Visitor Guidelines

Consider the weather, check current hours, make sure enough daylight remains, and note any trail closures. Trail conditions, weather, programs, and special events necessitate changes from time to time, so double-check Hale’s website and social media.

Remember to pack gear that ensures safety and comfort, including layers, water, a snack, hats, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellent, a headlamp or flashlight, first aid kit, trail map, and compass.

Do not bring private watercraft, all-terrain vehicles, motorized dirt bikes, firearms, fireworks, alcohol, or drugs. These are all strictly prohibited at Hale.

Our canine friends may accompany their humans between Labor Day and Memorial Day. For the safety of several hundred campers and program participants, during the summer, dogs are not allowed on the Red Trail or in the vicinity of Noanet Pond. Dogs are not permitted on fields, playgrounds, beaches, or in ponds.

Keep in mind all dogs must be licensed, vaccinated, well-behaved, in good health, on a leash, and under owner control at all times. No more than two dogs may accompany each visitor at any given time. Owners are responsible for bagging and properly disposing of pet waste; trash bins are located at major trailheads. Hired dog-walkers may not provide services at Hale.

Hale’s Main Office is located at 80 Carby Street, Westwood, MA. Access the following sites from parking lots accessible via this entrance (all of which are open year-round and free):

• Andrew Cucchiara Learning Center (ACLC)—Pass the Main Office on the left and turn right. Continue up the hill and into the ACLC’s gravel parking lot.
• Cat Rock Parking Lot—Pass the Main Office on the left and continue to the first paved parking area on the left.
• North Beach—Park in Cat Rock Parking Lot. Follow the dirt road to the right of the bulletin board. At the end of the road, turn left to get to the beach.
• Powissett Lodge—Pass the Main Office on the left. Continue for about 1.5 miles. The parking area is on the left, and Powissett Lodge is a short walk up the road.
• Trading Post and Simches Family Center—Pass the Main Office on the left. Continue for about 1 mile. You will pass a small island in the road, turn sharply up a hill, and pass the Trading Post on the right. Park in the gravel lot on the left, opposite the Trading Post.

South Beach has a separate entrance (open seasonally) and requires the purchase of a South Beach Day Pass or Family & Community Program Season Pass. From Route 109, turn onto Dover Road and continue for about 1 mile. South Beach’s entrance is on the right, opposite 576 Dover Road; its blue street sign reads “Bruné Way.”

Parking on site is free in lots accessible from Hale’s Main Entrance at 80 Carby Street. Parking is only allowed in designated parking areas; roadside parking is not allowed. Please note special hours and any temporary closures due to events and programs.

Know and observe the speed limit. The speed limit is 15 miles per hour throughout Hale. Thank you for driving carefully to ensure the safety of people, dogs, and wildlife.

Chart your course. Hale boasts many miles of trails and three ponds (Noanet, Powissett, and Storrow). Be sure to read “Activities at Hale” below for more information about what you can (and can’t) do at Hale! Download a trail map or pick one up at the Main Office, familiarize yourself with the property, and orient yourself before you set out. Learn to use a map and compass if you plan to explore, and observe any trail closure or detour signs you may encounter. Do not rely on a GPS device or your smartphone, as many areas of Hale lack cell service. Remember to tell a friend or family member where you plan to go and when you plan to return.

Observe the Leave No Trace Seven Principles. Any visitor who defaces, damages, or removes plants, trees, signs, posters, barriers, buildings, or other elements—natural or built—may be banned from Hale. Take only photos—and know that our staff might capture a few of you, too! All visitors are subject to Hale’s Media Policy, and by visiting, you consent to its terms.