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Best running trails in Massachusetts
Ranked by the runners who actually run there — Google rating weighted by review volume, across 272,546 reviews of Massachusetts trails. A trail needs at least 25 reviews to qualify (288 in Massachusetts do) and each name appears once. Nobody pays for a place. Updated 2026.
The 20 below run across 15 cities, 2 of them paved and 2 loops. This is a popularity ranking, not a difficulty score — for what a trail is actually like underfoot, open its page for surface, loop distance, shade, lighting, restrooms and parking.
Boston Common
4.7 ★★★★★ 38,548 reviews
Storied, nearly 50-acre urban park that hosted British troops during the American Revolution.
Public Garden
4.8 ★★★★★ 18,626 reviews
Placid, verdant, circa-1837 city park with a lagoon, boat rides, fountains & other sights.
Castle Island
4.7 ★★★★★ 6,354 reviews
Site of Fort Independence (open in the summer), with beach, picnic & jogging areas.
Middlesex Fells Reservation
4.7 ★★★★★ 5,506 reviews
2,575-acre natural haven including hiking trails around a pond, plus areas for dog-walking & biking.
Wachusett Mountain State Reservation
4.7 ★★★★★ 4,269 reviews
Protected area including roadways to the summit, 17 miles of hiking & biking trails & ski slopes.
Forest Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 3,090 reviews
Sprawling, 735-acre public park known for its charming natural features, sweeping views, lake & zoo.
Green Hill Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 2,462 reviews
480-acre park with sports, playgrounds, trails, a petting zoo, a golf course & picnic facilities.
Red Rock Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,852 reviews
Waterfront locale for strolling, picnicking and dog-walking, plus an area swimming ban.
John F. Kennedy Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 1,603 reviews
Popular recreational area with a playground, ball courts and a gazebo.
Larz Anderson Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,371 reviews
This landscaped park offers pathways, ponds, gardens, a skating rink & an auto museum.
Buttonwood Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,357 reviews
Public space with picnic tables and a playground, plus tennis and basketball courts, and an on-site zoo.
Great Brook Farm State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,279 reviews
An expanse of trails through fields & woods, centered around a working dairy farm, open for tours.
Danehy Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,266 reviews
50-acre green space with activities such as softball & soccer, plus paths for jogging & a dog park.
Lynn Woods Reservation
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,261 reviews
Municipal forest park with a garden, a cave to explore, & a stone tower with a view of Boston.
Dean Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,141 reviews
City park containing a pond, bandstand, picnic area, playground & outdoor sports facilities.
Harold Parker State Forest
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,129 reviews
Tranquil natural area with trails for hiking & biking, plus camping, picnicking & fishing areas.
Shedd Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 1,150 reviews
This 50-acre community park features athletic courts & fields, a splash pad, playground & pavilion.
Horn Pond Recreation Area
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,100 reviews
Scenic area next to a large pond offering outdoor activities such as hiking & biking.
Millennium Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,036 reviews
Natural retreat with 6 miles of accessible trails, playing fields, a canoe launch & scenic views.
Back Bay Fens
4.5 ★★★★★ 1,061 reviews
This large greenspace has multiple gardens, playgrounds, ball fields & memorials, plus picnic areas.
Where these trails are
The cities in this ranking, if you'd rather start from where you live.
- Running trails in Boston, MA
- Running trails in Stoneham, MA
- Running trails in Princeton, MA
- Running trails in Springfield, MA
- Running trails in Worcester, MA
- Running trails in Lynn, MA
- Running trails in Fall River, MA
- Running trails in Brookline, MA
- Running trails in New Bedford, MA
- Running trails in Carlisle, MA
- Running trails in Cambridge, MA
- Running trails in Shrewsbury, MA
- Running trails in Andover, MA
- Running trails in Lowell, MA
- Running trails in Woburn, MA
All 1,382 trails in Massachusetts → Best trails in other states →