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• Summer Solstice Sunrise Walk at Poles Hill

  • When
    Friday, June 20, 2025
  •  
    4:55 AM - 6:15 AM
  • Location
    Riverview Rd. Poles Hill entrance, Gloucester, MA
  • Spaces left
    20

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  For early-risers who would like to see the Summer Solstice sunrise from an ancient Solar Observatory built by Native Americans, join us for our annual Summer Solstice Sunrise walk at Poles Hill in Gloucester!

  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 walk through the rest of the Poles Hill Conservation Area, including a scenic overlook with expansive views to the ocean.  The terrain is moderate with boulders and and granite ledge, including a few short, steeper segments that require careful stepping (note that the walk to the Gnomon for sunrise viewing is short and easy).  Total distance of the walk will be less than 1 mile.  Trekking poles are recommended if you use them.

  
  

  

  (Photo of the Summer Solstice Sunrise from the Gnomon at Poles Hill in 2023)

  
  

  Meeting Spot:  Meet at 4:55 am at the entrance to Poles Hill off of Riverview Rd. in Gloucester.  The entrance is a small dirt road on the left (when coming in from Wheeler St.), just after the house at 6 Riverview Rd.  See map of the Poles Hill Entrance location HERE.

  
  

  Sunrise on June 20 is at 5:07am (the Gnomon where we will view the sunrise is a short walk, approximately 0.14 miles from our meeting location).

  
  

  You may park on the side of Riverview Rd., and there are also some parking spaces by Brown's Field at the intersection of Wheeler St. and Apple St.  Please be courteous to the neighbors!

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• Sunday Morning Hike- Northern Woods Loop (Dogtown) from Goose Cove Reservoir

  • When
    Sunday, June 22, 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
  • Location
    Gee Ave., Gloucester, MA
  • Spaces left
    0

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  Join us for a hike that will take us around Goose Cove Reservoir as well as through a beautiful area of woodlands just north of Dogtown Commons.

  We will start at the Gee Ave. entrance to Goose Cove Reservoir, then turn north on the service road until we pick up the Jerrymannder trail – a rugged trail tracking northeast that will bring us around to the Norton Woods and Dennison St.  We will then pass through Greenbelt’s Carter Reservation, and wind our way south toward Commons Rd., passing Dogtown’s “Cellar S” along the way and continuing through the woods until reconnecting with the Goose Cove Reservoir service road back to the start.  It’s a route with a little bit of everything -- rugged uplands, deep woods, water crossings and boardwalks; pine forests, old growth trees and more.

  This is an easy to moderate hike, about 4.25 miles – a mix of broad easy roads and narrow rugged trails, with some steep sections and plenty of rocks and roots underfoot.  It should take about 2.25 hours.   See the map and route  HERE in Gaia GPS

    

  View of Goose Cove Reservoir through the woods along this route, taken in June 2023

  
  

  Meeting spot:

  We will meet at the City of Gloucester parking area on Gee Ave. in Gloucester (located just past 41 Gee Ave.)  See the location HERE in Google Maps.

   

  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.  If you are interested in getting notified of Dog-Friendly hikes with the Cape Ann Sunday Hikes group, you can join their Google group list from The Cape Ann Sunday Hikes home page.
  

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