Breakheart Reservation celebrates the holidays

First Day Hike is planned for Jan. 1 to kick off 2026

By Laura Eisener

Breakheart Reservation was a winter wonderland for several days after last Sunday’s flurries. The Christopher P. Dunne Visitors Center is festively decorated and a great place to warm up and relax after a hike or even a short stroll through the park.

Many great activities are planned for next year, beginning with the wonderful First Day Hike on January 1, which has become a tradition with many people. There are two choices of route, with a hike leader for each loop of the paved trail. Please be sure to wear footwear suitable for walking. You may well meet some new friends or perhaps your neighbors along this social walk! The First Day Hike is 10 a.m. to noon, with hot chocolate and snacks served in the festively decorated Visitors Center afterward. If the ground is extremely icy or there is heavy rain or snow, the hike may be shortened or cancelled, but we hope for good weather to start off our new year!

Winter is by no means a slow period at Breakheart! There are guided walks several days a week all winter, and the very popular Fireside Chats in February have moved to Saturdays, as several people have requested. The Visitors Center is open Wednesdays through Sundays, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., including New Year’s Day itself, when it will be bustling with hikers. You can relax in the Visitors Center even on most rainy or snowy days!

As nature begins to show signs of spring, the Maple Sugarin’ Days celebration will be held on Saturday, March 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be various maple related activities inside and outside near the Visitors Center.

The current winter schedule of programs is online at https://www.mass.gov/doc/breakheart-winter-programs/download. Here is a summary of the upcoming events for the new year:

• First Day Hike: Thursday, January 1, 2026, 10 a.m.-noon. Group hike along paved trail, followed by refreshments in the Visitors Center. Usually attracts a good-sized crowd, and often there are choices of route, one about 3 miles and one about 1.5 miles. Can be cancelled for bad weather or icy conditions.
• Wild Breakheart Winter Tree ID series: Wednesdays in January, 9-10 a.m.
• Wild Breakheart Animal Tracking series: Wednesdays in February, 9-10 a.m.
• Step into the Past: Thursdays, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Jan. 15 and 29, Feb. 12 and 26. Hikes of about 2.5 miles, moderately difficult terrain. Themes are Stories in Stone, and Glacial Giants.
• The Beavers are Back! Thursdays, 10-11:30 a.m., Jan. 8 and 22, Feb. 5 and 19. Meet outside the Visitors Center to learn about beavers and their history while enjoying a walk in Breakheart.
• Kidleidoscope: Fridays, 10:30-11:30 a.m., December-February (except Dec. 26). Storytime and easy walks for children and their adult caregiver.
• Nice and Easy Hike: Saturdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., December and January. Moderate hikes for ages eight and up; can include some uneven and rocky terrain; 2-3 miles, moderately paced.
• Fireside Chats: Saturdays, 9-10 a.m., Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28. Programs are inside the Visitors Center presented by various “Behind the Scenes” experts. Speakers to be determined, no walking required.

Heavy rain, snow and icy surface conditions may cancel outdoor events. Please wear appropriate footwear for walks/hikes.

Breakheart Reservation, Department of Conservation & Recreation, 177 Forest St., Saugus, MA 01906; 781-233-0834.