Sheepfold Dog Park at Middlesex Fells Reservation

The Sheepfold is a 5-acre open field in Middlesex Fells Reservation where dogs can run off leash. It's off Route 28 in Stoneham, close to Medford, and the reservation is open dawn to dusk.

Off leash means under voice control. Your dog has to come when you call. Once you leave the field, the leash goes back on.

Off-Leash Rules at the Sheepfold

These are DCR's rules for the Sheepfold and the rest of the reservation:

• Dogs may be off leash only inside the Sheepfold field.
• Off-leash dogs must be under your voice control.
• One person can bring up to four dogs.
• Pick up all dog waste and dispose of it properly.
• Dogs must be on a leash everywhere else in the reservation, including the trails.
• The reservation is open dawn to dusk.

For the full list of park rules, see our rules page.

Parking at the Sheepfold

DCR lists the Sheepfold parking area on Route 28 as free. The gated lots open at 9 AM, so if you arrive earlier you may find the gate closed. Our parking guide covers the Sheepfold lot and the other lots in the Fells.

Is There a Dog Park in Medford?

The Sheepfold is the closest DCR off-leash area to Medford. It sits in Stoneham, near the Medford line, on Route 28. It's a field inside a state park, run by DCR, not a city dog park.

Leashed Walks From the Sheepfold

DCR calls the Sheepfold one of the main ways into the trails in the western half of the Fells. From here you can head out on a longer walk, as long as your dog is back on a leash. Good options in the West Fells include the Skyline Trail and the climb to Bear Hill. Our hiking guide has more.

DCR asks visitors to stay off the trails after heavy rain, when they're muddy and easy to damage.

Other Off-Leash Areas Nearby

If you want a fenced area, DCR's Breakheart Reservation in Saugus has one, called the Barking Lot.