Though located entirely within the town of Lexington, this 183-acre enclave has been owned and maintained by Arlington since it was purchased by the town in 1871 for use as a supplementary water storage area.
Today, the unaltered habitat is home to 56 bird species, 12 different amphibians and reptiles and 251 plant varieties, according to the Friends of Arlington's Great Meadows. For hikers, the preserve is crisscrossed with a network of faint walking paths that intersect with Minuteman Bikeway and nearby school parking lots.
Entrances can be hard to find, but the Friends have identified six different public entry points for the Great Meadows, all outlined on a map on the group's Web site. To guide you, look for the red trail markers embossed with the letters "AGM."