F. Gilbert Hills State Forest - Foxborough, MA
F. Gilbert Hills State Forest Dog-Friendly Guide
F. Gilbert Hills State Forest is a beautiful, dog-friendly park in Foxborough, Massachusetts, offering a diverse network of well-marked hiking and biking trails surrounded by scenic woodlands, glacial erratics, and natural features. With easy access off the highway and plenty of parking, this state park is a favorite spot for locals seeking pet-friendly trails and outdoor adventures for their dogs.
Dog owners will appreciate the pet-friendly policy and abundance of hiking routes within the forest, ensuring each visit can offer something new to explore. While this is not a traditional fenced-in dog park, dogs are welcome on the trails and will enjoy the natural surroundings. It’s recommended to keep your dog leashed, as etiquette and leash use may vary among visitors. Maps are available both on-site and online, and the park’s open spaces provide ample opportunity for exercise and relaxation year-round.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, F. Gilbert Hills State Forest features numerous well-marked hiking and biking trails perfect for exploring with your dog.
- Is there parking available? Yes, there is plenty of parking available close to the trailheads and main entrances.
- What are the park’s leash requirements? Dogs should remain on leash unless otherwise posted; while some visitors do allow their pets off-leash, proper etiquette and safety are encouraged.
- Is the park open year-round? Yes, F. Gilbert Hills State Forest is accessible throughout the year for outdoor activities.
- Is there shade available? Yes, the trails are wooded, offering natural shade throughout much of the park.
Reviews
Great place to spend the day hiking around. Easy to get to with plenty of parking. Trails were very well marked. Which helped us due to the trail we were following was closed halfway through due to flooding. We took other routes and was able to go around and not get lost. Trail maps were also available for our use as well. We used All Trails and it worked perfectly to guide us through out the day. There are a numerous amount of trails to make it easy to go back many times and not get bored. Our dog loved it as well. Only draw back was other people with dogs not knowing etiquette or following guidelines. Some people didn’t have their dogs on leash and others would stop and let their dogs stare at yours which promotes k-9 confrontation, instead of just continuing to walk by each other. Will definitely still go back otherwise.
Great place to spend the day hiking around. Easy to get to with plenty of parking. Trails were very well marked. Which helped us due to the trail we were following was closed halfway through due to flooding. We took other routes and was able to go around and not get lost. Trail maps were also available for our use as well. We used All Trails and it worked perfectly to guide us through out the day. There are a numerous amount of trails to make it easy to go back many times and not get bored. Our dog loved it as well. Only draw back was other people with dogs not knowing etiquette or following guidelines. Some people didn’t have their dogs on leash and others would stop and let their dogs stare at yours which promotes k-9 confrontation, instead of just continuing to walk by each other. Will definitely still go back otherwise.
Great place to spend the day hiking around. Easy to get to with plenty of parking. Trails were very well marked. Which helped us due to the trail we were following was closed halfway through due to flooding. We took other routes and was able to go around and not get lost. Trail maps were also available for our use as well. We used All Trails and it worked perfectly to guide us through out the day. There are a numerous amount of trails to make it easy to go back many times and not get bored. Our dog loved it as well. Only draw back was other people with dogs not knowing etiquette or following guidelines. Some people didn’t have their dogs on leash and others would stop and let their dogs stare at yours which promotes k-9 confrontation, instead of just continuing to walk by each other. Will definitely still go back otherwise.
Something for everyone – Hiking, biking, or simply a walk in the woods. Mountain bikers who want to keep their momentum may want to stick to green and blue rated trails (trailforks) – I found the black rated trails to have features that all but required walking some parts. They seemed more suited to hikers. The off-road loop was not much fun on a mountain bike either. Lots of natural features around the park – mainly cliffs and glacial erratics – some very large.
Something for everyone – Hiking, biking, or simply a walk in the woods. Mountain bikers who want to keep their momentum may want to stick to green and blue rated trails (trailforks) – I found the black rated trails to have features that all but required walking some parts. They seemed more suited to hikers. The off-road loop was not much fun on a mountain bike either. Lots of natural features around the park – mainly cliffs and glacial erratics – some very large.
Something for everyone – Hiking, biking, or simply a walk in the woods. Mountain bikers who want to keep their momentum may want to stick to green and blue rated trails (trailforks) – I found the black rated trails to have features that all but required walking some parts. They seemed more suited to hikers. The off-road loop was not much fun on a mountain bike either. Lots of natural features around the park – mainly cliffs and glacial erratics – some very large.
Beautiful park with tons of trails to explore. Got to visit in the spring when everything was so green and sunny
Beautiful park with tons of trails to explore. Got to visit in the spring when everything was so green and sunny
Beautiful park with tons of trails to explore. Got to visit in the spring when everything was so green and sunny
I think I followed the Healthy Heart trail most of the way and then towards the end hooked up to the Tupelo trail (which is what AllTrails told me I was on the whole time). Lots of burned out areas near the beginning. Controlled burns I’m guessing but I have absolutely no idea. Nice little trail. I’ll be back to explore more trails for sure.