Maps and information for dozens of hiking trails in Ipswich and the surrounding area.

Ipswich

Appleton Farms, County Rd. Ipswich. Trails from the Visitor Center connect with Appleton Farms Grass Rides in Hamilton. Appleton Farms trail map

Bay Circuit Trail, Boxford, Ipswich, Rowley, Newbury, Newburyport. Trail map for the Ipswich-Rowley section of the Bay Circuit Trail

Bradley Palmer State Park, Topsfield Rd., Ipswich Wintrhop Rd. Hamilton, Asbury St., Topsfield. Willowdale and Bradley Palmer trail map

Crane Beach and Castle Neck, Argilla Rd. Ipswich. Over 6 miles of trails through the dunes and around the Castle, plus several miles of beach to walk on. Castle Hill area trail map

Daniel Boone Park, Top of Spring Street on Town Hill in Ipswich. Daniel Boone Park trail map

Dow Brook Conservation Area, Dow/Bull Brook Reservoirs, High St., Ipswich. A three-mile hike begins at Veterans recreational field on Mile Lane near Linebrook Road in Ipswich or near White Farms Ice Cream on High St. Dow and Bull Brook Reservoirs trail map

Hamlin Reservation, Argilla Rd., Ipswich A mile long trail takes you to a wooded coastal island. Hamlin Reservation trail map

Hood Pond, Linebrook Rd., Ipswich. 100 acre pond crossed by the Bay Circuit Trail, Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation. Hood Pond trail map. Topsfield town forest map

Julia Bird Reservation, Waldingfield Rd., Ipswich adjacent to Appleton Farm, it is part of an extensive network of protected open space along the Ipswich River. Julia Bird Reservation trail map

Linebrook Woods Conservation Area, 275 Linebrook Rds., Ipswich next to Marini Farms. A 78-acre parcel of wooded uplands and wetlands, with trails extending north to the town watershed lands trail network, and to the south into Willowdale State Forest. Linebrook Woods Conservation Area trail map

New England Biolabs trails. Public trails in the former Proctor Estate along the Miles River. New England Biolabs trail map

Nichols Field, 60 Labor in Vain Rd., Ipswich. A 15-acre parcel of open fields and woods adjacent to the Ipswich River. Nichols Field trail map

Riverbend, Ipswich River Watershed Association. Trail loop from the headquarters down to the Ipswich River. Ipswich River Watershed Association Riverbend property trail map

Ross Property, Open Space program property off of Paradise Rd., Ipswich. Ross Property trail map

Sandy Point State Reservation, Plum Island (accessible by Newburyport). Located at the southern tip of Plum Island, Sandy Point stretches 77 acres. It features a beautiful coastal beach great for swimming and sunbathing. Sandy Point State Reservation trail map

Shady Creek Conservation Area, Colonial Acres, Topsfield Rd. Located at the end of the cul-de-sac on Colonial Drive, a 44-acre parcel of wooded uplands and wetlands along the Ipswich River. This area has limited trail access and no river access. Shady Creek Conservation Area map

Sidney Shurcliff River Walk, Ipswich. A pleasant short walk along the Ipswich River from the County St. bridge to Town Hall at Water St. Sidney Shurcliff Riverwalk trail map

Steep Hill and Cedar Point, Crane Estate, Argilla Rd. Steep Hill and Cedar Point trail map

Strawberry Hill, Jeffreys Neck Rd., Ipswich. Llocated at 56 Jeffreys Neck Road, a 91-acre parcel of open fields and marsh adjacent to the Eagle Hill River. Across Jeffreys Neck Road from The Trustees of Reservations Greenwood Farms property is also open to the public. Strawberry Hill trail map

Willowdale Meadow. Topsfield Rd., Ipswich. One of several starting points for walks through Willowdale State Forest East. The property is an old meadow with some single track

Willowdale State Forest, 40 miles of trails. The East side on Topsfield and Linebrook Rd. connects to Hood Pond, Willowdale West.

Harold Parker State Forest. Miles of trails and mountain biking between Middleton and Andover. Harold Parker State Forest trail map

Ward Reservation, Prospect Road Andover and North Andover. Almost 10 miles of trails, easy-to-moderate hiking, strenuous in places. Some of the trails here are part of the Bay Circuit Trail. Ward Reservation trail map

Weir Hill, Stevens Street, North Andover. Four miles of trails with vistas of both scenic Lake Cochichewick and of the broader landscape of the Merrimack Valley. . Weir Hill trail map

Cox Reservation, 82 Eastern Avenue, Essex. Stunning views of a breathtaking tidal estuary in the Great Marsh ecosystem. Cox Reservation trail map

Stavros Reservation, Island Rd., Essex. This reservation protects more than 50 acres of salt marsh. A loop trail leads you along a field and up the hillside to a broad, open meadow. Here stands the fieldstone base of a 50-foot, three-level tower. Stavros Reservation trail map

Gloucester

Ravenswood Park, 481 Western Avenue (Route 127)Gloucester. 10 miles of trails and former carriage roads. Moderate hiking. Carriage roads are covered with dense crushed stone and are generally wheelchair accessible. Ravenswood Park trail map

Halibut Point Reservation. 2.5 miles of trails with weather-beaten bluffs, ocean views and low rocky coastal shelf. Halibut Point trail map

Dogtown Commons, Cherry St., Gloucester MA. Five square miles of abandoned settlement in a glacial rockfield. Dogtown Commons Trail map

Hamilton

Appleton Farms Grass Rides, Highland Ave., Hamilton. Miles of carriage trails abutting Appleton Farms and Harvard Forest. Appleton Farms trail map

Discover Hamilton Trail, includes part of the Bay Circuit Trail, runs from Bradley Palmer State Park through the Pingrey Estate, Appleton Farms, and Harvard Forest. Discover Hamilton Trail Map
Harvard Forest, Cutler Rd. The Harvard Forest recreation ground is owned by the Harvard University. It is 116 acres. This property is open to the public. The property has 1.7 miles of public trails. Harvard Forest Hamilton trail map

Pingree Reservation, Cutler Rd. This 136 acre property has wide paths interconnected by single track and is a part of the Bay Circuit Trail and the Discover Hamilton Trail, connecting to Harvard Woods.

Donovan – Sagamore Trail, Sagamore St., Hamilton. The Donovan/Sagamore Hill Trail connects the Donovan ballfields area with Sagamore Street via the Donovan Woods and Donovan Hill. The southern half of the trail is located on public lands owned by the Town of Hamilton. The northern half of the trail is a public trail easement that crosses through private properties. The single track trail is mostly wooded and the terrain is relatively steep on either side of the hill. Discover Hamilton Trail Map

Manchester by the Sea

Agassiz Rock. School Street, Manchester. A Trustees of Reservations property. Moderate climb to some unusual boulders overlooking Cape Ann. 1.5-mile loop trail (moderate hiking) takes in both Big and Little Agassiz Rocks. Agassiz Rock trail map

Coolidge Reservation, Rt. 127, Manchester-by-the-Sea. A one-mile trail runs from the parking area to the top of Bungalow Hill, around Clarke Pond to Magnolia Beach, and to the Ocean Lawn. Coolidge Reservation trail map

Newbury, Newburyport and West Newbury

Brake Hill and Groveland Town Forest, Rt. Rt. 113, West Newbury. Highest point in West Newbury (Elev. 258′). Parking available along the street near 19 Hill Top Circle or on Brake Hill Terrace near Route 113. Brake Hill Trail Map

Chestnut Hill Farm, Farm Rd., West Newbury. Loop trail through farmland to the Merrimack River, easy walking on grass pathways with river views from the overlook. Parking lot is located at end of Farm Lane. Chestnut Hill trail map

Crane Pond Wildlife Management Area, Bear Hill Road Groveland. Multiple parking areas in Groveland (Little Road, Bear Hill Rd) Newbury (Moody St) and Georgetown (Little Rd). In West Newbury, parking is available at the end of Georgetown Road near the Groveland town line. Crane Pond trail map

Indian Hill Reservoir, West Newbury. Level roadway and trail around reservoir. Connects to Indian Hill Farm. Indian Hill Reservoir trail map

Little River Nature Trail, High St. Newburyport. A rich wildlife habitat, 5 mile trail surrounded by an urban setting. Easy terrain including meadows, forests, vernal pools and wetlands. Little River Trail and map

Martin Burns Wildlife Management Area. Orchard St., Newbury MA. Martin Burns Trail Map

Maudslay State Park, 74 Curzon Mill Road, Newburyport. Former estate with over 400 acres of park land owned by the stat along the Merrimack River. Maudslay SP trail map

Old Town Hill, Newman Rd., Newbury. A three-mile network of trails and pathways leads you along the Parker River and a ridge with scenic views. Old Town Hill trail map

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge HellCat Trail, Plum Island. This boardwalk trail is divided into the 0.6 mile Dunes Trail and the 0.8 mile Marsh Trail. Plum Island Hellcat Trail guide

Riverbend Conservation Area, adjoining Maudslay SP, Newburyport. Riverbend Conservation Area trail map

Rowley

Hunsley Hills, Rt. 133, Rowley. A 1 mile loop trail that offers the chance to see wildlife and is good for hiking, walking, and nature trips. Hunsley Hills loop trail map

Prospect Hill Conservation Area, Rt. 133, Rowley. Part of the Bay Circuit Trail, it connects to Dow and Bull Brook Conservation, Linebrook Conservation and Willowdale State Forest. Prospect Hill trail map

Topsfield

Bare Hill Park, Rt. 97, Topsfield. Bare Hill Park trail map

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield. 12 miles of trails that invite you to explore the forests, meadows, wetlands, drumlins, and eskers. You can also travel down the namesake river, Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary trail map

Topsfield Linear Common. Start: Downtown Topsfield, approximately 4 miles long, connecting to sections of the Border to Boston trail in Wenham, Danvers and Beverly, and north to the Boxford town line. Topsfield Linear Common map.

Topsfield Town Forest, Rt. 97 at Hood Pond. Topsfield town forest map

Grand Wenham Canal, connect with a side trail on the Topsfield Linear Common and Ipswich River.

Wenham

Cedar Pond, Rt. 97, Wenham. The wildlife sanctuary contains approximately 110 acres of upland forest. Cedar Pond trail map

Chebacco Woods, 255 Grapevine Rd, Wenham. The Gordon College trails vary from easy flat dirt roads to singletracks. Chebacco Woods Trail Map

J.C. Phillips Nature Preserve 85 acres. The Phillips family continued to live on the property with his sons purchasing adjoining properties and expanding Moraine Farm. The Nature Preserve is now jointly managed by the Trustees of Reservations and the Essex County Greenbelt. J. C. Phillips trail system map