Noanet Peak - Powissett Peak

Dogs Leashed

Features Views

This hike combines two loops, spanning across the Noanet Woodlands and Hale Reservation providing visitors with a more challenging option to get a good workout.

The beauty of this complete hike is that it can be cut in half, easily doing either loop on its own to accommodate for less time or varying abilities. With that in mind, all trails in Hale and Noanet Woodlands can be traveled in either direction, so this recommended route can be done in reverse or adapted in a variety of ways.

Open year-round, sunrise to sunset. No parking along Powissett Street, consider arriving early in spring and fall. Dogs on leash, not allowed to enter Caryl Park from the Caryl Loop lot.

From the main Noanet Woodlands trailhead off Powissett Street, this hike heads north on the blue-blazed Peabody Loop as it turns left (west) at intersection 19 toward the junction with the Larabee Trail. Stay left (south) for the Larabee Trail as it continues to the southwest boundary of the property. There are a few unmarked trails in this corner of the property, which can be used to shorten or lengthen the hike.

Stay on the Larabee Trail for over a mile until intersection 9 and the junction with the Noanet Peak Trail. Continue climbing straight (north) on the Noanet Peak Trail to access the first summit and viewpoint of the Boston skyline. Follow the Noanet Peak Trail to the north as it descends toward intersection 36 and Mill Pond.

Here, the track bends to the north around Lower Mill Pond on the red-blazed Caryl Loop to visit the old dam and mill site before continuing back to the south on the blue-blazed Peabody Loop.

At this point, visitors can choose to continue on this recommended hike by taking a left (east) at intersection 24 along the 24-31 Connector (Switchback Trail) to link up with the Strawberry Hill Trail or this is the first opportunity to continue south along the Peabody Loop to return to the trailhead.

Continuing with this hike, turn left onto the yellow, Strawberry Hill Trail as it bends to the north and east in Town of Dover Conservation Land. Follow the trail along the west side of the Larabee Estate through Hale Reservation above Powissett Pond until intersection 9.

At intersection 9, the Larabee Trail bends to the right (west) and one connector will head due south to Dover Road (Dover Road Connector). Just past this intersection, the Powissett Peak Unmarked Trail begins to the left (south). Use the Hiking Project mobile app to find the entrance to begin the winding ascent of Powissett Peak.

Just past the summit, a connector heads to the left (south) toward Powissett Street, which you could take and then follow the street to the right and walk to the trailhead along the road. However, this hike stays on trail back up to the Strawberry Hill Trail and then down to intersection 25 on the 31-25 Connector to return to the parking area on the Peabody Loop.

Thrushes, warblers, tanagers, orioles, hawks, painted turtles, frogs, marsh marigold, pink lady's slipper, etc.

Native American hunting ground, mill/dam site, and preserved space. Most recently, this land was purchased by Amelia Peabody in 1923 and donated for preservation after her death in 1984.