Noanet Woodlands is another favorite woodsy area to add to my list (another recent favorite is another Trustees property in Andover, the Ward Reservation). The two are somewhat similar with different color coded trails and a trail to reach a summit for the skyline of Boston (I didn't check that out here at Noanet Woodlands for this trip). I enjoyed coming here on the weekend: it was moderately trafficked (which I like so it's not *too* isolated), and easy/moderate trails (I prefer long, ambling hikes). The only thing is that the orange trail I took was a bit confusing/not super clear. The overall system does a good job, but I would be sure to download a map/have AllTrails active to ensure you don't end up in the wrong spot. I fortunately ran into some folks who helped me get back on track, but a heads up that it could get confusing as it did for me. Otherwise, a wonderful shady (important to know on hotter days) set of trails that I would recommend! read more

It is a very beautiful, well-maintained park I only walked a mile so far, on a pleasant summer day, but will go back.

Beautiful spot in Dover to take a little hike. With a decent view of the Boston skyline from Noanet Peak. We walked the red, yellow and blue loop trails, for a total of 5+/- miles. Trails were well marked. And in good condition. Parking was plentiful on a weekday morning. But I'm sure can be a nightmare on a weekend. read more

Noanet Woodlands - Getting high in Noanet - Parks Near Me - Dover, Massachusetts

I've been trying to take advantage of the nice days we've been having this winter in Boston, taking my best friend Desmond out on some hikes. It's my first winter living here and I have to say, I feel like I never left the Midwest with the bipolar weather! It was an easy drive from Brighton, about 30mins. I have an app called All Trails that I use to both track my hiking and it maps out all of the trails which is great because you could easily get lost in these woodlands there are so many trails! But I'm not good at tracking the sun or any of that, so that would probably help too! My dog LOVED these trails! Easy to run along on, then stop and wait for me to catch up of course; lots of fun terrain for us to hike along. There are many trails for all hiking levels from easy to moderate to advanced. Lots of people had the same idea of taking advantage of the nice weather because we passed quite a few people. But the place is so large you aren't walking on top of people! There are gorgeous large ponds along the way, a farm on the edge, and many other places I only saw on my map because we just couldn't cover the entire place! There are two parking lots with a park that begins (or ends) the trails. It is easily accessible right off the main road. The paths are beautiful and picturesque! We made it to the Naonet Peak and while it was a bit foggy, it was gorgeous! I can't wait to come back in the Spring and Fall to see all of the beautiful colors! I absolutely can't wait to come back here! It's been my favorite place to hike and bring my dog so far! I highly recommend! read more

Stopped in during a very very warm January day. Parking lot is very small so get there early or be patient waiting for a spot. The trails are very well marked and include trail maps at several points along the way. Nice view from Noanet Peak would probably be awesome during peepin season. read more

Noanet Woodlands - Parks Near Me - Dover, Massachusetts

This place is great for dogs and leisurely strolls. My bf and I came to check out the hiking trails but I wouldn't consider these trails anything except walking trails. It's very well maintained. The porta potty was clean, which was great! Everyone we met was super friendly. Wish we had a dog! read more

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This area is really difficult to find. For some reason every address I put into google took me to someone's house haha . Regardless I kept trying because I really wanted to go on a hike. Eventually parked at Caryl Park and was able to get to Noanet paths from there. This is a really beautiful but easy trail. It's not too long and probably one of the easiest to get up to the peak. Make sure to bring some bug spray along. If you are looking for a longer more challenging hike this isn't it. You will probably get in about 3-4 miles at the most. There are plenty of beautiful trails to choose from. Paths are covered with trees and laced with different flower and plants. The dam is also really pretty, almost looks like a painting. I can certainly imagine this place being great during the fall time when the leaves are changing. At the peak you can see all of the tree tops so this would be a great view. Also this place is pretty close to Boston so if you want a close scenic hike I recommend it! read more

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Great trails in this woodlands! You can choose between trails of between 1.5 - 2.6 miles. Red - Caryl: 1.6 Miles Yellow - Noanet Peak: 1.5 Miles Blue - Peabody Loop: 2.6 Miles Larabee Trail: 1.6 Miles There is also a number of off-trails that you could venture into. The woodlands were kept very clean, and it was a nice, scenic walk. All the paths were well marked and I found it easy to follow. My only qualm about this place is the parking.. seems like there is very limited spots (pretty much full when my friend and I went around 1PM!). read more

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I'm on a day-hike-kick, and so far Noanet Woodlands has been the coolest hike I've done. First off, the park is super dog friendly. I'm talking: almost as many dogs as people. I'm talking: a crazy happy golden retriever running around by himself, happy and free. If you have a dog or just like dogs, go for a walk or a hike here. There are a crapload of trails in the woodlands, so take care to not get lost. We hiked along the peabody trail, which took us past a few pretty ponds and a cool old mill site with a waterfall. There were a few picnic tables here, and they'd be a good place not only for a picnic but also just to sit back and read. On the advice of the awesome guide book I have, we followed an unnamed trail that led off of the peabody trail, and it led us to Noanet peak, which was steep and somewhat strenuous. Totally worth it, when you reach the clearing at the top that looks out over the woodlands, with a view of Boston in the distance. The clearing has exposed stone, so it's a good place to sit too. Very relaxing. We then followed Caryl trail back to the parking lot and ranger station. Other bonus points: No entry/parking fee. Color coded disks nailed to the trees to help you keep track of what trail you are on (only on the major trails though, not on the minor ones, like the awesome one that brings you to the peak.) There is a nice playground right next to the woodlands, as well as a bunch of tennis courts. They also allow mountain biking, all months but the muddy ones in the Spring. I do think I read something that said you need a permit or something though. The only downside to the place is that there weren't any maps available at the ranger station, at least none that we could find. So do yourself a favor and print out the map from the website (http://www.thetrustees.org/pages/341_noanet_woodlands.cfm) before you go. Because I would feel really guilty if you got lost. read more

Noanet Woodlands - Parks Near Me - Dover, Massachusetts

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This is an excellent hiking location for a sunny Saturday afternoon. You feel like you're deep in the woods but only 20 min outside of Boston. I highly recommend this place! Take the Peabody trail out toward Upper Mill Pond and get a nice view of the old Dover Iron Works mill site. It's an interesting ruin out deep in the woods. Take the Peabody trail a bit further out toward the Third Iron Company pond then make your way back on the Larabee trail. Before you know it you'll have a nice five mile hike under your belt. If you have a mountain bike you can bring it along but make sure you have a permit. Dogs are allowed here but this place is far from dog friendly. Please make sure you review the rather awkward dog rules before taking Fido along for the hike. For example, dogs are allowed in the Noanet Woodlands but they are not allowed in the parking lot for the Noanet Woodlands. read more

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This is my pup's FAVORITE place in the area. FAVORITE. He will drag me across the field to get into the park area where he anxiously greets all of his fellow canine friends and begins his sniff fest. Apparently, I am just the chauffer. A really great place, many nice trails (although we have our "usual" loops, dogs being the creatures of habit that they are) but DO watch for ticks all the way through Fall. read more

Came here for the first time last weekend on an un-seasonably warm day in January - I already can't wait to get back! We took the blue trail, which is a ~2.6 mile loop around the property. My boyfriend, who has been here before, told me that the views are really nice, but it was still a bit icy to be trekking uphill. We brought our pup who loved running off leash and playing with all of the other dogs there. The park was really clean, the trains really wide and well-demarcated. Definitely worth a trip! read more

Very nice trail for an easy hike! - There a few different trail options, all about 1-2 mile loops - Quick ascent to the peak for a nice view of hills, trees and a distant Boston skyline - Free parking - VERY dog friendly...we saw just as many dogs as people! - Well marked paths - Away from roads/cars The only downside were that there weren't any maps available. Make sure to take a look beforehand or load one on your phone! read more

This was a great 3.5 mile chill hike that took us about 2.5 hours taking the big loop. The peak is actually reached very quickly (within 30 mins) of leaving the ranger station, but was a bit of a let down - you don't see nearly as much of Boston as shown on the park's web site. However, the real joy is the hike itself - the trees are lush so it is shaded and cool the entire way, there are several small ponds to appreciate, and best of all, there are very wide well established as well as narrower more challenging trails, all of which have very soft, well trodden terrain that was very easy on the feet and legs. There are few signs, but the trails are pretty well laid out so that one way or another, you'll get to the other end without too much of a time discrepancy. Also there are lots of people with their gorgeous pooches, which made for a bonus dog show along the way.There is ample parking and even the drive to and from Dover is a great experience, it is a really scenic little town/suburb. Note to those who use Yelp directions for their GPS - DON'T do it. Following the yelp instructions will lead you to someones house about 2 miles away from the actual lot, and I don't think those people would appreciate you trying to hike their house. read more

Noanet Woodlands - Parks Near Me - Dover, Massachusetts

Growing up just 1 town away, I'm surprised I never ventured into this woodland. Since I was in the neighborhood and was looking to get a little exercise, I decided to give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised by the well marked paths - I took the red to yellow trail up to the "summit" and back (and there are some full maps along the way) - and the random surprises along the way - a beautiful pond with old dam, horse jumps, and a small woodland bridge. I passed a mix of people riding bikes, walking dogs, and running. It seems that these paths are well used, but in the right way. read more

So I don't consider myself to be that active. I have only been to the gym once in my life, and have less stamina than a mindless hamster. This trail was ridiculously easy. I'm docking stars because this isn't a real "hike." What this gives: easy walk, quiet time from the city, and space to have picnics. The most time I took was to find the actual trail. You park in this dirt road-like lot next to Caryl Park. You go to the back and if you keep walking on (what seems to be) a big path, you'll eventually hit the marked trails. Unless there is another way because I wouldn't know.. a ranger is not there on weekdays. Actually it was pretty quiet aside from a couple of locals. Essential map! http://www.thetrustees.org/assets/documents/places-to-visit/trailmaps/Noanet-Woodlands-Trail-Map.pdf read more

Beautiful, accessible, and all-levels woodland reserve. Great for nature walks, easy to moderate hiking, mountain biking, and exploring with friends, family, kids, dogs, all! The trails were well maintained and well marked, and there's a downloadable trail map that we found helpful. We glimpsed Boston's skyline from the "peak" (a substantial but very do-able hill) and enjoyed relaxing on the rocky outcropping up there as a break and snack rest. Easily reached from the Boston or Providence areas, making it a great meetup spot. read more

Aside from pulling a few ticks off our dog, I have to agree with everyone else on here. Noanet's a great walking spot for dog owners, who are looking for a close drive from greater Boston. We found this place a couple weeks ago and have gone back four more times. The Noanet Peak, while not offering the sparkling vista of a blimp ride, does offer a nice view of town and the splendor of fall foliage. It's not very challenging in that if you have one functioning lung it's a cinch to the top. The pond and dam trail were a nice surprise, once we reached the bottom of the hill, and the endless trails really give lots of options on short, medium and long hikes. Aside from the 40 warning signs about keeping dogs out, by the first Caryl Park entrance, the place is quite dog friendly. Just make sure to park at the lot down the street. Once you get into the wood trail it's pretty much off-leash walk(NOT THAT I'D EVER DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT) The ponds are off limits to dogs, but I can appreciate trying to keep the conditions intact so just be mindful when you get down to the dam. read more

Wonderful trails so close to home in Dover. You can choose your own adventure with the selection of paths. With views of Boston, it's a great place to take out of town guests- highly recommended. read more

Before I get started, let me clear the air by saying that I'm not docking Noanet 1 star because I was bit by a deer tick there last weekend. Now if the test had come back POSITIVE for Lyme Disease, perhaps I would have, but I digress.... The Noanet Woodlands (as well as adjacent Caryl Park and Hale Reservation) is a quiet, peaceful spot that feels like it is a lot farther from Boston than it actually is. It isn't quite as rugged as other nearby areas such as Wilson Mountain or the Blue Hills, but Noanet Peak has some great views, the three ponds in the middle of the woodlands are serene and picturesque, and the old mill site area is very interesting. You can make a long day trip by starting in Caryl Park, hiking into the Noanet Woodlands, then climbing up and over into the Hale Reservation. Not too many areas around Boston where you can hike from park to park like that, which is just one of several reasons by the Noanet Woodlands make for such a great outdoor experience (ticks aside). read more

Fantastic place to take the doggies on a weekend hike. We did the 2.6 mile loop which was not difficult (at all) and the trails are all well-maintained and well-marked. There were a decent number of hikers who had dogs on this trail, so don't go hiking here if you are afraid of dogs. You are actually allowed to let your dog off-leash once you get on the trail and past the first intersection. This is the first time I have gone hiking with my dogs where they encouraged off leash hiking for the pooch! As others have mentioned, the parking lot only holds about 30 cars, so you either have to arrive as someone as leaving, or you have to hope the lot is not full. When the lots fills, there is a guard on duty who closes the gate so you can't even enter the parking lot. read more

Noanet Woodlands - A great hiking trail for dogs too! - Parks Near Me - Dover, Massachusetts

WARNING: This is an entirely off leash dog trail area. There are signs posted everywhere saying "dogs must be on leash", nobody abides to this rule. I took my new foster puppy to these trails and was brutalized by owners with off leash dogs who did not even offer to put their dogs back on the leash before meeting my puppy. Do not take dogs here who you are still training or unwiling to take off leash, it will stress them out ! read more

Excellent for easy and leisurely strolls! Lots of families (with dogs) on the trails; plus there's a playground for children, a soccer field, and free parking in Caryl Park. It's about 30 minutes outside of the city and offers a few options for trials. Noanet Peak (hardly a peak at all) offers a distant view of Boston and beautiful fall foliage. You can probably spend 1-2 hours there, feel completely removed from the city, get a little exercise, see the beauty, and still have time left in your day. Worth a visit! read more

My boyfriend and I went over to Noanet and followed fellow reviewer Kara's suggested route. It was great! Beautiful view from the top and with the fall foliage it made it that much better. We only did the Peabody trail for a bit and then looped to the right to the Peak and came back the same way, so we didn't even get to see half of the reservation. I am a member of the Trustees of Reservations and I plan on going back for sure!!! read more

Super nice trails, really great place. Was doing some research and looking into various trails in the area and came across Noanet. Never heard of it before and now I wonder why?! So nice and so close. Super clean, and very easy to navigate trails. We got there nice and early as many sites suggested before the lot was full, by the time we were leaving the lot was reaching capacity and that was around 9:30-10am, so get there early and time yourself out so you can get a spot. There were maps there to help, but were not needed to get around here. The ponds were nice and I was a fan of the trails. One thing is when I went it was quite buggy so make sure you spray yourself and understand there are gnats and little annoyances, but well worth a little buzzing! read more

A very nice spot so close to Boston. We just squeezed in to the parking lot before it close for capacity reasons, so we were lucky. The "peak" is pretty minimal...but does afford a nice view of Boston on a clear day. The trails are mostly quite flat. There are some little ponds which are very pretty and I did see a couple of interesting birds. There are mountain bikers here, which is kind of a turn-off as a pedestrian, but there are also some trails where they aren't allowed. Lots of off-leash dogs which I don't mind but others might. read more

30 minutes from Downtown Boston, this place was beautiful and almost empty when we went on a Saturday in July. We took a fairly short hike up a large hill to Noanet Peak, which had a beautiful cleared area and even a view of downtown. It was an easy walk - we took our baby girl - but there is a much longer loop if you are so inclined. Great place and we will be back. read more

Fantastic spot for a stroll with the dog. Agree with other yelpers that this is not strenuous or a "hike", but a great place to walk. The trails have decent markers, but I'd bring a map with you in case you want to follow a side trail. read more

Attended a night hike organized by REI, and wouldn't recommend that. No pics due to night, yet great views of Boston from the peak with Pru and John Hancock buildings visible as well as airplanes taking off from Logan. It was cloudy and yet Boston was easily visible at distance/height of cloud cover, which was terrific. Trails were easy to navigate in the dark with minimal map/compass knowledge (something REI guide struggled with strangely). While park isn't open at night unless you're with a Trustees group or via special permit like we were, day hiking would be just as enjoyable. Very nicely maintained trails and lots of wildlife to see such as birds, amphibians, sign and tracks of mammals. read more

Great place for a leisurely hike filled with brooks, ponds, small hills, and a Boston skyline. Most people seem to hike with their dogs.

I cannot say enough good about the Noanet woodlands! First off it's soooooo clean! People are very respectful and there is very little litter left behind by hikers. It's a great place to take your dogs (I walk mine off leash and have had great experiences thus far although dogs go missing there quite frequently so if you think your dog may take off don't risk it) And extremely kid friendly, with wide paths and smooth walkways! There's plenty of parking and even a playground at the carol park entrance! Definitely a must see! And if you're up for a 4 mile hike; try the peak! read more

Great trails to hike alone or with the dog! Well maintained and clearly marked. One of our favorite spots!

This place is great. My fiance and I like to find different parks outside of Boston to walk around when we need to get out of the city. This trail is very well marked (however, bring your own map from the Trustees of Reservations website) and moderate enough to be fun without being too tiring. The only downside is if you are not a dog person, as most dogs are not on a leash. We will definitely go back. read more

Wonderful hike / started at caryl parking lot, did the entire noanet peak trail, simply beautiful...mostly level trail at beginning, then some nice rocky part for the 3, 3 and 5 yr olds, at top, beautiful view of Boston in the distance. Trip down trail was just as nice, come to a nice pond at end, then tired out the kids withlayground at end of the trail. 3 hrs, free, kids exhausted and asleep at 7 pm. Great way to start new year...and weather, 52 degrees and sunny, perfect! Nice thing - no litter, not too many dogs (though admittedly, clean up after your dog!), and air was so clean. read more

I brought my dogs to go for a walk this weekend on a beautiful day. Technically, you're not supposed to even have a dog at Caryl Park, where there is parking at a trail head. There are signs all over the place that say "No Dogs allowed since 1998" or something to that effect. No one seemed to pay much attention, but it felt a bit weird. Caryl Park and Noanet Woodlands merge somewhere in the woods, and people walked with their dogs off leash without a problem. The paths are pleasant but skirt quite close to houses in some locations and the trails were quite busy. People were riding horses to the "peak" on the trail that we were using and I decided to turn back - I didn't know how the dogs would react. The trails were difficult for me to navigate even with a map and I got lost several times. For hikes with dogs, I prefer Rocky Narrows in Sherborn, Callahan State Park in Framingham and Hunnewell Town Forest in Natick. read more

Lovely park/walking area. I would not consider it a hiking area, there is a 350ish tall peak so that is the only steep part but that takes about 3 minutes to mount - cool, far off view of Boston though. We went on a Sunday afternoon. When we parked, the ranger station was open and there was a real live person working there! He was very helpful and handed us a map. The woods are super quite and pristine, some nice ponds and an old mill site. This would be a perfect place to take a dog too! This property is run by the Trustees of Reservations which does a great job at keeping their properties in shape. read more

The Noanet peak and various ponds were beautiful wintertime sights. Very worthy of the time we spent on the trails. However, the incredible amount of dog poop on and beside the trails left a very ugly mental picture from the day. Because of this gross "part of nature" I would not expect to return. I can't imagine what the smell must be like in the summer! read more