North Reservoir is one of the three reservoirs that are part of the Middlesex Fells Reservation. The reservoirs are used for drinking water, so access to them is prohibited, but visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, and horseback riding on the Reservoir Trail, which circles them. The trail is marked with orange blazes and is about 5.2 miles long. Along the way, one can admire the scenic views of the water and the surrounding woods and wetlands. 

The Middlesex Fells is a large tract of land lying only five miles from Boston and inside MA-128. It is accessible through 50 miles of trails and carriage roads and bisected by I-93. Inside the Fells are several ponds, including Spot Pond, three connected reservoirs for the town of Winchester, and several smaller ponds. The Fells’ history includes industrial use for timber, pasture, quarrying, ice, and waterpower. The Fells are largely wooded with mixed deciduous and coniferous second-growth forests that include a hemlock taiga and a sturdy grove of pines at Virginia Wood, and a red pine monoculture surrounding the Winchester reservoirs. A 10-acre meadow is in the Sheepfold area, with several smaller open fields and areas of low, secondary growth.

The site is an important migratory stopover or seasonal concentration site for migratory land birds (e.g., warblers).

The AllTrails website has a description and map of a hike at North Reservoir.