Dogtown 5 Mile Trail Race

Join Cape Ann Trail Stewards for our 9th Annual Dogtown Trail Race!

Runners and walkers are welcome!

This annual race covers a beautiful and challenging 5.4 mile course starting and finishing near the water tower at the top of Summit Ave. in Rockport.   The terrain ranges from carriage roads with minor rocks/ roots, to more extreme technical sections with extensive large rocks (requiring a degree of "boulder-hopping"), and everything in-between! 

The course travels through many historic and popular sections of Dogtown, including the Squam Path, New England Forestry Foundation's Norton Memorial Forest, Whale's Jaw, the Luce Trail, Briar Swamp, and the Rockport Town Forest.

Online Registration is $25.00 for CATS Members, and $35.00 for Non-members.

Race Day Registration is $30.00 for CATS Members, and $40.00 for Non-members.

BECOME A MEMBER

Both runners and walkers are encouraged to participate!  

Walkers will start behind the runners, at the same time as the runners (all walkers will start promptly at 9am when the race starts).  The marked course will remain open with support (safety monitors, water stop, etc.) from 9am to 12pm. 

Cape Ann Trail Stewards Dogtown Trail Race T-shirts guaranteed for the first 100 registrants.  Prizes for first overall in each gender, and for first in the age group categories of 39 and under, 40-49, 50-59, and 60-69, and 70+

This Race is part of the 2026 North Shore Trail Series.  Go the North Shore Trail Series page on the Trail Animals Running Club website for further information and to sign up for the series.

Click on the images below to view and download a Course Map:

Dogtown Race Course shown on Dogtown Common Trail Map*

Dogtown Race Course Map shown on GaiaGPS  Trail Map

• Click HERE to view the route online in a GaiaGPS map and to download a GPX or KML file of the route .
• To view and download a full copy of the Dogtown Common Trail Map (without the race course overlaid), click HERE. 

*Note that the Dogtown Common Trail Map was first published in 1987 and does not show all current existing trails.  Refer to the GaiaGPS map version of the race course for a more complete reference of surrounding trails.

Meeting Spot:  Race parking will be by Evans Field next to 3 Station Square in Rockport.   To get there, turn into the Whistlestop Mall entrance off of Railroad Ave.  (Evans Field is just past the Ace Hardware store-- both the field and the hardware store will be on the right).  See the Google map location HERE.

Participants will walk through Evans Field to a trail that will take them to the race registration and check-in area, which is near the water tower at  the top of Summit Ave. (signs and volunteers will guide you on where to go).

Registration and race check-in will be from 7:30am to 8:45am.  The race starts at 9:00am.

For any additional questions about the race, registration, or CATS memberships, email us at contact@capeanntrailstewards.org.