Early sunlight through pines across a quiet woods road

Hours & Fees

Harold Parker State Forest is open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year. From May 23 to October 12 DCR charges a daily parking fee of $5 for Massachusetts plates and $20 for others. The Lorraine Park Campground ran from May 7 to a last night of October 25 in 2026, and the Berry Pond swim area was open, without lifeguards, from May 23 to September 7.

At a Glance

Hours & Fees at a Glance

Forest hoursSunrise to sunset, year-round

Parking, May 23 – Oct 12$5 MA plates / $20 other plates

Campground, 2026May 7 – last night Oct 25

Campsite$17 MA residents / $54 non-residents a night

Berry Pond swim area, 2026May 23 – Sept 7, no lifeguards

DCR programsFree (parking fee applies)

Headquarters(978) 686-3391

Campground office(978) 475-7972

Daily Hours

DCR lists the forest's hours as sunrise to sunset. That applies to the trails, ponds and day-use lots. Campers staying at Lorraine Park Campground are the exception overnight; everyone else should be back at the car by dark. Start long walks and rides early in fall and winter. DCR's hiking notes estimate an average pace of about 1.5 miles an hour.

Parking Fees

From May 23 through October 12, DCR charges $5 a day for vehicles with Massachusetts plates and $20 for vehicles with other plates. A DCR annual parking pass or a lifetime senior pass covers it. Lot-by-lot details are on parking.

Campground Season

DCR's park page says the season typically runs from early May to Columbus Day weekend. Its 2026 schedule opened Harold Parker on May 7 and set October 25 as the last night to camp, with camping on Thursday through Sunday nights only from October 15. Sites cost $17 a night for Massachusetts residents and $54 for non-residents; 10 sites with electric hookups add $6. Group sites are $35 and $100. See camping.

Swim Season

DCR lists two inland beaches here: the Berry Pond Day-Use Beach and the Frye Pond Campers Beach inside the campground. For 2026 both opened May 23 and closed September 7, and both were marked unguarded for the whole season. There is no swimming outside DCR's designated areas. See Berry Pond.

Programs Schedule

DCR's Summer and Fall 2026 program sheet ran most programs into the first week of October: a Wednesday morning walk with the Friends of Harold Parker, drop-in fishing at the Frye Pond bridge, Nature Center hours on Friday mornings, a Sunday birding walk and a Sunday guided hike. Programs are free; the parking fee still applies. Check the signs near the campground office for changes, or call the campground office at (978) 475-7972.

Fall and Winter

The forest stays open after the campground closes. Fall is hunting season, and DCR asks visitors to wear blaze orange; MassWildlife's 2026 dates are on hunting. Winter brings cross-country skiing and ice skating, both on DCR's activity list; see winter.

Who to Call

Park headquarters: (978) 686-3391
Seasonal station / campground office: (978) 475-7972
DCR's ADA and reasonable accommodation contact for programs: (617) 645-0358

The snowy edge of a frozen forest pond with pines

FAQ

Hours FAQ

What are Harold Parker State Forest's hours?

Sunrise to sunset, every day of the year, according to DCR. Only registered campers stay overnight, at Lorraine Park Campground.

Is Harold Parker State Forest open in winter?

Yes. The forest is open sunrise to sunset year-round, and DCR lists cross-country skiing and ice skating among its activities. The campground is closed in winter.

When does the Harold Parker campground open?

In 2026 DCR opened Lorraine Park Campground on May 7 and set October 25 as the last night, with Thursday-to-Sunday camping only from October 15. DCR says the season typically runs early May to Columbus Day weekend.

When is parking free at Harold Parker?

DCR charges its daily parking fee only from May 23 through October 12. Outside those dates it lists no daily fee.