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• Earth Day Trail Work Day in Rockport

  • When
    Saturday, April 20, 2024
  •  
    8:30 AM - 11:00 AM
  • Location
    Rockport, MA

  Join CATS, along with the Rockport Rights of Way Committee,  Rockport Conservation Commission, the Old Garden Beach Association, and the Rockport South End Association for an Earth Day Trail Work Day taking place at multiple locations throughout Rockport from 8:30am to 11:00am.

  Help us to clear the woodland trails of Kieran Preserve, DeLamater Sanctuary, and more, and/ or help to clean up trash and winter debris along the coast from the Headlands to Cape Hedge Beach.

  Bring work gloves, and if you have them, bring hand tools such as clippers, loppers, rakes, etc. (some loppers and other tools will be available on site for those who do not bring their own).  Also bring  bug repellent, water, and snacks, etc. as needed.  (No power tools, please!)

  Click HERE to view a flyer  from the Rockport ROW Committee.

  
  

  NO REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT-- Just show up at one of the 4 locations listed below at 8:30, and someone from one of our host groups will be there to give direction!

  
  

  Meeting Locations:
  You can choose to meet at any of these 4 locations!

  • Old Garden Beach, picnic area
  • Waring Field entrance on South St., by Thomas Rd.
  • 4 Ruthern Way, by Loblolly Cove
  • Cape Hedge Beach, at end of South St.

  
  

  Reach out to CATS (contact@capeanntrailstewards.org) or the Rockport Rights of Way Committee (rightsofway@rockportma.gov) with any questions!

  Thank you to all who are available to participate and contribute to keeping our trails open and accessible!!

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• CATS "Short Hike"- Red Rocks

  • When
    Tuesday, April 23, 2024
  •  
    10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
  • Location
    Forest Ln., Gloucester
  • Spaces left
    0

  Join waitlist

  Join us for a "short hike" to the top of Red Rocks on Tuesday, April 23!

  This hike will follow the white-blazed trail (maintained by CATS volunteers) from the kiosk near Haskell Pond (off Forest Ln. ) to the granite ledge at the top of Red Rocks, where we will take in expansive, panoramic views over the treetops to the ocean.  The route will be out-and-back along the white trail, with a total distance of approximately 2.25 miles.

  The terrain is moderate along most of the path, with intermittent rocks and roots, and a short section of steeper ascent along the trail to the top of Red Rocks.  

  Allow approximately an hour and a half, with time to take in the views!

   

  
  

   

  
  

  

  (views of the ocean seen on the horizon from the top of Red Rocks)

  
  

  Please note that dogs will not be allowed on this hike due to the steep granite ledge at the top of Red Rocks.
  

  Meeting spot:

  We will meet at the CATS kiosk at the entrance to Haskell Pond off of Forest Ln. in Gloucester.

  Please plan to arrive by 9:45 for check-in.  The hike will depart promptly at 10 am.
  

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• Sunday Morning Hike- Manchester Essex Wilderness Conservation Area: Cedar Swamp West to Bishop's Grave and Bear's Den

  • When
    Sunday, April 28, 2024
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
  • Location
    School St., Manchester, MA
  • Spaces left
    0

  Join waitlist

  Join us for a hike in the beautiful Manchester Essex Wilderness Conservation Area, as the forest turns green and comes to life in the warming days of spring.

  Our route takes us over the boardwalk across Cedar Swamp, then heads west in a loop that takes us along the Grassy Ridge Trail to Bishop’s Grave Cartway and the Bear’s Den Trail;  then swings back via Baby Rock Trail to the Prospect Ledge Trail, which we follow down to the boardwalk and back across Cedar Swamp.  Click HERE to see a map of the hiking route in Gaia GPS.

  Manchester Essex Conservation Trust has been working for 60 years to protect this land.  To learn more about MECT, you can go to their website. 

  To view and download MECT's map of the Wilderness Conservation Area, click HERE.

  This is a moderate hike on mixed terrain, with flat, easy sections, as well as rugged, boulder-strewn trails, with many points of interest along the way. Be prepared for a few wet spots.  Total distance is about 3.5 miles; allow just over 2 hours. 

  
  

  

  (view looking down the Cedar Swamp Boardwalk, entering the Wilderness Conservation Area)

  
  

  
  

  Meeting Spot:   We will meet at the School Street entrance to the Wilderness Conservation Area by Cedar Swamp.  See the hike map for specifics. 

  
  

  Please arrive early (we recommend planning to arrive between 9:50 and 9:55 am in order to be ready for the group's 10 am departure).  The hike will depart promptly at 10 am.

  
  

  Please note that dogs are not permitted on the Sunday Morning Hikes.  We have a Dog-Friendly Hikes group which is now repeating each Sunday Morning hike the following month.  You can join the Dog-Friendly Hikes Google group from the Cape Ann Sunday Hikes group home page to get announcements of each Dog-Friendly hike.

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• Partner Event with TownGreen: Annisquam Woods Walk

  • When
    Saturday, May 04, 2024
  •  
    10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
  • Location
    Hutchins Ct., Gloucester, MA
  • Spaces left
    25

  Join us for a walk in Greenbelt's Annisquam Woods on Saturday, May 4 led by Katherine Prum.  This walk will provide participants with a guided reflection on nature and the powerful emotions that people feel around climate change.

  REGISTRATION WILL OPEN ON THURSDAY, APRIL 25th*

  The route will be on easy to moderate terrain with some gentle hills, and is approximately 1.5 miles in length. The hour-and-a-half timeframe will include stops along the way for group reflection and sharing.

  This event follows, and is paired with, a free webinar hosted by TownGreen on Wednesday, April 24 at 7:00 pm, called "Personal Sustainability in Action:  Addressing Climate Grief and Anxiety" presented by Thomas Doherty. 

  You may register for this webinar HERE.

  
  

  *Registration for this walk will open on April 25 for TownGreen Webinar participants (those who register for the webinar will be emailed a registration code following the webinar), and  registration will open to the rest of the public on Saturday, April 27. 

  
  

  

  
  

  More info on Annisquam Woods, including a map, directions, and parking info, can be found on the Essex County Greenbelt website.

  
  

  To learn more about TownGreen, you may visit their website at www.towngreen2025.org.

  

  
  

  Meeting Spot:  

  We will meet at the parking area at the end of Hutchins Ct. in Gloucester. (Refer to the Greenbelt website link above for a map and more info).

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• Dogtown 5 Mile Trail Race- May 18, 2024

  • When
    Saturday, May 18, 2024
  •  
    9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Rockport and Gloucester, MA (parking by Evans Field, 3 Station Square, Rockport)

  Register

  Join Cape Ann Trail Stewards for our 7th 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.

  
  

  Attention Runners:  

  Note that this race will be also be part of the new 2024 North Shore Trail Series! 

  (featuring additional races from Essex County Trail Association, Greenbelt, Team Gloucester, and Trail Animals Running Club)

  
  

  Click HERE to view  a flyer listing all of the races in the series,

  and go the North Shore Trail Series page on the Trail Animals Running Club website for further information!

  
  

  This race will be also part of  Wicked Running Club's 2024 Wicked Grand Prix.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Online Registration is $20.00 for CATS Members, and $30.00 for Non-members.

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

  
  

  become a member
  

  
  

  
  

          

  Both Runners and Walkers are welcome to Register!  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 male and female, and for first male and female in the age group categories of 39 and under, 40-49, 50-59, and 60+. 

  
  Additional raffle prizes will be awarded to both walker and runner finishers at random intervals at the race finish.
  

  
  

  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 and download a gpx file of the route in GaiaGPS.
  • 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 at 3 Station Square in Rockport.  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.

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