The swimming beach at the north end of Pearce Lake inside Breakheart Reservation, a freshwater lake ringed by wooded hills rather than the ocean. It draws a local family crowd on summer weekends, with a bathhouse and lifeguards on duty, and goes quiet once the season ends.
What to expect
Swimming
Water not monitored off-season
Hours
Open from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset as published by the National Weather Service, unless posted or permitted otherwise. Fishing, camping, snowmobiling and other authorized nighttime activities are not held…
Season
Reservation grounds are open sunrise to sunset year-round, but the beach is only staffed and swimmable in summer
Dogs
Not allowed in the designated swimming area from May 1 through September 15 unless posted otherwise. Outside that window and that area a dog on DCR land must be caged, bridled, or restrained on a leash or tether no longer than ten feet,…
Allowed now · ban starts May 1Fishing
Allowed year-round
Getting in
Parking
Free lot
Costfree
Forest Street lot (Saugus)
Details unconfirmed
Forest Street lot (Saugus)
Costfree
main entrance, longer walk to the beach
Hemlock Road lot (Wakefield)
Costfree
closest lot to the beach
Access points along this beach
Hemlock Road entrance
shortest walk in to the beach
Common questions
Is Pearce Lake Beach in Saugus open today?
Pearce Lake Beach is not monitored right now. MA DPH samples beach water Memorial Day to Labor Day and posts no advisories or all-clears off-season, so there is no swim status to report. Swimming off-season is at your own risk.
Is this the same place as Breakheart Reservation?
It sits inside Breakheart Reservation at the north end of Pearce Lake rather than being a separate park with its own gate, so it shares the reservation's parking and hours.
Is there parking at Pearce Lake Beach, and what does it cost?
Free lot (free). Forest Street lot (Saugus)
Are there restrooms at Pearce Lake Beach?
Public restrooms are listed near the beach. Seasonal hours are common, so they may be closed off-season.
What rules should I know at Pearce Lake Beach?
No lifeguard outside the mid-June to Labor Day window, so swimming off-season is unsupervised.
Can you swim at Pearce Lake Beach?
There is no MA DPH swim status for Pearce Lake Beach off-season: the state samples beach water Memorial Day to Labor Day. Swimming off-season is at your own risk; check conditions posted at the beach.
Are dogs allowed at Pearce Lake Beach?
Not allowed in the designated swimming area from May 1 through September 15 unless posted otherwise. Outside that window and that area a dog on DCR land must be caged, bridled, or restrained on a leash or tether no longer than ten feet, never unattended or at large, and its waste carried out.…
Is there an entry fee at Pearce Lake Beach?
No, entry is free.