Entering from the rear entrance this is an easy 2.5 mile afternoon hike around a small lake in the rear section of the state Breakheart Reservation in Wakefield, MA (just north of Boston). It is a co-event with Chiltern Mountain Club (also LGBTQ).

A third is on paved fire roads and the rest on trails along the water. It’s 60% in the woods/shaded.

About 3/4s of the way around is a beach we'll stop at to swim. Disclaimer: The swimming area once had a lot of little wispy floating weeds. The lifeguards said the state doesn’t always get around to clearing them out. It was ok to swim just not ideal. (Just a heads up.)

Anything more than a drizzle will cancel - there’s no rain date planned (although I’m also running this hike on Sept 6).

Breakheart Reservation info & map - https://www.mass.gov/locations/breakheart-reservation. (We’ll go counterclockwise around Pierce Lake.)

NOTE > Be sure to note that we're entering the Reservation through the less common *rear* entrance ("R" on the map in the photo. If you find yourself at "F" (which is where the visitor center is) you'll need to drive around to R.)

The rear entrance is at 100 Hemlock Rd, Wakefield, MA, which is also the location of the Northeast Regional Voc Tech High School - they share a lot.

Directions notes - even for those using GPS:

The last turn (onto Hemlock from the main road) can be confusing. There are two other schools on the main road, the Voc Tech is hidden up behind them, and the signage for Hemlock (and the Reservation) is minimal.

Look for a largish sign for the Voc Tech. It’s by the ball field. That’s Hemlock - follow it to the end into the lot past the guard house (it's unmanned and there is no charge for parking). You’ll see the Voc Tech on the left and the Reservation entrance at the far end of the lot (at the stone pillars).

Meet to the left of the stone pillars, I’ll be wearing a beige Yosemite cap (round logo).