Willowdale Is a great quiet park. I literally hiked for 3 hours and didn't see anyone! I saw maybe 1 mountain biker, a group of three mtn bikers toward the very end of the hike, and one jogger. That was it! Bradley Palmer was a bit more busy but still fairly quiet and peaceful. I saw horses in Bradley palmer and more walkers. Willowdale appears to be quieter than Bradley Palmer just across the road. I started at the parking area off Asbury Rd. at Bradley Palmer, and hiked up to the bridge footbridge and then crossed the busy road. (Be careful here, there is no traffic signal which there should be.) traffic does not stop for crossing horses or anyone. They really need a horse RAMP and pedestrian ramp built here. Perhaps someone could donate one from a local business.? or at at least a pedestrian light to force traffic to stop. The trails are marked by a number grid. Keep in mind the numbers are different than Bradley palmer's numbers, so make sure to bring maps of Both if you are hiking both. Willowdale's trails could be a bit better marked though, there are markers and landmarks at some of the key intersections, most are marked just by a post with numbers. I did notice some signs knocked over, vandalized, etc. Perhaps a boyscout troop could improve the trail system here with wooden directional signas and such and info kiosks, like you are here type maps? Good Eagle scout project perhaps? I would like to see some blazed trails through Bradley palmer and willowdale too creating some loop walks of various lengths. Overall though the landscape is beautiful , lots of variety, from swamps, marshes, woodlands, You reall feel like you are alone. If you are a woman I would highly recommend going with a group. You dont see anyone some days in Willowdale for a couple hours and feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. Overall it would be a great spot to combine Bradley Palmer and Willowdale for horseback riding, bike riding or cross country skiing, snowshoeing in winter, and of course hiking. If you do equestrian please follow the trails marked for equestrian. If you are a biker, please respect the off limit trails and follow the trails that are open to bikes . If you are a hiker please respect the other trail users, and pack in what you carry in. Perhaps even pick up trash along the route you see to help the park out. DCR Has limited funds and they keep cutting the budget. Overall this is a great hike and I highly recommend it. Side Note: The Discover hamilton trail is a marked loop in Bradley palmer state park that goes for 8 miles through Hamilton and part of Ipswich, wenham, topsfield. You can connect from Willowdale to this trail. Also the BAY CIRCUIT LOOP Around Metro Boston 128 corridor parkland cuts through Willowdale so you can hike to other parks following the white blazes. You can use the Discover hamilton trail in Bradley Palmer to get to Appleton Farm Grasdrides as well. Enjoy Willowdale. Don't forget to look for the fairy people under the ferns!:-) read more