Reading Town Forest

For bare-bones directions, click here.

Directions to

Parking for Reading's Town Forest

Reading's 290 acre Town Forest has a little of everything, from marshes to a classic esker, Ipswich River overlooks, and a close encounter with the Town's leaf compacting area and water treatment plant.  The Forest, according to Reading's Conservation Commission website, "was created in April, 1930 when over 100,000 red and white pine, spruce, balsam, and Scotch pine trees were planted by local Boy Scouts and other interested citizens. These "pine plantations" are now 75-year-old mature forests; many species of birds and animals live in them, and the acidic soil allows pink and white lady slippers to grow." About half the Forest's trails are fire roads; the other half are more-or-less open trails with some climbing and a lengthy bog bridge. Proximate to the latter are numerous vernal pools and a lively skunk cabbage community, the latter showing new growth on a recent December visit.

Getting to the Town Forest is surprisingly quick and easy; a short drive up Route 93 to Exit 38, a little suburban maneuvering, and you're there. Depending on your starting location, MapQuest may suggest something shorter/faster than involving Routes 128/95 and 93 (it did in our case) but, in general, the following shouldn't take more than a half hour, even from Weston or Wellesley (provided Route 128 northbound is moving):

To get there, drive Route 128/95 to Route 93 northbound and, once you're headed toward New Hampshire, continue on Route 93 2.5 miles to Exit 38 (Route 129/Reading/Wakefield). At the end of the exit ramp turn left onto Route 129/Lowell Street and continue 0.7 miles east toward Reading to Grove Street (first set of lights) and turn left. The Grove Street sign is on the left and hard to spot; you may see signs for Willow Street and/or the Meadow Brook Golf Course instead. Once on Grove Street, drive 0.8 miles to Franklin Street and turn right on it. Another 0.8 miles or so on Franklin will bring you to Fox Run Lane (it's easy to miss this sign too). Turn left on Fox Run Lane, continue to the cul de sac at its end, and park. 

*** Good Luck !!! ***

     For those navigating to the start with MapQuest or a GPS system:                  88 Fox Run Lane, Reading, MA or N42 33.097, W71 06.893           To contact us call 978-808-0900