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Harold Parker, DCR

Harold Parker State Forest with your dog: leash rules, trails and parking

Harold Parker is one of seven properties in DCR's North Region where a dog with a real recall may walk off leash, and that freedom comes with conditions. This page covers where the leash comes off and where it stays on, the trails DCR points to, the parking calendar, and the fall weeks when hunters share the woods.

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Last reviewed October 9, 2026 · by the Dogtown team · rules checked for fall 2026

The rule

Off leash on the trails, leashed in the recreation area, the campground and the lots

DCR's guide to dogs in its parks names Harold Parker State Forest, in North Andover, as a property where dogs may be off leash on trails that are not in the recreational area and campgrounds. The forest's own page marks it as dog-friendly. DCR adds that rules can vary at each off-leash property and that posted rules come first, so read the signs at the trailhead on every visit rather than relying on last season's memory.

The leash goes back on in the recreation area, at the Lorraine Park Campground and in every parking area, and there it may be no longer than ten feet. DCR caps walkers at four dogs each without a special permit and asks for current license and rabies tags on the collar. Commercial dog walkers need DCR's annual permit, which allows up to eight dogs. Breaking the rules can mean eviction from the park or a fine; DCR publishes no amount.

  • Off leash: trails outside the recreation area and campgrounds
  • On leash, ten feet at most: recreation area, campground, parking areas
  • Four dogs per walker without a permit
  • Posted signs at the forest override this summary

Voice control

DCR's off-leash test: in sight, back on the first call, no chasing

Off leash at DCR does not mean unsupervised. In a designated off-leash area the dog must be under control, which DCR spells out: the dog is within sight at all times, comes immediately when called, stays when told, and does not charge or chase people, dogs, horses or wildlife. It is leashed on the way into and out of the off-leash area, and the owner carries one leash in hand for each dog.

That is a high bar on 35 miles of trail shared with riders, mountain bikers and anglers heading for the ponds. A dog that blows past a recall when a deer crosses is safer on a long line until the skill is reliable. Recall is something our trainers teach with fear- and force-free, positive reinforcement methods; the one-week Foundation board and train covers place, stay and recall, and private sessions start from $94.

  • Within sight at all times
  • Comes immediately when called and stays on command
  • Does not charge or chase people, dogs, horses or wildlife
  • One leash in hand per dog, on at the entry and exit

The trails

Thirty-five miles of trail and 11 ponds: start with the Yellow Diamond loop to Salem Pond

DCR describes Harold Parker as a hardwood, hemlock and white pine forest with 35 miles of trails, 11 ponds and dozens of campsites, about an hour north of Boston. Its suggested starting point is the Yellow Diamond Trail, which runs to and around Salem Pond. The park headquarters is at 305 Middleton Road in North Andover, and the campground entrance is at 133 Jenkins Road in Andover; DCR's page does not state the forest's acreage.

Horseback riders, mountain bikers, cross-country skiers and paddlers all use the forest, so an off-leash dog needs to yield the trail as readily as its owner does. The Lorraine Park Campground has 89 sites and a season that typically runs from early May to Columbus Day weekend; in and around it, every dog is leashed. Download DCR's trail map before you go, because junctions multiply quickly on a network this size.

  1. 01

    Download DCR's trail map and check the park alerts page

  2. 02

    Park at a forest lot and leash the dog before opening the door

  3. 03

    Walk out of the recreation area before unclipping

  4. 04

    Follow the Yellow Diamond Trail to Salem Pond and around it

  5. 05

    Leash up for horses, bikes and anyone who asks

  6. 06

    Clip back on before the lot, then check for ticks

Hunting and parking

Hunting is allowed: plan fall walks around deer season, Sundays and blaze orange

Hunting is one of the activities DCR lists at Harold Parker, and MassWildlife notes that most state parks and forests are open to hunting. For 2026, MassWildlife sets the archery deer season from October 5 to November 28, shotgun season from November 30 to December 12, and primitive firearms season from December 14 to 31. Hunting is not permitted on Sundays anywhere in Massachusetts, which makes Sunday the calmest day for a late-fall walk.

MassWildlife's advice for walkers is to keep pets leashed and visible and to put a blaze orange vest or bandana on the dog; a dog off leash in thick cover during shotgun season is hard to see. Parking costs $5 for a Massachusetts plate and $20 for others from May 23 to October 12, and the forest is open sunrise to sunset. Ticks stay active from April to November.

  • Archery deer season 2026: October 5 to November 28
  • Shotgun deer season 2026: November 30 to December 12
  • No hunting on Sundays in Massachusetts
  • Parking: $5 or $20, May 23 to October 12
An Australian shepherd getting a bath in the stainless steel tub at Dogtown Grooming in Gloucester

How Dogtown fits

From the forest to Eastern Ave: a bath, Academy days and the North Andover drive

Eleven ponds and miles of wet trail send most dogs home dirty. A bath at Dogtown, 210 Eastern Ave in Gloucester, runs $55 for a dog up to 25 pounds, $65 to 50 pounds, $75 to 90 pounds, $85 above that and $95 for an extra-large long coat, with no evaluation for grooming. Add nail clipping for $16 after a season of soft forest floor.

For a young dog whose recall is not yet ready for the forest, Dogtown Academy days at $89 combine playgroups with a daily session with our trainer. North Andover and Andover are outside the four Pup Van towns, so ask us about pick-up; our North Andover page covers the drive to Gloucester. Daycare and the Academy start with a free evaluation on a weekday between 6:30 and 9:30 AM.

At Dogtown

After the ponds and the long trails

A bath priced by size with no evaluation, and Academy days for a dog still building its recall.

Groomer blow-drying a red goldendoodle in front of the Dogtown Grooming sign Dog GroomingFrom $55 · Explore Dogtown trainer playing with a small doodle on the outdoor turf Dogtown AcademyNewFrom $69 · Explore

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Asked and answered

Questions people ask about this

Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.

Can dogs be off leash at Harold Parker State Forest?
Yes, on trails outside the recreation area and the campgrounds, according to DCR's dog guide, as long as the dog is under voice control: in sight, coming when called and not chasing anyone. Leash it in the recreation area, the campground and every parking area, and follow any rules posted at the forest.
Do dogs need a leash at the Harold Parker campground?
Yes. DCR excludes the campgrounds and the recreation area from Harold Parker's off-leash trails, so dogs at the Lorraine Park Campground stay on a leash no longer than ten feet. The campground has 89 sites, and its season typically runs from early May to Columbus Day weekend.
Is there hunting at Harold Parker State Forest?
Yes, DCR lists hunting among the forest's activities. For 2026, MassWildlife sets archery deer season from October 5 to November 28 and shotgun season from November 30 to December 12, followed by primitive firearms through December 31. There is no hunting on Sundays. Leash the dog and put blaze orange on it in those weeks.
How much is parking at Harold Parker State Forest?
From May 23 to October 12, DCR charges $5 a day for a car with Massachusetts plates and $20 for others, at the time of writing. The forest is open sunrise to sunset. DCR's annual parking pass covers the fee, and Massachusetts residents can apply for a lifetime senior pass.
How many trails are there at Harold Parker State Forest?
DCR lists 35 miles of trails and 11 ponds, and suggests the Yellow Diamond Trail to and around Salem Pond as a place to start. DCR's page does not give the forest's acreage. Download the trail map before you go, since the network is large enough to get turned around in.

More questions? Read the full FAQ

Sources

Rules and dates change. We re-check every beach, licensing and ordinance page each spring and fall; the source above is the current word.

Keep reading

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