Plan your visit to Ward Reservation
This property is open during normal hours.
The Trustees asks that visitors follow
social distancing guidelines for the health and safety of all. Please note: all buildings and inside areas are remain closed on all properties. For more information about our response to COVID-19, please
click here.
Admission & Fees
Operating hours: Dawn to dusk
Please note, for your safety and the safety of others:
- A mask or face covering must be worn at all times while visiting the properties.
- Please keep a six-foot distance from other visitors.
- Parking is limited at these properties. No street parking is allowed. If the parking lot is full, please come back at a later time or consider visiting one of our other properties.
- Parking fee required, pay at kiosk, free for members
- Dogs on leash at Ward Reservation.
- Professional Photo-Shoots or Groups of more than ten people require a permit.
When to Visit
Year-round, daily, 8AM to sunset. Allow a minimum of 2 hours.
Admission
Parking: $5 per car for nonmembers; FREE for members
Get more information about parking fees >>
Trail Map
Printed trail maps are distributed free from the bulletin boards in the parking area. Please understand that supplies periodically run out. We recommend that you download a trail map before you visit.
Additional resources:
Getting Here & Directions
Prospect Road
Andover and North Andover, MA 01810
Telephone: 978.689.9105
E-mail: kmacdonald@thetrustees.org
Latitude: 42.6405
Longitude: -71.1120
Get directions on Google Maps.
From I-93 Exit 41, take Rt. 125 North 5 mi. Turn right onto Prospect Rd. and follow for 0.3 mi. to entrance and parking (15 cars) on right.
From Rt. I-495 Exit 42, take Rt. 114 East 1.7 mi. Turn right onto Rt. 125 South and follow for 1.6 mi. Turn left onto Prospect Rd. Continue as above.
Additional Information
Before You Go
We encourage you to visit as many Trustees properties as you can.
Wherever your travels take you, please observe all posted regulations, follow special instructions from property staff, and keep in mind the Stewardship Code:
- Protect wildlife and plants.
- Guard against all risk of fire.
- Help keep air and water clean.
- Carry out what you carry in.
- Use marked footpaths and bridle paths.
- Leave livestock, crops, and machinery alone.
- Respect the privacy of neighboring land.
- Enjoy and share the landscape with others.
Click on links below for further visitor information:
Before Setting Out
Enjoying Trustees Reservations
Safety
About Hunting on Trustees of Reservations Land
History
The focal point of the Ward Reservation is 420-foot Holt Hill, the highest point in Essex County. The hill is named for the mid-17th-century settlement of Nicholas Holt. On June 17, 1775, townspeople climbed to the top of the 420-foot hill to watch the burning of Charlestown during the Revolutionary War.
Property Acquisition History
Original acreage a gift, with endowment, of Mrs. Charles W. Ward in 1940 in memory of her husband. Additional land given in 1944, 1946, and 1950. Additional land given by Charles L. Ward, Jr. in 1941; Phillips Andover Academy in 1957 and 1973; Mrs. C. Carleton Kimball and Charles L. Ward in 1958; Elizabeth W. Kimball, Charles L. Ward, John W. Kimball, Richard W. Kimball, Margaret K. Montgomery, Charles L. Ward, Jr., and Thomas B. Ward in 1972; and Mr. and Mrs. Jon Swenson in 1977. Other parcels purchased from 1958 to 1978. Additional land given by the North Andover Improvement Society in 1994; Emily Walton Taft in 1995; Mark Conserva in 1997; and Robert E. Webster in 1999. Additional endowment given by members of the Ward family.
Conservation & Stewardship
Periodically, The Trustees of Reservations, in partnership with the North Andover Fire Department, The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Bureau of Fire Control, and Massachusetts Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, intends to conduct a prescribed burn at Ward Hill Reservation in North Andover. This Partnership will apply a prescribed fire (or controlled burn) to part of the more than 30 acres at Boston Hill for the purposes of: protecting and promoting habitat for rare species; improving public and firefighter safety by reducing fuel loads for wildfires; and providing training opportunities for North Andover Firefighters and partners.
Click here to download the Ward Reservation Abutters Letter (dated 3/5/08).
Click here to download the Weir Hill Abutters Letter (dated 3/5/08).
Download the Weir and Boston Hill Fact Sheet, the Fire History of Weir Hill, graphs illustrating the frequency and response rate of fires, and maps (Weir Hill, Ward Reservation) of the proposed burn units.
Learn more about The Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.
Download the memorandums of support from North Andover Fire Department and North Andover Conservation Commission (pdf).
Management Planning for Our Properties
Since 1891, The Trustees of Reservations have worked to protect special places in Massachusetts and maintain them to the highest standards. To ensure these standards are met, a program of careful planning and sound management is essential. Comprehensive property management plans are created for each reservation and are completely updated approximately every ten years. We often work with volunteers, property users, and members of the community to carry out this planning, which typically involves several steps:
- Describing in detail the site’s natural, scenic, and historical resources; identifying management issues related to the protection of those resources.
- Describing how visitors use the property; outlining the opportunities that the property provides for people to become involved in the work of conservation and caring for their community.
- Developing a detailed list of management recommendations, a work plan, and a description of financial needs for implementing the actions.
Andover & North Andover, MA
bird-watching
cross-country-skiing-snowshoeing
hunting
mountain-biking
dog-walking
walking-hiking-moderate
horseback-riding
picnicking
regional-trail-link
