with 10.1 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Bradley Palmer State Park
Nature preserve
231 acres5 mi of trail
Bay Circuit Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Willowdale State Forest
Nature preserve
137 acres2.3 mi of trail
BeeToFieldy LoopStingerGreen Gate
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Pye Brook Community Park
Park
146 acres1.4 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Topsfield Town Forest
Nature preserve
52 acres1.2 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Vineyard Hill Reservation
Managed by Essex County Greenbelt
48 acres0.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Donibristle Reservation
Managed by Essex County Greenbelt
44 acres0.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
English Commons Open Space
Nature preserve
34 acres0.8 mi of trail
English Commons Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 26 parks & preserves
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary887 acres · 10.1 mi of trail
DirectionsBradley Palmer State Park231 acres · 5 mi of trail
DirectionsWillowdale State Forest137 acres · 2.3 mi of trail
DirectionsPye Brook Community Park146 acres · 1.4 mi of trail
Topsfield Town Forest52 acres · 1.2 mi of trail
Vineyard Hill Reservation48 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Essex County Greenbelt
DirectionsDonibristle Reservation44 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Essex County Greenbelt
DirectionsEnglish Commons Open Space34 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsWillowdale Meadow9 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsSalem Beverly Water Canal13 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
Conservation Land108 acres · Essex County Greenbelt
DirectionsHickory-Beech Open Space34 acres
Morningside River Estates Open Space33 acres
Klock Park22 acres
DirectionsPheasant Lane Open Space14 acres
Caitlin Lane Open Space13 acres
Emerson Park12 acres
DirectionsSteward Field11 acres
Fish Brook Conservation Land8 acres · Essex County Greenbelt
David Lampert Memorial8 acres · Essex County Greenbelt
DirectionsBoston Street Conservation Land8 acres
DirectionsKinsman Circle Open Space6 acres
Town Common4 acres
DirectionsBanus Reservation3 acres
DirectionsECGA Land3 acres
Ipswich River Access1 acres
DirectionsWho protects it
2,831 conserved acres
37% of Topsfield’s land. Water is left out: Topsfield has 11.9 square miles of land and 0.9 of water, so the share counts land only. Who manages Topsfield’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Land trusts & nonprofits1,481 ac
Town or city266 ac
Private owners22 ac
State parks9 ac
State conservation9 ac
State fish & wildlife2 ac
Not recorded1,851 ac
Conservation Easement · 1,400 acPrivate Conservation · 1,177 acWatershed Protection Area · 379 acState Resource Management Area · 149 acLocal Park · 143 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 766 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 4 of 95 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary Private Conservation | Not recorded | 897 | Open |
| Putnamville Reservoir Watershed Watershed Protection Area | Not recorded | 252 | Restricted |
| Willowdale State Forest State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 147 | Open |
| Ipswich River Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 106 | Closed |
| Haverhill Road Cons Area Local Other or Unknown | Town or city | 82 | Open |
| Topsfield Fairgrounds Private Conservation | Not recorded | 71 | Restricted |
| Pyle Brook Park Local Park | Town or city | 62 | Open |
| Town Well Watershed Protection Area | Not recorded | 60 | Closed |
| New Meadows Golf Course Private Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 57 | Restricted |
| Topsfield Water Supply Land Watershed Protection Area | Not recorded | 50 | Closed |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
23 places to go in Topsfield
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Topsfield
Hood Pond Community Beach
DirectionsPlaygrounds in Topsfield
6 playgrounds without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Boat launches in Topsfield
1 boat launch without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Scenic views in Topsfield
Bird Viewing AreaIn Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
DirectionsCanoe LandingIn Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
DirectionsObservation DeckIn Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
DirectionsObservation TowerIn Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
DirectionsWisteria ArborIn Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
DirectionsPeaks in Topsfield
Great Hill246 ft elevation
DirectionsWitch Hill230 ft elevation
DirectionsRea Farm Hill213 ft elevation
DirectionsTown Hill213 ft elevation
DirectionsBare Hill177 ft elevation
DirectionsPingrees Hill161 ft elevation
DirectionsBradstreet Hill105 ft elevation · In Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
DirectionsPicnic areas in Topsfield
1 picnic area without a name on the map.
Disc golf in Topsfield
1 disc golf course without a name on the map.
Community gardens in Topsfield
1 community garden without a name on the map.
Trails & water
25 named trails and 5 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 3.6 miUnpaved · 11.1 mi
Drumlin Trail1.3 mi
BeeTo1.3 mi
English Commons Trail1.1 mi
Averill's Island Loop1.0 mi
Mill Pond Trail0.8 mi
White Pine Loop0.7 mi
North Esker Trail0.5 mi
South Esker Trail0.5 mi
Agawam Trail0.5 mi
Fieldy Loop0.5 mi
15 more trails
Waterfowl Pond Trail
0.4 miHassocky Meadow Trail
0.4 miMile Brook Trail
0.4 miFox Field Trail
0.4 miBridge Trail
0.4 miRuffed Grouse
0.4 miBunker Meadows Trail
0.4 miIpswich River Trail
0.4 miRockery Loop
0.3 miStone Bridge Trail
0.3 miRed Pine Trail
0.3 miAverill's Island Trail
0.2 miInnermost Trail
0.2 miBay Circuit Trail
0.2 miRockery Trail
0.2 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
3.9 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
3.9 mi
off-road bike paths
Courts & fields
10Baseball
6Tennis
3Equestrian
2Basketball
2Soccer
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →9 places on the National Register, one a National Historic Landmark
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service).
Topsfield Town Common DistrictDistrict · listed 1976
About itSarah H. Harding HouseBuilding · listed 1982
About itCapt. Joseph Gould HouseBuilding · listed 1990
About itFrench-Andrews HouseBuilding · listed 1990
About itStanley Lake HouseBuilding · listed 1990
About itStephen Foster HouseBuilding · listed 1990
About itZaccheus Gould HouseBuilding · listed 1990
About itRiver Road-Cross Street Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 2005
About itWhen to get out
The best walking months in Topsfield: 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 | 38 | 46 | 57 | 68 | 76 | 82 | 81 | 73 | 62 | 51 | 41 |
| Rain (in) | 3.5 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 3.9 | 4.6 |
February is the driest month (3.4 in) and July the warmest (highs of 82 °F). 4.7 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Topsfield →
Next door
Topsfield 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topsfield | 37% | 2.5 | 222 | 87% | A+ |
| Boxford | 24% | 3.5 | 307 | 91% | A+ |
| Hamilton | 38% | 4.4 | 229 | 84% | A+ |
| Middleton | 21% | 3.0 | 178 | 99% | A+ |
| Wenham | 30% | 2.6 | 261 | 91% | A+ |
| Danvers | 20% | 1.1 | 26 | 98% | A |
| Ipswich | 51% | 3.2 | 316 | 98% | A+ |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Topsfield
Where can I hike in Topsfield?
The longest trail networks: Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 10.1 miles; Bradley Palmer State Park, 5 miles; Willowdale State Forest, 2.3 miles; Pye Brook Community Park, 1.4 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Topsfield is conserved land?
37% 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 Topsfield’s trails?
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary and Bradley Palmer State Park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Topsfield?
3.9 miles of bike routes are on the map: 3.9 of off-road paths.
Is there public land near Topsfield?
49,384 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Topsfield or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 1,666 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Topsfield have?
Ahead of 98% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #85 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 Topsfield 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 →