Essex National Heritage Area Guide to the Great Outdoors Table of Contents Walks & Rambles.......................2 Bring the Kids............................5 Wildlife Preserves......................7 Historic Routes...........................10 Scenic Farms...............................13 Vistas............................................15 Wooded Landscapes..................18 Beaches & Marshes....................20 Urban Parks & Reservations.....23 Lakes, Ponds & Rivers...............25 Woodsom Farm Salisbury Point Ghost Trail 12 Locations on map are approximate. 29 50 Lake Attitash State Boat Ramp Old Eastern Marsh Trail 51 36 18 Maudslay State Park Salisbury Beach State Reservation Tattersall Farm 14 33 Parker River NWR, Lot 1 Parker River National Old Town Hill Wildlife Refuge 3 8 37 38 Veasey Sawyers Island Memorial Park Rowley Town Ramp 35 Choate (Hog) Island Stevens-Coolidge Harlan P. Kelsey Arboretum Greenwood Farm Place 22 10 46 Ipswich Town Landing Halibut Point State Park Den Rock Park 47 20 Crane Wildlife Refuge Deer Jump Reservation 32 15 25 Boxford State Forest/ Hood Pond 6 28 Hamlin Reservation 26 27 Bald Hill Reservation Appleton Farms Weir Hil 11 34 13 Granite, Pier, Willowdale Goose Cove State Forest Essex Town Landing Wharf Road Appleton Farms 30 Reservation Harold Parker State Forest 49 5 2 19 Grass Rides 44 Bradley Palmer 21 Cox Reservation 1 Dogtown 17 Ward Reservation State Park Goldsmith Woodlands 9 7 Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary Ravenswood Park 4 Eastern Point Long Hill 41 45 Pavilion Beach 31 48 39 Glen Magna Farms Rafe’s Chasm Reservation Salem Woods & Forest River Crowninshield (Brown’s) Island 42 Conservation Area 40 43 Fort Sewall 23 Breakheart 24 Lynn Woods Reservation 52 Marblehead Bike Path Lynn Shores/Nahant Beach Reservation 16 Visit EssexHeritage.org Guide to the Great Outdoors in the Essex National Heritage Area Woodsom Farm Salisbury Point Ghost Trail 12 29 50 Lake Attitash State Go! Experience Essex Heritage! Boat Ramp Old Eastern Marsh Trail The Great Outdoors of the Essex National Heritage 51 36 18 Maudslay State Park Salisbury Beach Area are rich, varied and help to define the charac- State Reservation ter of this region. These treasured resources surround Tattersall Farm 14 33 us and are often not too far off the beaten path, Parker River NWR, Lot 1 and definitely worth exploring. From historic routes, Parker River National to wooded landscapes, the Essex National Heritage Old Town Hill Wildlife Refuge 3 8 Area has no shortage of unique and pristine outdoor 37 38 Veasey Sawyers Island places to visit for an adventure. This guide will lead Memorial Park Rowley Town Ramp 35 you and your family to it all. Spot any number of rare birds and other Choate (Hog) Island Stevens-Coolidge Harlan P. Kelsey Arboretum Greenwood Farm Place 22 10 wildlife that make the 46 Ipswich Town Landing Halibut Point State Park Den Rock Park 47 20 Crane Wildlife Refuge Essex National Heritage Deer Jump Reservation 32 15 25 Boxford State Forest/ Hood Pond 6 28 Hamlin Reservation Area their home. Follow 26 27 Bald Hill Reservation Appleton Farms Weir Hil 11 34 13 Granite, Pier, wooded paths and Willowdale Goose Cove State Forest Essex Town Landing Wharf Road Appleton Farms 30 Reservation boardwalks that will lead Harold Parker State Forest 49 5 2 19 Grass Rides 44 Bradley Palmer 21 Cox Reservation 1 Dogtown you to inspiring scenic 17 Ward Reservation State Park Goldsmith Woodlands 9 7 vistas and surprising Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary secluded spots. Step back Ravenswood Park 4 Eastern Point in time through the heritage Long Hill 41 45 Pavilion Beach landscapes that lie here. No 31 48 39 Glen Magna Farms Rafe’s Chasm Reservation matter what the season, take the time to get outside and discover this region’s natural resources. Please enjoy, appreciate and protect the valuable outdoor places that Salem Woods & Forest River Crowninshield (Brown’s) Island 42 Conservation Area 40 43 contribute so much to the Essex National Fort Sewall Heritage Area! 23 Breakheart 24 Lynn Woods Reservation 52 Marblehead Bike Path Covering 500 square miles just north of Boston, the Essex National Heritage Area encompasses 34 cities and towns within Essex County, MA. From the first Lynn Shores/Nahant wave of European immigrants and the first contact with native Americans in the Beach Reservation 17th century, to the rise of the international maritime trade in the 18th and 19th 16 centuries, to the leather, textile and shoe entrepreneurs that initiated the industrial revolution in the 19th century, the Essex National Heritage Area illuminates almost 400 years of our nation’s history. One of 40 heritage partnership parks of the National Park Service (NPS), the Area is managed by the non-profit Essex National Heritage Commission (ENHC) who, in collaboration with the NPS, promotes partnerships and develops and implements programs that enhance, preserve and encourage regional awareness of the unique historic, cultural and natural resources found within the Area. For more information, visit www.EssexHeritage.org or call (978) 740-0444. Walks & Rambles Go! Ramble Walks & Rambles but as legend has it, Dogtown earned its strange name from the Ready to Ramble? Go ahead! dogs that women kept while their Take a walk on the wild husbands were fighting in the side. Here are three totally American Revolution. Falling into unique outings for adults decline as settlers moved towards and children alike, each the harbor, Dogtown has been offering wandering paths with hauntingly abandoned since 1830. remarkable points of interest Today Dogtown offers miles and inspiration along the way. of criss-crossing trails and Who would think such diverse abandoned roads that traverse topography could all be nearly 3,600 acres. Pathways are found in the Essex National dotted with 3 dozen boulders into which unemployed Finnish quarry Heritage Area? Go explore! workers carved inspiring sayings Bring along a camera, note during the Great Depression. book, picnic lunch and spend This progressive public art work the day outdoors! Here are was commissioned by Gloucester some of our top choices for philanthropist and founder of the best rambles around… Babson College, Roger Babson. Notice that numbered cellar holes of original settlers are also visible, 1 ■ Dogtown Common marking former homes. Explore Cherry Street these mysterious and inspiring (divided between the city of pathways of the Heritage Area’s Gloucester, MA 01930 and town forgotten town and see how many of Rockport, MA 01966) “Babson Boulders” you can spot Originally settled in 1693 because along your path. its rocky, inland location offered Visitor Info: Consider picking protection from pirates and up a copy of the Dogtown enemy natives, this abandoned Common Trail Map available at settlement called Dogtown is one the Gloucester Office of Tourism of the Essex National Heritage located on 9 Dale Avenue, Area’s hidden gems. Dogtown Gloucester, MA 01930, (978) 282- is known for its charming 4101. Biking, hiking, walking and woods, giant boulders and rock cross-country skiing. formations left behind when the last glaciers melted. It was Directions: From the North formerly called “The Commons,” Take Route 128 south to exit 11. Visit EssexHeritage.org Walks & Rambles Go! Ramble From Grant Circle, take Route ■2 Appleton Farms 127 north. Within one mile, take Grass Rides a right on either Dr. Osman 219 County Road Babson Road or Reynard Road. Ipswich, MA 01938 Take a left on Cherry Street and look for Dogtown Road (on the Located next to the historic right). Drive up the paved road to Appleton Farms, one of the the parking area, and walk to the oldest operating farms in the end of the paved area, past the country, are the Appleton Farms rifle club and public works area. Grass Rides (grass covered Follow the unpaved Dogtown avenues) which were established Road to Dogtown Square, and by the Appleton family as then bear right on Babson horseback riding trails. These Boulder Trail, on the right after a former carriage paths cover over short distance. five miles, and are tightly woven with abounding and beautiful Property Steward: City of woods. Gloucester and Town of Rockport. From an aerial perspective, these picturesque grass rides fan out in Dog Romps...Outdoor the shape of a wagon wheel, with spots that are dog-friendly five paths converging at a single 5. Bradley Palmer State Park point, the “Round Point.” To the Topsfield, MA 01983 south of the Grass Rides is the “Great Pasture,” 133 lush acres of 12. Woodsom Farm pastureland and home to flocks Amesbury, MA 01913 of songbirds called Bobolinks. As 19. Harold Parker State Forest you walk through these tranquil North Andover, MA 01845 tree tunneled “rides” listen for their gleeful song. 21. Lynn Woods Lynn, MA 01904 Visitor Info: Open year-round, every day from sunrise to sunset. 22. Breakheart Reservation Admission is free to members of Saugus, MA 01906 The Trustees of the Reservation 49. Willowdale State Forest (TTOR). $3 daily use fee for non- Ipswich, MA 01938 members. Green Dogs permit required to walk dogs. Mountain Please clean up after dogs and biking is permitted only on keep dogs leashed at all times. designated trails May 1 - February 28 and closed to mountain bikes Walks & Rambles Go! Ramble March 1 - April 30 to preserve predatory birds, including hawks trails during the muddy season. and owls. Be on the lookout for Horseback riding is not permitted. a glimpse of the graceful Egrets and Great Blue Herons that can Directions: Take Route 128 to exit 20N and follow Route 1A be spotted in the marshes and north for 4.5 miles. Turn left feeding in the tidal creeks. This onto Cutler Road and follow stunning location is a source of for 2.2 miles. At the intersection inspiration for many artists, so with Highland Street, turn right.