Hiking Trails & Parks in Massachusetts
22,305 mapped hiking and walking trails, plus 105 parks, recreation areas, and campgrounds across Massachusetts. Free trail maps for every listing — browse by county or city, or jump straight to the full list.
About Hiking in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has 22,305 mapped hiking trails and 105 federally managed parks and recreation areas spread across 34 counties. Trail data comes from OpenStreetMap contributors; parks and campgrounds from Recreation.gov.
Trying to narrow down? Browse all trails, all parks, all 34 counties, or pick a county below to see only its options.
Where to Go in Massachusetts
A spatially-sampled view of 205 trail and park locations across Massachusetts’s counties.
Massachusetts Counties
Top 24 counties shown — 34 total indexed.
Trails by Difficulty in Massachusetts
Parks & Campgrounds in Massachusetts
Longest Trails in Massachusetts
Curated Guides for Massachusetts
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there hiking trails in Massachusetts?
Yes — we have 22,305 mapped hiking and walking trails in Massachusetts, sourced from OpenStreetMap. Browse the full list below, with distance, elevation, and difficulty for each.
What is the longest hiking trail in Massachusetts?
The longest mapped trail in Massachusetts is Long Trail at 0.3 miles near Rochester. This reflects only trails with a mapped distance in our OpenStreetMap-sourced data — longer routes may exist that aren't fully tagged yet.
What is the shortest hiking trail in Massachusetts?
The shortest mapped trail in Massachusetts with a known distance is Catbriar Trail at 0.1 miles near Carlisle.
What is the most difficult hiking trail in Massachusetts?
Caveman near Essex is rated expert — the toughest classification among Massachusetts's mapped trails.
What is the best hiking trail in Massachusetts for families?
Catbriar Trail near Carlisle is one of the best family picks in Massachusetts — easy difficulty and 0.1 miles round trip, short enough for kids and first-timers. See the full family hiking guide below for more options.
Is there a trail map for Massachusetts?
Each of the 22,305 trails in Massachusetts has its own page with an interactive map, GPS coordinates, and a link to view it on OpenStreetMap — no app or account needed.
What parks and recreation areas are in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has 105 parks, recreation areas, and federal facilities in our index (52 classified as recreation areas). Each listing includes activities, photos where available, and directions.
Can I go camping in Massachusetts?
Yes — 3 of Massachusetts's parks have mapped campsites, from first-come sites to Recreation.gov reservations. The largest is WESTVILLE RECREATION AREA with 3 sites. See the full campgrounds guide below for the ranked list.
Hiking guides & rankings for Massachusetts
In-depth articles drawing on the trail and park data above.
Photo: Sergei AkulichThe 10 Longest Hiking Trails in Massachusetts, Ranked
Massachusetts's longest mapped hiking trails, ranked by distance with notes on what makes each route worth the commitment.
Photo: Tobias MrzykMassachusetts's 10 Most Punishing Trails by Elevation Gain
Steep is hard. These are the ten Massachusetts trails with the most total elevation gain — quad-burners earned by hard climbing.
Photo: Sergei AkulichThe Best Beginner-Friendly Hikes in Massachusetts
Ten gentle, well-marked Massachusetts trails perfect for first-time hikers, families, or recovery days.
Photo: Holly MandarichThe 10 Most Challenging Hikes in Massachusetts
Massachusetts's ten hardest hikes — expert difficulty, big mileage, or serious exposure. Reserved for experienced hikers.
Photo: Diego LozanoThe Best National Parks & Recreation Areas in Massachusetts
Federal parks and recreation areas in Massachusetts ranked by what they actually offer hikers and campers, not just popularity.
Photo: Tobias MrzykBest Waterfall Hikes in Massachusetts: 10 Trails to See Falls Up Close
Massachusetts's best hikes to named waterfalls — from short family-friendly viewpoints to all-day cascade chasing.