Visiting Hale - Activities

Dog Walking

Click Here for Dog Use Guidelines.

Dogs are welcome at Hale from Labor Day weekend through Memorial Day, except for advertised special events. Lender leashes and plastic baggies are available at the Hale entrance bulletin board and Cat Rock Parking Area. Dogs must be on a leash and under the owners control at all times at the following locations:

• Paved roads and parking lots
• Fields and beaches
• Playgrounds
• Areas where programs are in progress

*Please remember that dogs are not allowed to swim in any of the ponds.

 

Fishing

• Hale has 3 ponds – Noanet, Powissett and Storrow Pond.
• Noanet Pond has a fishing dock, which is wheel chair accessible.
• Hale encourages catch and release.
• No private boats are allowed on any of Hale’s ponds.

Mountain Biking - Trails Open

• Mountain biking is not permitted on any of the beaches or fields.
• Sometimes biking is prohibited on trails March 1 through April 30 due to muddy conditions. Check this website for closings.

Trail Status:

Hale will periodically close its trails to public use or suspend specific public use activities such as mountain biking, dog walking, etc…on all or specific trails for a variety of reasons throughout the year due to trail conditions, weather, programs/special events, etc…. See home page for current trail status.

 

Mud Season:

From March to April 30, Hales trails are often CLOSED to mountain biking due to weather conditions and the fragile nature of the trails. Please bike responsibly and keep the tires on the tar until the trails have properly thawed and “ripened up” for mountain bike riding. You will be doing Hale and the sport a service by preserving the trails we ride. During the mud season trail will be either “CLOSED” or “TEMPORARILY OPENED.” Each is described below. Check the current trail status at the home page.

 

Trail Status - Closed: Sorry, all trails CLOSED to mountain biking due to spring weather conditions and the fragile nature of the trails. Protect the trails, refrain from riding on all trails at this time.

Trail Status - Temporarily Opened: Trails TEMPORARILY OPENED to mountain biking. Please use good judgment and ride “softly” in wet areas and steeps.  

Prolonged periods of dryness or below freezing conditions can create conditions suitable for mountain bike riding in the spring. Conditions change from day to day given the weather, check the home page for updates on current trail status.

 

Trail Protection:

In the spring trails are more susceptible to damage than your lawn because they lack grass and a sturdy root system to hold it all tightly together. At night the trails repeatedly freeze, bare soil is heaved upwards like confetti and frozen in suspension from the surface down to the frost line. Then, each day the sun thaws the top of the suspended soil resulting in a soupy mud layer sitting on top of a frozen ice layer. The thawed, suspended, mud layer is very susceptible to being eroded and washed away if disturbed. Waiting for the earth to properly thaw and dry keeps the soil and trails intact.

 

Itching to hit the trails?

Try this at home to gauge trail readiness. Ride your bike in 10 circles on your lawn at the approximate speed you would mountain bike. Once the dizziness passes, assess the impacts to your lawn knowing that you have a tough network of roots to protect the surface like woven armor. Now use your judgment, assess how this would effect trails which lack the root system. If you are taking advantage of frozen conditions please allow of 12 – 24 hours of below freezing temperatures and keep in mind that frozen conditions will change hour by hour in the spring.

 

More:

For information on mountain biking etiquette, networking, spring riding locations, and more visit New England Mountain Biking Association at http://www.nemba.org/Articles/SoftRiding.html

Horses

• Horseback riding is permitted but discouraged in heavy use areas.
• Riding is recommended south of the east west fire road and south of Powissett Street.

Picnics

• Families are welcome to picnic at Hale. Groups need to reserve a space for their event.
• No barbecuing is allowed.

No Swimming

• No private swimming is allowed at Hale Reservation at any time.
• Swimming is only permitted at organized events and only when there is a Hale lifeguard on duty.
• Organizations and groups may hire an area to swim. Check out our Outings Page.

No Boating

• No private boats are allowed at Hale Reservation any time.
• Boating is only permitted at Hale organized events and programs, and only when there is a Hale lifeguard on duty.

No Camping

• Groups may organize to camp at Hale. Check out our Rentals Page.

No Hunting

• No trapping or hunting is allowed at Hale Reservation.

Skating

• Ice may be unsafe. Skate at your own risk.

Cross Country Skiing

• Trails are not specially maintained for skiing. Do so at your own risk.

Please remember that Hale Reservation is a privately owned property. Individuals abusing the property will be asked to leave and are subject to arrest, fine or prosecution. All public users enjoy Hale Reservation at their own risk. Hale is not responsible for injuries, accidents or lost possessions.