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6 reviews for Mystic Lakes - Sandy Beach
Want to swim, run, walk, bike, skip rocks, play soccer, field hockey, crawl all over a playground, barbecue, picnic, take photos, boat, sit, read, or just simply have fun?
Sandy Beach is your answer. You can do ALL of those things.
...Except maybe on Wednesdays, when there are six random lifeguards to keep you inside the small, roped swimming area. Any other day go crazy and swim outside those ropes at your own risk.
Really though, Sandy Beach is an oasis located less than three miles from my house and very close to the Wedgemere commuter rail stop. It's free to use the lake, which is Upper Mystic Lake, and any of the fields nearby. It is free to park. It is pretty much perfect.
On weekends it will be fairly crowded, but not to a point where it's annoying or guntoyourhead inspiring. The beach and the water are generally clean. If people were more concerned about the environment, this place would be sparkling but you do find your occasional dirty diaper or McDonald's (ew!) cup on the ground. And yes, the lake has lake gunk in it but who cares. It is always a perfect temperature and super refreshing!
Did you read all of this? Why? You should have stopped after the first paragraph, Google Mapped this place and LEFT THE HOUSE.
Sandy Beach, awayyyyy!
Edit: Stay AWAY apparently. I went on Sunday and it was entirely fenced in, even the playground. Why? http://www.tauntongaze... Bummer!
This is actually for the "off the beaten path" trail and beaches you can take your dogs to on both Upper and Lower Mystic Lake. A GREAT alternative to the congested, poorly kept dog park.
(REMEMBER: Just make sure to pick up after your pets here, even in the woods! Scoop the poop - not everything about our furry friends is adorable!)
It had been 7 months since my pup and I moved to MA and we were both missing the lakes of Colorado and Minnesota that we had grown accustomed to. Don't get us wrong...the ocean is awesome...but those waves, that salty water - it is just not the same (whew - the look on his face when he first drank ocean water...ugh....)
I did it, I broke down - he was turning 9 yrs old and was in need of some serious swim time to cool his 85 lb fuzzy black butt off from this muggy humid summer, so off we went.
Not far from the public access beach there are trails, trails that lead to little inlets of sand bars with broken sticks galore! It is a labradors dream! When he was not running into the cool lake water to fetch the stick, he was digging in the sand along the edge - having the time of his life!
Better yet, I needed him to dry off before getting back in the car, so we found an old boat launching area to toss the frisbee around. BONUS: Dry him off AND tire him out - woo hoo!
There is a lot of picnic spots and parking so it is a great place to spend an afternoon. There were a lot of dogs, some on leash, some off. All in all it is a pretty great place!
Free parking, smaller crowds, and closer than Walden to Cambridge. Count me in!
Really close to Cambridge. WAY nicer than anything Arlington has to offer as far as swimming (I don't count it as swimming when you are basically just waiding through goose shit) and though it says you are swimming at your own peril, there are Staties walking around all the time, and way more lifeguards there than you could ever imagine them needing.
My cousin and sister and I went for the whole day, and ate our lunch and then swam again - after sunning ourselves and enjoying the crossword puzzle and the screams of children and whistles of guards. Fantastic.
I am glad I could find something to replace Walden - thats easier to get to and also doesn't have a disappearing beach! I think I shall be a regular here from now on. It was about a 20 minute ride - to stop and get coffees, ecc and the parking is free (I hope... I parked and didn't pay...) also there is a huge field for the picnicking and ball playing!
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Why bother with Walden?
Sandy beach is SO much nicer. I used to bike out here from Cambridge, and enjoy myself immensely.
Kiddies, Walden is a bacteria pool by August. It's a kettle pool, with no outlet.
Mystic Lakes are HUGE, with all kinds of activities. Check out Jeff D.' s noteworthy links. This is a gem, and a decent bike ride out, via the Mystic Valley Parkways.
You can always toddle on over to Winchester Center, and grab a bite, or some ice cream. It's pretty convenient.
If you don't want to bike, there's a commuter Rail stop, right in Winchester Center
Mystic Lakes, situated on the corners of Arlington, Winchester, and Medford, MA is a series of three small lakes. It is great urban paddling complete with swans, herons, and ducks and surrounded by beautiful homes, wooded shores and two boat clubs. It is a great place for a quick work out, lazy paddling, fishing and has a swimming beach at one end. It can be full of racing sailboats (including the Tufts Team) or a class on kayaking run by REI. There is a great put in near the Tufts Boat Club.
Today the Mystic Lakes are popular for freshwater swimming at Sandy Beach. Special sailing programs are available at the Tufts University Boathouse. The Upper Mystic Lake is for non-powered boats only. The Lower Mystic Lake is for powerboats with no wake (6 mph speed limit).
The Mystic Lakes are a great place for kayaking, swimming (esp at Sandy beach in Winchester), dog walking, biking, and running/walking.
It is connected to Boston via Mystic valley parkway and the Wedgemere Station (Commuter Rail from north Station).
it is a short walk from Winchester Center as well (about a 10 minute walk)
There is a field near Sandy beach at the parking lot that is perfect for Dogs!
MYSTIC LAKES SNIPE FLEET
http://www.mysticlakes.../
BIRD WATCHING ON MYSTIC LAKES
http://mrines.com/Bird...
MEDFORD BOAT CLUB SAILING LESSONS
http://www.medfordboat...
MEDFORD BOAT CLUB - MAIN PAGE
http://www.medfordboat...
FRIENDS OF THE MYSTIC RIVER
http://www.fomr.org/
MYSTIC LAKES PHOTO - WINCHESTER
http://www.city-data.c...
The Mystic Lakes, consisting of the Upper Mystic Lake and the Lower Mystic Lake, are closely-linked bodies of water in the northwestern suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts.
The lakes lie at an elevation of 1 meter above sea level, within the towns of Winchester, Arlington, and Medford, Massachusetts. The Upper Mystic lake is fed by the Aberjona River, and drains south into the Lower Mystic Lake, which in turn empties into the Mystic River and thence Boston Harbor.
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