- Horn Pond Lagoon Trail
This 1.6 mile trail near Horn Pond begins near the community gardens and then takes you in a loop around the lagoon. This spot is a popular dog walking and bird watching trail. It is not uncommon to pass by people with large cameras trying to photograph the wildlife here. I like this trial because it gives you access to both horn pond and the lagoon. Max enjoys swimming in both.
2. Rag Rock Hill Park
There is a trailhead for Rag Rock on Bacon Street in Woburn. The trail offers a more steep, direct route to the top or a longer route that wraps around for a bit before heading up to the rock. The longer trail is about 0.8 miles out and back. At the top of the rock you are rewarded with skyline views of Woburn and of the Boston skyline. This hike is short but still offers a good workout because of how steep it is.
3. Horn Pond Mountain
This trail begins at a parking lot alongside Horn Pond. It is a 1.4 mile loop that takes you through Horn Pond Reservation. This wooded area is a hidden gem in the city of Woburn, where you will forget you are not in the mountains. The first part of the trail takes you alongside Horn Pond, then you branch off to head up the mountain. The trail is paved all the way to the top of the mountain, where it then becomes gravel. For a short hike, this trail offers a good workout and cardio challenge because of the steep climb up to the top. Located at the top of mountain is a bench and a skyline view of Boston that you can just make out between the tree foliage but is probably clear in the winter. There is an old reservoir located at the top as well, but it is dried out. We hiked this trail clockwise. The trail heading back down the mountain is a bit of a rock scramble and therefore I recommend hiking boots. However, you are rewarded with the smell of huckleberries as you descend the mountain which makes it worth it. After you descend the mountain, the trail spits you back out at Horn Pond. I like this trail because of the different terrain. There is the hike up the mountain, rock scrambling down the mountain, and a an easy flat path along Horn Pond.
4. Aberjona Nature Trail
This trail is a 0.4 mile loop through the forest. To make it worth my while, I did the loop twice. There is a small parking lot at the trailhead that can fit about 4 cars. There are educational nature trail stations dispersed along the trail. Note that there can be some noise on the trail from the nearby rifle association.
5. Shaker Glen
Parking for this trail can be found at the end of Summit St. There you will find a sign for the trailhead. This trail makes for a 1.3 mile loop thorugh a wooded area that rests behind residential streets. There are two bridge crossings to get across a stream. One of the bridges has collapsed and there are signs on it inferring it is currently closed. However, you can still hike this trail as an out and back. Hike out to the broken bridge and then back.
6. Whispering Hill Loop
Whispering Hill in Woburn is adjacent and connected to Mary Cummings Park in Burlington. Parking and a trailhead are located at the end of a cul-de-sac. This 2.4 mile loop takes you through Whispering Hill woods and also the fields of Mary Cummings Park. We save this trail for a cool or rainy day because there are no water sources for Max to swim in to cool off.
