This Beautiful 3-Mile Trail in Massachusetts’ Borderland State Park is Worth the Crowds

Whether or not you come into a hike looking for an adventure, a great workout, or a morning stroll to stretch your legs, the unifying desire among every hiker is to have a moment in nature. No matter the season or the trail, it is universally known that fresh air has many benefits for both physical and mental health. As a result, trails that are easy to traverse, of moderate length, and well-maintained to boot can be very popular because those of any age or fitness level can use them. But, adding in gorgeous views and a fascinating history surrounding the trail? Well, that’s just the icing on the cake of what is the Leach Pond Trail in Massachusetts.

At just over three miles and taking anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half to complete, this beautiful hike passes much of the state park’s biggest hits (the Ames Mansion, cliffs, forests, ponds, fields, etc), but also includes the Ames Boulder, which sits in an area that has become very well regarded in the bouldering community. Hikers recommend bringing bug spray in the summer and spikes for your shoes in the winter, but otherwise describe a very easy, pleasant hike with minimal to no issues along the way. Although the trail can be crowded, there are many shaded areas, benches, and picnic tables to rest in, and there are other side trails to divert to or other activities (disc golf) to partake in if it seems like the path has too many people.

This hike resides in Borderland State Park, an area best known for the Ames Mansion. When the area was purchased in 1906, the Ames family built their expansive mansion and converted the land into a nature preserve with man-made ponds and trails that still exist today. When Blanche Ames passed away, the land was sold and turned into a state park, which quickly became very popular with families. However, it also gained popularity with Hollywood and was used as a film location for scenes in the movies "Shutter Island," "Ghostbusters," "Mermaids," and "Knives Out."

It is easy to see why the area is so popular, with a gentle beauty that could make even the most nature-critical person's heart melt. The land is rife with meadows, ponds, forests, and cliffs—all accessible from wide paths that are open to dogs, bikes, and horseback riding. In the spring and summer, the air carries the scent of wildflowers, and autumn brings the classic New England fire to the foliage. Even winter weather doesn’t deter; instead, it brings crowds of fans who enjoy the soft white touch that the landscape becomes blanketed by. At every time and in every season, the trail and state park appear as if something out of a Hallmark movie (and who knows, maybe it’ll be in one of those movies soon, too).

No, the Leach Pond trail in Borderland State Park is not going to be the hike you choose in Massachusetts if you’re looking for a hard workout that leaves your calves straining and your breath shallow (unless, perhaps, you go with the purpose of bouldering). However, this is the trail to choose in practically every other scenario, open to families and dogs, with ADA-accessible parts, and a varied terrain that can excite nature lovers, history lovers, and movie buffs alike.

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