7 Blooming Good Hikes to Take This Spring

Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary | Lincoln

While flowers get the most attention each spring, baby animals run a close second. For kids that’s a total win. Find your favorite barnyard animals when you hike the Farmyard Loop Trail at Drumlin Farm. Your little farmhands can greet the pigs, goats, sheep, chickens and cows who live on property as they make their way along the .5-mile loop. This is also a great spot to pair your hike with an educational program for your kids. Farm Helpers is scheduled for April 9 if you need something to do this weekend.

Insider tip: If you plan to visit during April vacation week, you’ll need to reserve a parking spot in advance.

More info: massaudubon.org

Habitat Education Center & Wildlife Sanctuary | Belmont 

If you’re hiking with toddlers, it’s doesn’t get easier than walking along one of the trails at the Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary in Belmont. Just a few miles outside of the city, the three miles of trails wind through the property’s forests, meadows and marshy ponds. Finish your hike with some playtime at the nature playground before settling in for a much-needed picnic on a warm spring day.

More info: massaudubon.org

World’s End | Hingham

Wide carriage trails that crisscross this 250-acre property are the stuff families dream of when it comes to hiking. Whether you’ve got a toddler who just wants to run or a baby in a stroller, you’ll find all the space you need on the trails here. While the kids do their thing, parents can enjoy the views of Boston, the Weir Rive and Hingham Harbor, just the right mix of urban and rural.

 Insider tip: If you’re planning a weekend visit to this popular spot, advance parking pass registration is required and recommended for weekdays (especially during the busy summer season).

More info: thetrustees.org

Ward Reservation | Andover

Shrub, Boston and Holt hills are the centerpiece of this patchwork park managed by the Trustees. And climbing them is what will really excite the kids. Explore the Solstice Stones atop Holt Hill, and bring a kite and picnic to make this a true spring excursion. If you’ve got a stroller, there is a short trail that’s very wheel-friendly. But if you’re planning to top the hills, a baby backpack is best.

More info: thetrustees.org

Cutler Park Reservation | Needham

As the birds make their way back to Cutler Park in the spring, it’s a great time to visit this birder paradise. The Kendrick Loop is where you’ll be able to spot many of the birds, and enjoy an easy 1.5-mile loop that kids of all ages can handle. If you’ve got older kiddos along, they can tackle any of the other trails that continue on through the park.

More info: mass.gov

Fresh Pond Reservation | Cambridge

Spring is a great time to enjoy this paved loop with the kids. Not only is it totally toddler and stroller friendly, but it’s bursting with wildlife once the snow melts. Listen to bullfrogs bellow as you make your way around the 2.25-mile loop. Hit the playscape for a little down time once you’re done. This is also a great spot to bring scooters, balance bikes and other wheely fun rides. 

Insider tip: Learn a little when you visit by pairing your hike with a tour of the water treatment plant (starting in May). It’s free and open to the public.

More info: cambridgema.gov

Allyn Cox Reservation | Essex

Blossoming fruit trees are a draw at this reservation north of the city where you’ll find lots of areas to picnic and views too. The property is surrounded by the largest salt marsh ecosystem in New England and his home to ospreys and honeybees (you’ll find two hives on the property). The best accessory to pack for this hike? It’s got to be your binoculars. Bring them to see if you can spot the ospreys that live here.

More info: ecga.org