HomeMassachusettsNorfolk › Bristol Blake State Reservation

Bristol Blake State Reservation

4.7 ★★★★★ 87 Google reviews · Running trail in Norfolk, Massachusetts · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Boardwalk
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Bristol Blake State Reservation's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

BoardwalkScenicDog-friendlyQuiet

Area for bird watching, wildlife photography and family outings, with a pond.

What runners say about Bristol Blake State Reservation

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (87 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“Beautiful area, I've been here once before but I went in the back way and had no idea this was a no pet (no dog) area until today.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“It was so nice and peaceful.”

Beautiful area, I've been here once before but I went in the back way and had no idea this was a no pet (no dog) area until today. Its unfortunate but I understand. I just wish somewhere on the Google reviews someone had said "hey don't bring your dogs here" before I went.

★★★★★ — Eleanor , Aug 2023

Nice walking trails and plenty of areas to tire out the kids!...cool boardwalk area and parking...no swimming but several water areas...

★★★★★ — Todd , Apr 2023

It was so nice and peaceful. The trails are very nice. I was there for 2 hrs. I LOVED IT! Go and experience the place

★★★★★ — Aurora , Jul 2023

Excellent spot for wildlife viewing including a large variety of birds. Keep on the lookout for an elderly snapping turtle in the marsh along the boardwalk that leads over the pond. Or enjoy the waterfall at the dam near the old site of the sawmill.

★★★★☆ — Jay , Jun 2013

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 87 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 8 mentions

“Beautiful area, I've been here once before but I went in the back way and had no idea this was a no pet (no dog) area until today.”

More trails like this →

🐕 Dog-friendly 6 mentions

“Beautiful area, I've been here once before but I went in the back way and had no idea this was a no pet (no dog) area until today.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“It was so nice and peaceful.”

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🪵 Boardwalk 2 mentions

“Keep on the lookout for an elderly snapping turtle in the marsh along the boardwalk that leads over the pond.”

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Plan your run at Bristol Blake State Reservation

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitemass.gov
  • Phone(508) 528-3140

Hours

Monday 7 AM–6 PM
Tuesday 7 AM–6 PM
Wednesday 7 AM–6 PM
Thursday 7 AM–6 PM
Friday 7 AM–6 PM
Saturday 7 AM–6 PM
Sunday 7 AM–6 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Bristol Blake State Reservation

108 North St, Norfolk, MA 02056

Get directions

Running trails near Norfolk

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Mass Audubon's Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary

4.8 ★★★★★ 386 reviews

Norfolk, MA

LoopBoardwalkScenic

Family-friendly site featuring a pond, wetlands, trails, boardwalks and wildlife.

under a mile away

Lind Trail - RC Flying Airfield

4.1 ★★★★☆ 8 reviews

Norfolk, MA

1.2 miles away

Lind Farm Conservation Area

5 ★★★★★ 3 reviews

Norfolk, MA

1.4 miles away

William A. Rice Recreation Area

4.7 ★★★★★ 136 reviews

Wrentham, MA

Dog-friendly

Park with a playground, picnic tables, tennis and basketball courts, baseball and soccer fields, and a restroom.

2.1 miles away

The Nature Trail and Cranberry Bog

4.6 ★★★★★ 454 reviews

Foxborough, MA

2 miMixedScenic

32-acre cranberry wetland system with paved trails through a protected habitat with native wildlife.

2.9 miles away

DelCarte Recreation and Conservation Area

4.7 ★★★★★ 138 reviews

Franklin, MA

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Family-friendly park with a playground, walking trails around a pond, picnic tables, and story walks.

3.3 miles away

All running trails in Norfolk, MA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.