Noanet Woodlands

Visited Noanet today, 9÷26÷15.
Wow. Huge place to hike, walk, bring dogs, or bike. There are colored & numbered paths to walk (so you won’t get lost), and multiple entrances and parking lots. 2 parking lots at one entrance on Powisset Street and 1 entrance at Caryl Park on Dedham Street with another lot. Today the parking was actually an issue. There wasn’t 1 spot open in either of the 2 adjacent lots on Powisset Street with a sign at the entrance saying «LOT FULL». We had to wait a few minutes, yet it didn’t turn out to be a problem. Most of the paths are large, and some are very rocky and have open roots so be careful, I almost got tripped…
Anyway, definitely THE place to go in Dover, to walk /​hike /​or bring pets (there was a ton there, along with mine…)
Without a doubt, one of the BEST hiking places (along with adjacent Hale Reservation… once you’re over the Westwood line it’s Hale!) in the Dover /​greater Boston area.
Highly Suggested.
Also: I would suggest going to the Dedham Street entrance with Caryl Park, since that lot is larger and not as busy. Easily accessible via Needham & Westwood.

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!

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.

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.

Very well marked trails, beautiful walk and sites to see no matter what trail you take, Noanet Peak is gorgeous. It’s very dog friendly, even having bags for you to use.

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!

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

This place is great. My fiancé 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.

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

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!

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.

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!

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.

Wife and I took the pups on a nice long hike. More than a few people (may have just been the time/​day we went), but not too crowded. Pet friendly, but wear your bug spray!!!

Noanet is a great place for urban hiking, Mountain Biking and collecting deer ticks.
Good city views and well managed buy the Trustees of Reservations.
Caution: if you are riding your MTN Bicycle there, there is a woman who walks frequently who will flag you down and yell at you for riding your bicycle too fast! Flattering I know… but WTF?

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.

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.

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 Unilocal directions for their GPS — DON’T do it. Following the Unilocal 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.

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!

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 (
) before you go. Because I would feel really guilty if you got lost.