Weir Hill

Best place for dogs and their people. Great for everyone. Walked their 3 times a week for several months and met many pleasant, kind people with kids, dogs, and bicycles. The Trustees of the Reservations have given us a true gift of open space, forest, and water in the midst of the suburban hubbub.

If you have little ones, don’t bring them here. Dogs off leashes, swimming (no swimming but everyone is above the law) We tried to enjoy this place, Two different times, dog goes in the water, comes out and runs towards my kids, and shakes the water onto them.
Stay far away if you’re looking to relax. Dog poop everywhere.

Took my german shepherd here last weekend and the weekend before. He really enjoys Weir Hill. My only warning for others bringing their dogs who may not be friendly is that there are alot of dogs off leash who will come barreling towards you– usually wet from swimming. Luckily, my dog is friendly but just a heads up this does occur frequently whether you have a dog with you or not. Overall, I enjoy this place it’s close by, it’s clean on the trails, shame on the people who litter towards the entrance though. i recommend it.

Weir Hill is pretty good for a quick mountain bike expedition, walking dogs (which they tried to make illegal there), catching sunfish and eating them for dinner, and just all around hiking. The parking lot is littered with «blunt wraps», because the local school children run around the woods smoking dope. So don’t be surprised if you see teens with long hair that are very paranoid.
There’s a good amount of woods to cover here. Some railroad tracks running through, and a few different trails to check out. If you park on the street closer to the North Andover High School, you can walk straight up the steeper hill to the summit. That’s the hill part.
I give three stars because there’s definitely more exquisite and majestic places to visit, but if your in the area (I ride a bike to get there), then its still a fun place to go.

I love this place for hikes with the kids and my dog. I agree that dog owners who don’t pick up after their dogs really can ruin the place for the rest of us. But, as one who is careful to take out anything my dog brings in, I still enjoy going their for short and close hikes nearby.

It is unfortunate that the only other review of this accessible hiking spot focused on the dog poop on the trail. I heartily agree that the situation was getting pretty awful by the end of January and through the end of winter. I hike these trails every weekend, so I sympathize with the last reviewer. People who bring their dogs here need to be a lot more considerate to fellow hikers and to the fact that HELLO! the trails are right next to the lake, which is the town’s drinking water.
Last weekend, the trails had been cleared and cleaned, I assume by someone hired by the trustees. It looks great now — there’s no poo — and once again we can enjoy the sights and sounds of nature and not be too concerned about what we’re about to step on. The real highlights of Weir Hill are the scenic views from both lakeside and hilltop as well as the flora and fauna within the pine woods, marshes and oak-​hickory forest. Also, the trails span a range of difficulty levels so that people of all ages and ability can enjoy some part of the property.
If you start your walk at the main entrance, you’ll have two choices: The Johnson Trail or the Stevens Trail. The Johnson Trail goes into the depths of a predominantly pine forest. Most people veer off Johnson and go down towards the lake by way of Weir Hill Trail or Edgewood Farm Trail. These trails are pretty easy, and they connect with some trails that were established by the Edgewood Retirement Community (their trails are very wide and flat, accessible for seniors). As I walked up Weir to Johnson today, crossing over the marsh just in front of the south end of Edgewood, I noticed an abundance of skunk cabbage sprouting up despite the bracing cold. A woodpecker joined me on this trail as well, though I could only hear him.
If you’re looking for a more vigorous hike, go up the Stevens Trail. Once you get up there, you’ll be rewarded with a wide scenic view of the western Merrimack Valley that on a clear day extends all the way to Mt. Monadnock and Mt. Wachusett. This area used to be pasture land, and it is delightful in the summer as it is redolent in wildflowers, including wild bramble roses.
But my favorite trail is the Weir Hill Trail that goes up the second drumlin, which is actually higher than the one on Stevens. This is where you will find some beautiful oak and even hickory trees surrounding the airport beacon. From here, you’ll be able to see the rolling hills and farmland that surrounds this part of North Andover. There are lots of little spur trails in this area, so from here you can go down to the lake and towards Edgewood or clockwise towards the other drumlin to the scenic lookout. I did some snowshoeing along this trail this winter and found it challenging, fun, and less populated than the other two main trails, Edgewood and Stevens.
If you’re not familiar with the area, definitely get a map, since there are no signs inside the property (though there is one large map along the Stevens Trail near the Stevens Pond entrance). The maps are not the greatest and that is one reason for the 3 stars. Everything goes in a circle and the area isn’t too big, so you shouldn’t get too lost.
I do hope that dog walkers take heed of the complaints about their animals’ leavings and step up their responsibility. I’d hate to see the Trustees adopt a no-​dog policy, since the dogs are not really the problem. I fully endorse sniper attacks on dog owners who do not pick up the poop.

I am giving this property 2 stars b/​c I was appalled by the amount of dog crap that coated the trails. There was a sign that kindly asked the guests to please pick up after their dogs, but no one seems to care. I suppose it is not nice of me to give this place a bad grade b/​c of the people who use the property, but it was absolutely disgusting. People use the property for a dog poop dumping ground! I will never go back.