Things to do in Boxford, MA

Boxford State Forest

Wooded trail in Boxford State Forest

Boxford State Forest offers hundreds of acres of protected woodlands, wetlands, and glacial topography, crisscrossed by old woods roads and singletrack trails ideal for hiking, biking, and snowshoeing. Managed as part of the Massachusetts state parks system, it gives visitors a sense of large-scale conservation right on the edge of town.

Phone: Not listed

Official site

 

Baldpate Pond & Baldpate Pond State Park Trails

Lakeside view similar to Baldpate Pond and nearby trails

Baldpate Pond is a serene great pond shared by Boxford and Georgetown, encircled by a network of multi-use trails managed by state and local conservation agencies. Anglers, paddlers, and hikers enjoy stocked trout fishing, shoreline access, and looping paths that connect to Camp Denison and adjacent protected lands.

Phone: Not listed

Official site

 

Stiles Pond Town Beach & Keith Koster Memorial Park

Family-friendly lakeside beach similar to Stiles Pond Town Beach

Stiles Pond is the centerpiece of Boxford’s town beach, where residents enjoy swimming, paddling, and lakeside relaxation during the summer season. The adjacent ballfield and recreation area are dedicated as the Keith Koster Memorial Baseball Park, creating a combined waterfront and athletic hub for leagues, family outings, and community events.

Phone: (978) 887-6000

Town of Boxford site

 

Camp Rotary on Stiles Pond

Overnight summer camp scene like Camp Rotary on Stiles Pond

Camp Rotary is a classic co-ed overnight camp on the shores of Stiles Pond, with cabins, docks, playing fields, and wooded trails that activate the landscape all summer long. The campus layout and shoreline access make it a notable seasonal village of recreation structures and waterfront facilities in Boxford.

Phone: (978) 352-9952

Official site

 

Danvers YMCA Stiles Pond Camp

Day camp activities similar to Danvers YMCA Stiles Pond Camp

The Danvers YMCA Stiles Pond Camp operates a large day camp complex on the pond, with docks, pavilions, sports courts, and open-air program shelters clustered around the water. The camp’s layout and facilities showcase how shoreline and upland areas can be used for youth development, outdoor education, and seasonal recreation.

Phone: (978) 352-2366

Official site

 

Hovey’s Pond & Meadow Vista

Meadow and pond landscape similar to Hovey’s Pond and Meadow Vista

Hovey’s Pond and the surrounding meadow form a picturesque mix of open water, wetlands, and agricultural fields on the west side of Boxford. Protected farmland around the pond creates a broad, open vista that highlights the town’s commitment to preserving rural character and scenic resources.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT official site

 

Towne Farm / iFarm Historic Homestead

Historic New England farmstead similar to Towne Farm / iFarm Historic Homestead

Towne Farm, home to iFarm, features a restored 19th-century farmhouse, barn, and outbuildings that illustrate traditional New England agricultural architecture. Visitors can tour the grounds for workshops and events, seeing how historic farm structures are adapted for modern educational and agritourism uses.

Phone: (978) 887-0878

Official site

 

Boxford Town Library

Boxford Town Library civic building and public library

The Boxford Town Library occupies a civic building at 7A Spofford Road that anchors the town center with collections, study space, and community rooms. For visitors, it is a convenient information hub and an example of how a small community invests in public cultural infrastructure.

Phone: (978) 887-7323

Official site

 

Boxford Town Hall & Town Green

Boxford Town Hall and Town Green civic campus in Boxford, Massachusetts

Boxford Town Hall, also at 7A Spofford Road, is the center of local government and a reference point for the historic village green. The building and surrounding campus host public meetings, elections, and civic events, giving visitors a glimpse into how a small town manages its administrative and community life.

Phone: (978) 887-6000

Official site

 

Boxford Common Recreation Area

Boxford Common Recreation Area sports fields and playground

Boxford Common is a modern outdoor sports complex with multi-purpose turf fields, natural grass areas, and a playground designed for youth football, soccer, and field hockey. The site demonstrates current standards in field construction, drainage, and lighting for community-scale athletic facilities.

Phone: (978) 887-6000

Recreation site

 

Boy Scout Park & Ackerman Playground

Boy Scout Park and Ackerman Playground neighborhood recreation area

Boy Scout Park, including the Ackerman Playground and athletic fields, is a neighborhood recreation area with diamonds, open turf, and play structures. Its mix of informal green space and organized sports infrastructure makes it a useful model for small municipal parks serving multiple age groups.

Phone: (978) 887-6000

Parks & recreation site

 

Paisley Farm & Greenhouses

Greenhouses and farm stand similar to Paisley Farm & Greenhouses

Paisley Farm & Greenhouses is a long-running farm stand and greenhouse complex on Washington Street, with retail structures, growing houses, and display gardens. Visitors can see how production greenhouses, sales sheds, and parking are organized on a compact produce and horticulture site.

Phone: (978) 352-2332

Official site

 

Ingaldsby Farm & The West 40

Farm stand and orchards similar to Ingaldsby Farm & The West 40

Ingaldsby Farm is a century-old family farm and farm stand on Washington Street, offering pick-your-own crops, animals, and retail goods in a cluster of traditional barns and sheds. Behind it, the protected West 40 farmland and adjacent conserved parcels maintain a broad agricultural landscape along Hovey’s Pond, illustrating how working farms and conservation can be blended.

Phone: (978) 352-2813

Farm page

 

West Boxford Apple Festival Grounds

West Boxford Apple Festival Grounds community fall festival setting

The West Boxford village green hosts the town’s annual Apple Festival, where temporary vendor tents, music stages, and farm stands animate the historic crossroads. Even outside festival days, the setting shows how a traditional village core can be used for temporary civic programming and seasonal markets.

Phone: (978) 887-6000

Historical society site

 

BTA/BOLT Trail System & Headquarters

BTA/BOLT trail system and headquarters in Boxford, Massachusetts

The Boxford Trails Association/Boxford Open Land Trust (BTA/BOLT) coordinates more than 1,500 acres of conserved land and a connected trail system throughout town. Their headquarters at 7 Elm Street and extensive property portfolio are a living case study in easements, stewardship, and low-impact trail construction on private and public lands.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

Official site

 

Elmlea Woods Conservation Area

Shaded woodland trail similar to Elmlea Woods Conservation Area

Elmlea Woods is a conserved woodland area with footpaths threading through mature forest, stone walls, and glacial features. The property demonstrates how modest trailheads and low-key signage can open up substantial natural areas without heavy infrastructure.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Mary Herrick Forest

Conifer forest landscape similar to Mary Herrick Forest

Mary Herrick Forest is a large wooded tract protected under BTA/BOLT, with trails, wetlands, and wildlife habitat. For hikers and nature lovers, it offers longer loops and an immersion in interior forest conditions with minimal built intrusion.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Redington Woods

Wooded conservation land similar to Redington Woods

Redington Woods preserves a mix of upland forest and wetlands, with narrow paths and old stone boundaries that hint at earlier agricultural use. Visitors can see how small conservation parcels fit together in BTA/BOLT’s broader open space network.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Coolidge Woods

Quiet woodland trail similar to Coolidge Woods

Coolidge Woods offers a quiet loop through mixed hardwood forest and gentle topography, with subtle trail markers and minimal structures. It is a good example of low-impact recreational access where the primary investment is thoughtful path layout rather than built amenities.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Boxford Town Forest

Town forest walking path

The Boxford Town Forest is a municipally owned woodland that complements the state forest and privately conserved lands, tying trails into a cohesive network. Modest kiosks, trail markings, and boundary signs show how a town can manage its own open space assets alongside partner organizations.

Phone: (978) 887-6000

Town of Boxford site

 

Cleaveland Farm Conservation Area

Fields and hedgerows similar to Cleaveland Farm Conservation Area

Cleaveland Farm includes open fields, hedgerows, and woodland edges where trails weave through former agricultural land. The site illustrates how old farm fields can be retained as meadow habitat and passive recreation space within a conservation framework.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Millbrook Farm Conservation Area

Stream and meadow landscape similar to Millbrook Farm Conservation Area

Millbrook Farm Conservation Area protects farmland and stream corridors near the West 40, with views across open pasture and low wetlands. Visitors walking the trails see a working pastoral landscape that also functions as floodplain and wildlife habitat.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Chadwick Mill Scenic Vista

Historic mill stream landscape at Chadwick Mill Scenic Vista

The Chadwick Mill property preserves the setting of an old mill site, where remnants of past waterpower infrastructure sit alongside meadows and woods. It offers a compact look at historic industrial use within today’s conservation landscape, with viewpoints over Hovey’s Pond and surrounding farmland.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Alpers’ Woods

Mature woodland similar to Alpers’ Woods

Alpers’ Woods is a small but dense woodland parcel featuring typical New England forest composition and low stone walls. Its simple loop trail shows how even limited acreage can provide public access and ecological value when carefully protected.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Barker Property Trails

Trail through mixed forest similar to Barker Property Trails

The Barker Property connects forested uplands and wetlands in a compact reserve with informal footpaths. It functions as a neighborhood-accessible natural area where visitors can observe seasonal changes in vegetation and hydrology without major built features.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Bergstrom Land

Wetland edge forest similar to Bergstrom Land

Bergstrom Land preserves mixed woods and wetland edges, with modest trails that skirt sensitive areas. The property highlights how conservation design can provide access while maintaining buffers around wet habitats.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Cargill Fields

Open meadow similar to Cargill Fields

Cargill Fields offers broad grassland and edge habitat preserved within Boxford’s open space system. The fields provide opportunities for birdwatching, passive recreation, and demonstration of grassland management in a suburban community.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Cedar Pond Society Lands

Pond-edge woodland similar to Cedar Pond Society Lands

The Cedar Pond Society lands protect shoreline and woodland near Cedar Pond, with limited access that prioritizes habitat protection. Views of the water and surrounding trees make it a quiet retreat where visitors can appreciate minimally developed shorelines.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Davis Hayfield

Hayfield and treeline similar to Davis Hayfield

Davis Hayfield preserves open agricultural land that continues to be hayed, maintaining broad sightlines and early-successional habitat. Trails along the margins let visitors experience an actively managed field ecosystem integrated into the conservation matrix.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Dorman Woods

Mixed hardwood forest similar to Dorman Woods

Dorman Woods is a compact forest reserve with simple walking paths and typical New England understory. Its small trail system makes it a good introductory site for residents looking to explore local conservation land without a long hike.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Dubrule Acre

Small woodland parcel similar to Dubrule Acre

Dubrule Acre is a small preserved parcel that nonetheless contributes important connectivity between larger tracts of forest and wetland. A short path leads through mixed woods, offering a quick nature break close to nearby roads and homes.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Ericson Woods

Trail through woods similar to Ericson Woods

Ericson Woods offers gently rolling terrain and forest canopy, with informal trails passing stone walls and glacial erratics. For trail designers and hikers, it shows how simple routing can highlight natural features without extensive structural work.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Fish Brook Parcel

Wooded stream corridor similar to Fish Brook Parcel

The Fish Brook Parcel protects a section of the Fish Brook corridor, where a shaded stream flows between forested banks and wetlands. Boardwalks or stable treadways in such parcels can demonstrate best practices for crossing seasonally wet ground.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Hemlock Junction

Hemlock grove similar to Hemlock Junction

Hemlock Junction features cool, shaded groves of hemlock and mixed evergreens, with narrow trails that weave through a darker forest interior. The site showcases a different microclimate and vegetation pattern than Boxford’s more open hardwood stands.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Haynes Field

Open conservation field similar to Haynes Field

Haynes Field offers open grassland bordered by forest, adding to Boxford’s inventory of preserved fields that can be managed for pollinators and ground-nesting birds. Perimeter paths give users an easy loop walk with long views across the landscape.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Lockwood Forest

Forest trail similar to Lockwood Forest

Lockwood Forest is another BTA/BOLT woodland parcel that links into the larger regional trail network. Modest trail intersections and limited signage keep the experience natural while still offering enough wayfinding for regular use.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Lord Forest & Fields

Mix of fields and forest similar to Lord Forest and Fields

Lord Forest & Fields combine wooded uplands with open meadow, illustrating a classic New England patchwork landscape. Trails pass along field edges and into the trees, offering varied experiences within a single conserved tract.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Stevens Pond Wetland

Wetland and pond edge similar to Stevens Pond Wetland

The Stevens Pond Wetland parcel focuses on protecting shoreline and marsh near Stevens Pond, with limited but strategic public access. Views across the water and cattails highlight the importance of undeveloped buffers for water quality and habitat.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Whitney Woods

Wooded hiking area similar to Whitney Woods

Whitney Woods is one of several BTA/BOLT woodland properties offering footpaths, old stone walls, and diverse forest structure. Its trail network is well suited for short after-work walks and demonstrates low-maintenance design for community woodlots.

Phone: (978) 887-7031

BTA/BOLT land page

 

Windrush Farm Trails

Equestrian and walking trails similar to Windrush Farm Trails

Windrush Farm includes conserved land and equestrian facilities, with trails and fields used for therapeutic riding and outdoor programs. The blend of barns, paddocks, and natural areas provides insight into how working farms can host both agriculture and human services programming.

Phone: (978) 682-7855

Official site

Things to do in Boxford, MAThings to do in Boxford, MAThings to do in Boxford, MA