HomeMassachusettsWestminster › Leominster State Forest

Leominster State Forest

4.6 ★★★★★ 621 Google reviews · Running trail in Westminster, Massachusetts · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Leominster State Forest'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.

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendlyHillyTrailhead parkingMile markersQuiet

Destination for activities such as hiking, fishing, mountain climbing & cross-country skiing.

What runners say about Leominster State Forest

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (621 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“Dog friendly, clean, well marked trails, not crowded, plenty to explore!”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 7 mentions

“There is an excessive amount of dog poop on the trails, making it important to look DOWN instead of at the beautiful area.”

🪧 well-marked 4 mentions

“Short well marked trails with some great views and unique micro habitats.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“Dog friendly, clean, well marked trails, not crowded, plenty to explore!”

Took the Redemption Rock to Crow Hill via the Midstate trail up through. It was a nice trail system, very clearly marked for the most part, except a few spots where there's little goat paths that lead off the main trail, I made the mistake of taking one and took a little diversion...

★★★★★ — Andrew , Dec 2021

Leominster State Forest is an excellent place to hike, bike, swim and rock climb. I have been here many times over the years. The highlights of the forest for me are the hike over the Crow Hills, the hike to Rocky Pond and taking a swim at the beach on Crow Hills Pond. There are multiple parking areas off of Rt.

★★★★★ — Eric , Jul 2018

We did a short hike at the Crow Hills on the Ledges Trail with our three children. It was a short hike to nice views. The initial part is fairly steep and requires scrambling up some boulders. At a reasonable pace, it's about 15 minutes of climbing. I had my youngest child in a child carrier on my back.

★★★★☆ — Michael , Oct 2021

A great park, but 💩 dog owners are kind of ruining it. There is an excessive amount of dog poop on the trails, making it important to look DOWN instead of at the beautiful area. I wouldn't be upset if this trail became dog-free.

★★★★☆ — Autumn , Mar 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 621 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.

🏞️ Scenic views 11 mentions

“But all in all it was a nice up and down trail with a cool little climb at the end, and at the top it overlooked the valley and you could see Wachusett!”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 10 mentions

“We did a short hike at the Crow Hills on the Ledges Trail with our three children.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 4 mentions

“Dog friendly, clean, well marked trails, not crowded, plenty to explore!”

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📏 Mile markers 4 mentions

“so just keep an eye out for the colored markers, as well as the direction they're pointing, which indicates a bend!”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“Very nice and clean,parking $8 for residential and $30 for out of town.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“Dog friendly, clean, well marked trails, not crowded, plenty to explore!”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 2 mentions

“The highlights of the forest for me are the hike over the Crow Hills, the hike to Rocky Pond and taking a swim at the beach on Crow Hills Pond.”

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Plan your run at Leominster State Forest

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
  • 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.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitemass.gov
  • Phone+1 978-874-2303

Hours

Monday 7:30 am–4:30 pm
Tuesday 7:30 am–4:30 pm
Wednesday 7:30 am–4:30 pm
Thursday 7:30 am–4:30 pm
Friday 7:30 am–4:30 pm
Saturday 7:30 am–4:30 pm
Sunday 7:30 am–4:30 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 Leominster State Forest

1 Fitchburg Rd, Westminster, MA 01473

Get directions

Running trails near Westminster

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

Leominster State Forest Rocky Pond Trailhead

4.9 ★★★★★ 12 reviews

Princeton, MA

under a mile away

Leominster State Forest Elm Trailhead

4.3 ★★★★☆ 14 reviews

Leominster, MA

1.9 miles away

Balance Rock

4.8 ★★★★★ 25 reviews

Westminster, MA

Scenic

2.6 miles away

Wachusett Mountain State Reservation

4.7 ★★★★★ 4,269 reviews

Princeton, MA

Scenic

Protected area including roadways to the summit, 17 miles of hiking & biking trails & ski slopes.

2.6 miles away

North Monoosnoc Summit Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 32 reviews

Leominster, MA

Scenic

3.0 miles away

West Fitchburg Steamline Trail

4.3 ★★★★☆ 66 reviews

Fitchburg, MA

Crushed gravelScenic

Trail with waterfalls and other natural attractions that's also home to some picnic tables.

3.1 miles away

All running trails in Westminster, 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.