One of four riverside parks that comprise the Mystic River Reservation, Mystic Lakes State Park encompasses the eastern shores of the closely linked Upper and Lower Mystic Lakes. A portion of the Mystic Valley Parkway runs through the park. Managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Shannon Beach on Upper Mystic Lake is a popular spot for swimming or sunbathing, while rowing and sailing is allowed on both lakes.

The Mystic River Reservation was established in 1893 by the newly formed Metropolitan Parks Commission, later renamed the Metropolitan District Commission, making it one of the first official nature preserves in Massachusetts. By the early 20th century, most of the land along the Mystic River in Medford, Arlington, and Somerville had become public. Since 2010, work to restore and preserve the Reservation, including linking it to the Minuteman Bikeway, has been informed by the Mystic River Master Plan.

Photo courtesy of Tufts Alumni