Harold Parker State Forest —
Your Complete Guide
Thirty-five miles of shared trails, eleven ponds, a campground in the pines and a swimming beach at Berry Pond, an hour north of Boston.
What is Harold Parker State Forest?
Harold Parker State Forest is a 3,295-acre DCR forest in Andover, North Andover, North Reading and Middleton, about an hour north of Boston, with 35 miles of trails, 11 ponds and the 89-site Lorraine Park Campground. It is open sunrise to sunset, parking is $5 for Massachusetts plates and $20 for others from May 23 to October 12, swimming is allowed at the unguarded Berry Pond beach in summer, and dogs may be off-leash on the trails.
The forest began in 1916, when the State Forest Commission bought about 800 acres of burned-over land and named it for its first chairman, Harold Parker. Two Civilian Conservation Corps camps built most of its roads, dams and buildings in the 1930s, which is why nine of the 11 ponds are man-made (history). DCR describes the woods as Central Hardwood, Hemlock and White Pine forest, and the trails are shared by walkers, mountain bikers and horseback riders.
Harold Parker State Forest at a Glance
What to Do at Harold Parker State Forest
DCR lists hiking, camping, canoeing and kayaking, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, mountain biking, ice skating, cross-country skiing, educational programs and swimming.
Hiking
Six marked trails from the 1.6-mile Sudden Pond loop to DCR's signature 3.1-mile Stearns Pond Trail, plus the Bay Circuit Trail.
Trails & Hiking →
Camping
89 sites for tents, trailers and RVs at 133 Jenkins Rd., Andover, $17 a night for Massachusetts residents. 2026 season May 7 to October 25.
Lorraine Park Campground →
Swimming
DCR's day-use beach at Berry Pond, open May 23 to September 7 in 2026 with no lifeguards. Campers have a beach on Frye Pond.
Berry Pond →
Mountain Biking
DCR's signature ride on the singletrack off Harold Parker Road, and the technical 3-mile Yellow Diamond Trail for advanced riders.
Mountain Biking →
Dogs
One of the DCR properties where dogs may run off-leash on the trails. Leashes on in the lots and the campground; DCR keeps dogs off designated swimming areas May 1 to September 15.
Dog Rules →
Fishing & Paddling
DCR names Stearns and Field Ponds as popular for fishing and non-motorized boating. MassWildlife stocks Berry Pond with trout in spring.
Fishing →The Marked Trails at Harold Parker
Lengths and markers from the Friends of Harold Parker State Forest; DCR's signature hikes are the Stearns Pond and Yellow Diamond Trails.
From Gate 4 by the headquarters, around the west end of Sudden Pond. The shortest marked loop.
From the Jenkins Lot to the CCC pavilion at Berry Pond and back.
Around Collins and Brackett Ponds from the Chimney or Collins Lot.
Chimney Lot to the headquarters, past the Jenkins Mill site and a glacial erratic.
DCR's signature hike around Salem Pond, built for mountain bikes.
DCR's signature pond loop from the headquarters, with rocky climbs on the way back.
How to Get to Harold Parker State Forest
DCR lists two addresses. Smaller lots sit along Harold Parker, Jenkins and Middleton Roads.
Park Headquarters
305 Middleton Rd., North Andover. Start of the Stearns Pond and Sudden Pond Trails. Phone (978) 686-3391.
Campground Entrance
133 Jenkins Rd., Andover. Lorraine Park Campground and the Nature Center. Phone (978) 475-7972.
Parking Fees
$5 MA plates, $20 other plates, May 23 to October 12. Parking guide.
Near Harold Parker
Several of the area's best outdoor places are a short drive away. The Trustees' Ward Reservation has Holt Hill, the highest point in Essex County, and Weir Hill follows the shore of Lake Cochichewick. Andover's Pomps Pond is the town beach, the Haggetts Pond Rail Trail is a new accessible walk, North Reading's Ipswich River Park has paved paths and a canoe launch, and DCR's Boxford State Forest is managed with Harold Parker as one planning unit. More on things to do in Andover and camping near Boston.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Harold Parker State Forest free?
Walking in is free, but DCR charges a daily parking fee from May 23 to October 12: $5 for Massachusetts plates and $20 for other plates. Outside those dates DCR lists no daily fee. Camping costs $17 a night for residents.
Where is Harold Parker State Forest?
In Andover, North Andover, North Reading and Middleton, Massachusetts, about an hour north of Boston. DCR's headquarters is at 305 Middleton Rd., North Andover, and the campground entrance is at 133 Jenkins Rd., Andover.
Can you swim at Harold Parker?
Yes, at DCR's Berry Pond Day-Use Beach and, for campers, the Frye Pond Campers Beach. In 2026 both were open May 23 to September 7 with no lifeguards. Swimming anywhere else is not allowed.
Are dogs allowed at Harold Parker?
Yes. DCR allows dogs off-leash on Harold Parker's trails outside the recreational area and campgrounds. In parking areas and the campground they must be on a leash no longer than 10 feet.
How big is Harold Parker State Forest?
3,295 acres, according to DCR's management plan summary, with 35 miles of trails and 11 ponds.
Can you camp at Harold Parker?
Yes, at Lorraine Park Campground: 89 sites for tents, trailers and RVs, $17 a night for Massachusetts residents and $54 for others. Book through DCR's ReserveAmerica site; the campground office is (978) 475-7972.
Is alcohol allowed at Harold Parker?
No. DCR lists no alcohol and no littering as the forest's restrictions.