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Ridge Hill Reservation

4.5 ★★★★★ 72 Google reviews · Running trail in Needham, Massachusetts · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Ridge Hill 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-friendlyHillyQuiet

What runners say about Ridge Hill Reservation

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (72 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 7 mentions

“BeautifulVisit it from Sharon and it’s incredibly peaceful wonderful and beautiful he kept very clean and very nice.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 6 mentions

“BeautifulVisit it from Sharon and it’s incredibly peaceful wonderful and beautiful he kept very clean and very nice.”

If you are looking for nice, peaceful, beautiful and unique place for a hike this is the perfect place for it

★★★★★ — M. , Apr 2021

Absolutely gorgeous place! Basically an untouched forest minutes from Needham/Wellesley. Great hiking and walking trails!

★★★★★ — Isaac , Nov 2016

I've been running at Ridge Hill for years. It's a beautiful asset to the community and other users tend to respect it and keep it wild. Plenty of trails and is very scenic. For how great it is, I'd say it's very underused. Great to have such a great transcendentalist spot so close to home.

★★★★★ — Jake , Jan 2019

It took me 10+ years of living in Needham to find this gem. Wonderful trail system. Recently renovated swamp trail provides a nice boardwalk between the east and west sides of the property. I visit here often.

★★★★☆ — Brian , Jun 2017

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 72 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 7 mentions

“BeautifulVisit it from Sharon and it’s incredibly peaceful wonderful and beautiful he kept very clean and very nice.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 6 mentions

“BeautifulVisit it from Sharon and it’s incredibly peaceful wonderful and beautiful he kept very clean and very nice.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 4 mentions

“I love the dog park and the community gardens.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 3 mentions

“Even though the word hill is in the name the trails are level.”

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🪵 Boardwalk

“Recently renovated swamp trail provides a nice boardwalk between the east and west sides of the property.”

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Plan your run at Ridge Hill 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.
  • Websiteneedhamma.gov
  • Phone+1 781-455-7500

Hours

Monday 6 am–8 pm
Tuesday 6 am–8 pm
Wednesday 6 am–8 pm
Thursday 6 am–8 pm
Friday 6 am–8 pm
Saturday 6 am–8 pm
Sunday 6 am–8 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 Ridge Hill Reservation

Needham, Massachusetts

Get directions

Running trails near Needham

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

Needham Town Forest

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Fuller Brook Land

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1.2 miles away

Bay Colony Rail Trail - Fisher St. Trailhead

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Charles River Peninsula

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LoopNatural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

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Bay Colony Rail Trail

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The Hidden Railroads

5 ★★★★★ 2 reviews

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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.