Arlington Reservoir Trail

The Arlington Reservoir, known locally as "The Res," is a man-made lake that's no longer used for the supply of drinking water and has been transformed into a pupular pooch-friendly recreation area. It's most known for its Arlington Reservoir Trail, and it boasts a beach on the east side. The trail spans half in Arlington and half in Lexington, and travels a little over a mile around the lake. It features lovely views and, if you're lucky, some furrific close encounters with the abundant wildlife that make it their home.

Trail access is from 8 entrances scattered around the lake's perimeter, with the main trailhead off Lowell Street, where you'll find free parking. Generally featuring plenty of space, parking can be busy during the summer when the beach is open. If you enter from Lowell Street, you'll walk through the reservoir's pawsome Habitat Garden, which was developed and maintained to attract butterflies, dragonflies, birds and bees. The garden is a delight to walk through with furry pals, as you watch their comic attempts to catch the flitting fliers. 

Dogs are allowed on the beach, off leash, from September to June, from 6:00 to 9:00 am. The trail passes at the upper end of the sand, as well as along the water's edge, according to season. The Lexington side of the trail allows off-leash dog-roaming, but be sure to control Fido by voice and re-leash when you're approaching the Arlington side. Bring along water to share, and clean up bags for this lovely stroll.

The trail is a shady, wooded path that opens from time to time to pawrrific views of the opposite shore, as well as large numbers of birds that serenade you from their lofty branches. Wildflowers and ferns line both sides in the spring and summer, and rabbits, turtles and toads can be glimpsed and sniffed as they go about their day. Geese like this reservoir, too, and efforts are being made to limit their access for sanitary and safety reasons. 

If you and your hound pine for a short but peaceful walk in nature, the Arlington Reservoir Trail is pawrfect! And it's open year-round! Furtastic!