Winter Solstice Sunrise Walk at Poles Hill

Join us for our annual Winter Solstice sunrise walk at an ancient solar observatory at Poles Hill in Gloucester!

DUE TO A FORECAST OF CLOUDY SKIES FOR 12/21, WE HAVE POSTPONED THIS EVENT TO MONDAY, 12/22.

CATS Board member and Poles Hill Trail Steward Sandy Barry will lead a walk at Poles Hill to view the Solstice Sunrise from  the "Gnomon" (a boulder placed by Native Americans over 2000 years ago as part of a Solar Observatory that marks the location of the Solstice and Equinox sunrises and sunsets). 

For more information about this ancient Solar Observatory at Poles Hill (also called "Sunset Hill"), click HERE to view a short video explaining it. 

After the sunrise, Sandy will lead those who are interested on a short hike along trails within the Poles Hill Conservation Area, including a scenic overlook with expansive views to the ocean.  Total walking distance will be approximately 1 mile at a leisurely pace, over moderate terrain that includes boulders and granite ledge.   We will expect to be finished with the walk by 8:30am or sooner.

(Poles Hill Winter Solstice Sunrise at the Gnomon, 2024)

Meeting Spot:  Meet at 7:00 am at the CATS kiosk for Poles Hill off of Riverview Rd. in Gloucester.  Sunrise on December 22 is at 7:10 am.   

See map of the Poles Hill Entrance location HERE.    Park on the side of Riverview Rd., but please be courteous to the neighbors.  After you turn onto Riverview Rd. from Wheeler St., the entrance to Poles Hill is a small dirt road on the left, just after the  house at 6 Riverview Rd.   Additional on-street parking is also available on Linden Rd., Corliss Ave., or Apple St. (all of these roads are parallel to Riverview Rd.)