Belle Isle Marsh Reservation

Wow! This place is spectacularly gorgeous! I especially love the wildflowers and walkway, and that no dogs are allowed. There are so few places where dogs are not allowed and I can let down my guard and just enjoy! There were butterflies and hummingbirds and bees and dragonflies…it was magnificent. Toward the end I did pop my head into the marsh areas. This was a terrible mistake! There were swarms of mosquitoes like I’ve never seen!!! I was mobbed and even as I squashed at least a dozen, more bit me on my face, neck, chest, arms, and legs. I had to hustle away! Wear spray!!!!! I appreciate that the .5 mile trail around is super accessible, dogs must be leashed on it, and there is even a handicapped accessible portable toilet! There are benches and picnic tables and the breeze is spectacularly refreshing. Some good shade too!

A beautiful unique and short hike. I love the tower that overlooks the marsh. Be mindful that the ground is icy and slippery during the winter and after a snowstorm. Stay on trail to keep the environment preserved for the nesting animals there.

This park is such a hidden gem and it’s great for a picnic day with friends or just a nice walk to clear your head.

This is a beautiful ecosystem. It's so hard finding a place like this in Boston. Matter of fact, there are no other places like this in Boston. The silence, the smell of nature, the hints and peeks of wildlife around you, it's all just a wonderful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. It's been a long time since I've been in a place that's so alive. Parks and forests lack the biodiversity and fauna that the marsh biome provides. Make yourself a favor and take some time to disconnect and explore this site. Make sure to go into the meadow, too! (That's where the wildlife is)

I’m a photographer and i absolutely love having sessions here. This place is huge with so much grounds to explore! Free parking Approach entrance slowly as it is so easy to miss. Note the park doesnt actually close at 4, it closes at dusk! Follow my photography on IG @lnportraits.co

Many mosquitoes I recommend not wearing short clothing, please do not bring your pets here after a walk with my dog ​​when I returned home I found 12 ticks to be exact.

Great place to walk around and see all times of birds and scenery. One of Boston and another of the Marsh from different viewpoints. If you are into airplanes this is another great place where you can watch them and grab some pretty good photos. They fly low enough you can make the names of each airline company that is out there. So grab a picnic and a camera and enjoy the sights and sounds

Went there over Thanksgiving - such a vast place, as if you're in another world from Boston downtown. It was cold, humid, and windy (so need to be careful of quick lose of power for your cell phone). Later on, I read the beginning Thoerou's 'Cape Cod', illustrating that most Boston *used to be like this before the colonization of Europeans, and the grass was accordingly described as 'poverty grass', as this type of view cannot easily be seen elsewhere except for coastal area. In fact, I also learned that this is the last salt water marsh in Boston today. It's close to the airport, so you can still stand on the path, and watch the planes.

Pretty spot for a brief walk, very quiet, you would know it is in East Boston. Free parking and no fee to enter.

Belle Isle Marsh Reservation contains just under a mile of walking paths; they're all nicely groomed and well maintained. You'll have no problems taking strollers and/or wheel chairs on them. There are also a couple of boardwalks here; these might be a bit tough to traverse with wheels. Tip: There's a parking lot just past the Orient Heights train station that's large enough for 30+ cars Visiting this park, you'll have the opportunity to experience some nice views of downtown. While your individual experiences may vary, when I was in Belle Isle Marsh Reservation I felt like I was largely alone with nature :-)

Great site for birding! Don't forget to bring mosquito repellent. The path is appropriate for people of all abilities

This is a super cool and unique place and a special preserve just outside of the city. It's easily reached by the blue line train getting off at Suffolk Downs I think it's called and just across the street. It's not a huge place, but it's important and it helps to preserve the natural tidal areas that used to surround the old city of Boston for numerous birds and other animals and plants. The main loop walking path is very easy to navigate and flat with a crushed stone pathways for easy navigation. If it's open don't forget to take on the scene from the observation deck area on the left side of the park.

I'm going to be that person. I'm giving this place 3 stars. The mosquitos. They are BAD. Is Belle Isle beautiful? Yes. but for several months of the year it is inaccessible due to a ridiculous amount of mosquitoes. Swarms. The parks and rec people put a literal sign at the entrance warning you. At one point, I let my dog out and shut the door and within minutes he came sprinting into the car. Even before the swarms start, they come out and bite you - THROUGH YOUR PANTS. Clothing will not protect you. Their stingers pierce through clothing. So yes, this place is beautiful but you cant even come here June through September. Also there are a lot of ticks.

This reservation is in East Boston? This is truly a natural wonder, among such a settled area. It was a good way to spend an hour walking around, checking out the trails. They are numbered but its fun to pick some random paths and go at your own pace or bring a picnic and throw a frisbee around. There is a tall watchtower on the north side that provides great views of Boston and Winthrop. There are areas around to bike or launch a kayak. The marsh was so clean and shallow that I actually took off my flip flops and got my feet wet to cool off. There are many picnic tables and benches along the way. The only thing that was distracting were the planes landing frequently very low and loud, besides that its nothing but peaceful. Go check it out! Free parking!

We must have been here when the landing paths were in our favor because we saw, but never heard any planes overhead. A beautiful, serene place. Nothing spectacular, but a strong sense of nature having its way amid winding paths with multi-colored vegetation, and waterways that reflect the wide-open sky. Only a hazy skyline of Boston, off in the distance. It's clean and feels safe, in the daytime anyway.

Katherine I.'s review from 2009 is truly awkward, let's get that out of the way first. Let's also point out caesar s's clearly misplaced review. Alright, we had a much milder experience, enjoying the views on a less busy day. The reservation is cool but smaller than you'd think when approaching. Make sure you pile on the bug spray, it is a marsh of course.

This place, based on location, ambiance, etc, deserves 5 stars. It's beautiful, with a look out, beaches, marshes, and picnicking area. But about half an hour into my visit, I realized...it's a gay hook up spot. I first spotted a condom when I first got there, and didn't think much about it. Then I realized, the single men sitting on benches alone...and walking past the same spot numerous times, then following each other, but then speaking to each other...oh. This is an issue since families come here to play and hang out, and shouldn't have to risk running into anyone having sex. I'd love to see some security here during the day to prevent this from happening.

I have to say this place is a hidden gem. I pass by it so frequently but never really stopped to see because it doesn't seem like much passing it on the street but i'm so glad I did. There are some beautiful scenic views here that I'm falling in love with. I've been coming her frequently because of it. There is this little secluded patio area that I just love stopping at for an hour or so and just enjoying the view. Then there's this tower on the other side of the park which is three stories high and gives you a 360 degree view of the entire area which is amazing. The place is super clean too but I've noticed some used condoms here and there which is pretty disgusting and from what others have wrote about this place, it seems that this is a gay hook up place? I don't know for sure but the used condoms i've seen here and there (not to say they're everywhere) lends credibility to that statement. On a side note, I lost my wallet here once and some douche bag hillbilly and his fat wife/girlfriend took it. How did I know it was them? Because I saw them going to the area I believed I dropped my wallet at. When I called the Police Station to see if anyone returned a lost wallet, I described the person to the personnel at the station and they said that that was that person. I hope you rot in hell you disgusting bastard. I don't care about the money you took, just the fact that you told us you didn't see it when we asked. I would've given you all the money in it, instead of having to trace my steps all over the place looking for it. Anyways, leave you wallets locked in your car. Besides that, this place is pretty nice.

Love this place...the last remaining salt marsh in Boston with awesome views of marshes, the skyline, and planes going overhead. Lots of little paths, bridges, and an awesome observation tower with a cute weathervane on the top (in the shape of a fish). There are also some guided walks given talking about the saltmarsh ecology and prior uses of the marsh. Great place to go and wander for an afternoon, watching the planes and various birds who use the marsh as a stop over spot go by. Dog friendly and mostly stroller and possibly even wheelchair friendly because the paths are smooth and packed.

I love taking my pups here to run around sans leash. Everyone is really nice and good about giving the "my dog is friendly, is yours?" Hand wave / ok sign. I have never seen any hook ups or even thought this was a hook up place (if you read through reviews...one person believes otherwise ) Perfect place near the city to get some fresh air-

This is a neat little area in the East Boston/Winthrop area. It's a salt marsh with great paths and views. Excellent for an afternoon walk in the summer. It seems to have two locations where to visit on the North and South parts of it. I went to the North side, which has a free parking lot. I locked my bike to one of the posts and ran around it. The observation tower that Jocelyn mentions is fantastic and gives you great views of the Marsh and the city. I bumped into a lady who mentioned she even saw jellyfish there. If you're into bird watching, this is a great choice.

I went walking the dog here a couple times, and it makes for a very nice walk. They have a nice observation tower that overlooks the marshes. I bet it would be a nice place to take a kayak or canoe. I think its awesome that this is a nice place to get off the city streets without leaving town. The only negatives I have experienced are the planes flying low overhead, and the fact that I witnesses some public sex on one of the park benches -that was a little awkward.

I went kayaking here on a Sunday evening in September - great place and great sunsets ... but a bit noisy when the planes fly over. Went all around the marshes and then went "under the bridge" and out by the airport. Quite interesting. Lots of Snowy Egrets and Ospreys and a Cormorant. Rented a kayak from Belle Isle Kayak Adventures right in the Belle Isle Boat Yard (behind the Dunkin Donuts on Main St).

We took our little puppy to Belle Isle last week and we LOVED it. We have walked around there a few times to enjoy the beautiful view that makes us feel as if we are far from the city. Dog owners rejoice! this place is MUCh better than dog parks. Free parking, AMAZING clean, open space, with nice, responsible people involved in playing with their furry friends. We spent around 1.5 hour there, met 10 dogs or so, and had the grandest time. :) I almost don't want to tell people about this place....

Beautiful place. Can't wait for late spring. As the straight guys seeing the other men having some fun. You're just envious! If there were good looking women running about and wanting it you'd all be there! Relax. Let's keep this awesome place just like it is. A hidden gem.

Reminds me of England (those pastry high lands stuff). Very quiet place with an awesome country vibe. yet you can still see the Boston skyline...and the endless planes to logan right over your head. It's really fun to take in some fresh air on the border of sea and river!

The wildflowers are peaking which makes right now a great time to visit this unique Boston park for a walk or a picnic.The city takes very good care of this park which I'm told used to be the site of a drive-in theater. I always use the Bennington St. entrance but I believe there is a Saratoga St. access as well (though I've never used it). Lots of bird watching. I've seen a hawk, owls, osprey? Other wildlife includes skunks and coyotes (don't let your dog go off in the reeds; plenty of better play areas available). There is an observation tower with nice views, a bird watching boardwalk, and a gravel path about 1/2 mile around which encompasses most of the walkable park. The park is mostly made up of intricately linked marshy waterways where I have seen the park department run canoe tours on occasion; I don't know if just launching your kayak is o.k.? but it would be a great place for it. Negatives include ticks (which have abated but are still around until winter), airplanes overhead, not the most diligent group of doggie poop picker-uppers and an occasional unsavory element although the park is well policed.

What a nice surprise! I have lived in the area all my life and never walked around in here until today (near Suffolk Downs T stop). So pretty. Yes, the planes are very loud (and seem to fly very low), and you can hear the train going by in the background, but it does make you feel like your far away. I definitely recommend a walk through here one day. Small, but really nice.

The park is a nice diversion from the cars and sights of street life. If you want a place to walk or view wild life this is a nice place to check out. I can also see the potential of this place for kyacking. However, as you enter the parking lot there tend to be a lot of idling vehicles with middle aged men peering at your every move especially if you are guy which is a little creepy. As I walked into the paved foot path to the bridge and lookout tower I noticed a lot of dirt foot paths leading into the brush. My dog went nuts barking and got off his leash. I chased him in there and caught him pretty quickly. As I put his leash back there were sounds of moaning. Not more than 20 feet away from me down through the brush were two naked men obviously engaging in a sexual activity. You can figure out that this is obviously a gay sex playground. While I don't have a problem with gays I do have a problem with where they choose to do their perverted activities. Obviously a public reservation is not the place because on any given day there are a number of children around. Since I have been there a few times with my dog (watch out for ticks) there is always a white Toyota minivan with a guy watching your everymore. Who ever you are get a hotel room. There are the rest of us that don't want to hear or see your homosexual activities. GET A HOTEL ROOM for that.