(Archive May 2016) 7 Hiking Spots for Beginners

As Told by an Out-of-Shape College Girl and Her Dog

By Jillian Manty | Observer Contributor

1) Lake Dennison Recreation Area: Winchendon, MA

Lake Dennison is a popular camping area that attracts both locals and out-of-towners. There are plenty of trails throughout the entire area. If you’re looking to stay out of the woods, you can walk on the road of the campground and check out the boating area.

2) Tully Lake: Athol, MA

Tully is another recreational area close by. They have an area set up for barbequing with picnic tables and fireplaces. If you’re looking for a nice, easy hike, this is a beautiful place. The trail loops around the entire lake, offering several places to stop and check out the view.

3) Doane’s Falls: Royalston, MA

If you’re looking to hike somewhere where there’s a waterfall, Doane’s Falls is the place. The waterfall itself is beautiful and there are several good hiking paths throughout the woods. 

4) Mount Watatic: Ashburnham, MA

Mount Watatic is a great hike for beginners. There are two trails that lead up to the summit to choose from. It can get pretty steep at times and you have to keep a look out for the trail markers on the trees. The view from the top is gorgeous and worth the hike up.

5) Birch Hill Dam: Royalston, MA

The walk to Birch Hill Dam is on a concrete road, not necessarily the traditional hike, but definitely a place to check out. The dam itself is cool to look at and they also offer picnic tables at the top to eat lunch.

6) Dunn Park: Gardner, MA

Dunn Park is another popular picnic spot in the area. However, they offer quite a few trails as well. You can loop around the entire lake or check out a few of the other ones. They’re mostly level terrain so there’s not a whole lot of climbing.

7) Mount Wachusett: Princeton, MA

Mount Wachusett is another mountain that’s awesome for beginners. You can either park at the bottom and hike up the road to the summit, or you can drive the majority of the way up and explore the top like that. The view from the summit is beautiful and there is also a fire tower you can climb to get even higher up.