Cape Ann Trail Stewards upcoming events

Sunday Morning Hike- Manchester Essex Wilderness Conservation Area: Cedar Swamp West to Bishop's Grave and Bear's Den (Sunday, May 31, 2026)

Sun, 31 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

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 over 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. 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. 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.

Ravenswood Wildflower Walk (second date added!) (Tuesday, June 02, 2026)

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Join us for a walk along the Magnolia Swamp trail in Ravenswood to seek out and observe the delicate woodland wildflowers in bloom!

(Note that this is a repeat of the hike done on 5/27 in order to accommodate the high demand!)

This hike will be led by CATS trail steward and wildflower enthusiast Holly Tanguay. We will look for and learn about species such as wood anemone, cucumber root, starflower, low and high bush blueberry, clintonia, and pink lady's slippers.

Photo of Pink Lady's Slipper at Ravenswood (taken at CATS 2025 Wildflower Hike)

The hiking route will be just over 2 mi in length (with stops for observing the flowers along the way), primarily along Ravenswood's Magnolia Swamp Trail. The terrain will be a combination of groomed carriage roads, and single-track trail that will include a long boardwalk, abundant rocks and roots, and some short but steep ups and downs. Allow 2 hours for the hike, factoring in time for stops.

Click HERE to view the Trustees of Reservations Ravenswood Trail Map.

Meeting Spot:

We will meet in the lower grass parking area of the Magnolia Woods Recreational Facility, located at 474 Western Ave. (Rte. 127) in Gloucester, and walk into Ravenswood from this location.

Magnolia Woods Recreational Facility is approximately 0.3 miles west of, and across the street from, the main entrance to Ravenswood Park. The parking area is on your left about 100 yards after turning into the Recreational Facility driveway from Western Ave./ Rte.127.

See map location HERE.

(Note that this is a different meeting location than the 5/27 Wildflower hike, which met at the Ravenswood main entrance)

Please arrive early (we recommend planning to arrive between 8:50 and 8:55 pm in order to be ready for the group's 9 am departure). The hike will depart promptly at 9 am.

Dogtown 5 Mile Trail Race (Sunday, June 07, 2026)

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 13:00:00 GMT

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

ONLINE REGISTRATION CLOSES TUESDAY, JUNE 2!

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 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 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.

Runners who are interested can also sign up for our Preview Run of the race course sponsored by Wicked Running Club on Saturday, May 23.

REGISTER HERE FOR THE COURSE PREVIEW RUN.

RACE DAY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: Help from our volunteers makes our race possible! If you or someone you know would like to volunteer at our race, you can view needed shifts and sign up HERE. Thank you for your support!!!

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.