HomeMassachusettsAndover › Carmel Woods Trail

Carmel Woods Trail

4.4 ★★★★☆ 18 Google reviews · Running trail in Andover, Massachusetts · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Carmel Woods Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Dog-friendly

What runners say about Carmel Woods Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (18 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

I walk my dog here everyday. It's beautiful every season. I wouldn't recommend driving all the way here though just for this one trail. There's a lot of different trails through the forest but some are not labeled that well nor are they on the map, just look for the footprints.

★★★★★ — Chris , Mar 2019

Great hidden escape in Andover. It's small enough for a quick jaunt into the woods, but still easy to get turned around if you follow little paths as only some are marked. Be careful with kids and dogs as there is broken glass in some sections.

★★★★☆ — Wendy , May 2022

Nice quiet wooded space, for little hikes and fresh air. Be prepared for mosquitoes when they are in season.

★★★★★ — Eko , Oct 2020

I did .9 miles in 23 minutes. An easy to moderate trail that is somewhat marked. At this time of year the trail is covered with wet leaves and is slippery on the inclines/declines. No bugs at this time of the year. Not much to see, but is a nice, quick hike through the woods.

★★★★☆ — Joseph , Nov 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 18 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🐕 Dog-friendly 5 mentions

“Be careful with kids and dogs as there is broken glass in some sections.”

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Plan your run at Carmel Woods Trail

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.

Hours

Monday 6 AM–8 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–8 PM
Thursday 6 AM–8 PM
Friday 6 AM–8 PM
Saturday 6 AM–8 PM
Sunday 6 AM–8 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Carmel Woods Trail

Andover, Massachusetts

Get directions

Running trails near Andover

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

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Scenic

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Stevens to Stevens Trail

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Andover Community Path

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Shawsheen River Trail

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ShadedLit

Shady park featuring a walking trail that winds by a pond and a community garden.

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All running trails in Andover, MA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.