Trail Alerts

Bradley Palmer & Willowdale:
Rowley Riding & Driving Club is hosting a Pleasure Trail Ride this Saturday, May 18th starting at Bradley Palmer State Park.  Most of the 12-mile course is through Willowdale State Forest.  Registration at 8:30 am, rides start at 9:30 am and should be finished by 1pm. 

Myopia Schooling Field & Pingree Reservation:
The Myopia Hunt Spring Hunter Pace is this Sunday, May 19th.  Rides begin at 9 am and finish by 2 pm. 

Ipswich River & Ipswich River Watershed Association Property:
Paddle from Winthrop Street to IRWA begins at noon on Sunday, May 19th.  Canoe Dock Opening Celebration begins at 2:15 pm.  For more information on these events, click here.

Maudslay State Park:
Trav‘s Trail Run, a 3-mile cross country racehosted by Joppa Flats Running Club, starts at 10:30 am on Sunday, May 19th. 

Thursday, May 2nd:
This Thursday is Essex County Greenbelt Association’s Pipestave Hill 5K.  The event starts at 6:30 pm.  Trail users, please be mindful of the race course and be respectful of event competitors.  Pipestave Hill is located on Rt 113 in West Newbury.  Click here for more information on this event.

The bridle trails at Groton House Farm and Arbella are now open.  Please respect our landowners by staying on the trails and adhering to any posted signs.  Also, please remember that these are bridle trails only - hikers, cyclists and dog walkers and not permitted. 

Maplecroft Trail (between Rt 133 and Argilla Road in Ipswich) will be CLOSED for repairs until Monday, April 29th. Please note that we have recently received several notices of trail users veering off of the marked trail. Please respect our landowners and stay ONLY on the clearly signed Maplecroft Trail.

All bridle trails on Winthrop property (Groton House Farm and Arbella), are closed until May 1st, with the exception of the GHF driveways between Winthrop Street and Highland Street. Again, please stay ONLY on the driveways until then, and after May1st please stay only on marked trails.

One last reminder about general trail etiquette: with spring and warm weather comes the desire to get out and enjoy all that our trails have to offer. It also brings muddy conditions and anxious horses! Please look behind you as you are enjoying the trail – if you are leaving footprints, hoofprints or tire ruts, the trail is too muddy and you should stick to drier areas. Also, please be respectful of other trails users. Walkers and bikers should yield to horses – when a horse is passing you, please step off the trail on the uphill side and stand motionless, but don’t hesitate to speak to the rider so the horse understands you aren’t hostile. Equestrians should slow to a walk when approaching other trail users (including other equestrians!)

Hunting season is here! Please remember that many public and private properties allow hunting. Please check with each property or landowner if you have concerns about walking or riding in areas open to hunters, and REMEMBER TO WEAR BLAZE ORANGE if you are in the woods. Here is a quick rundown of the season schedule:

There are several big events happening on our trail network this weekend that we want to remind you about. Thank you for respecting these event organizers and participants by carefully planning your trail use near these routes this weekend!

Saturday: Stone Cat Trail Race
This event runs from 6am – 6pm over trail loops winding throughout Willowdale State Forest (thank you to Gil’s Athletic Club for clearing storm debris from these trails in preparation for this event!)

Sunday: Myopia Hunter Pace
This event runs most of the day and crosses through Groton House Farm, Turner Hill Farm and Bradley Palmer State Park.  Entries are still open and riders of all levels are invited to enter!  Click here for details on the event.

Crane Beach is open to dogs and horses beginning October 1st and ending March 30th. Horses are permitted to the right (south) of the boardwalk ONLY.  LEASED dogs are also allowed in this area.  Unleashed dogs are ONLY allowed left (north) of the boardwalk.  Please respect these rules so that everyone can safely enjoy this resource.

Dogs must be registered with The Trustees’ Green Dogs program, or you can purchase a Green Dogs day pass for $3.

Equestrians please clean up all manure and shavings from the trailer parking areas.

ECTA is currently working with landowners at Sagamore Hill to determine the best route for the relocated trail easement.  Until these discussions are finalized, please stay only on currently open trails and respect posted signs for closed trails and private areas.
Donovan Hill Trail Map >>

The Rail Trail in Topsfield (Topsfeld Linear Common), Wenham, Danvers and Peabody is enjoyed by a diverse mix of user groups.  Due to its heavy use by many non-equestrian groups, riders should consider it a privilege to be allowed access to this trail.  We have received several complaints recently about the horse manure that is left along the trail, particularly near the Rt. 97 road crossing.  PLEASE GO BACK AND PICK UP YOUR MANURE if you are going to ride along the rail trail.  Although this is an inconvenience, it must be done if you want to continue to ride on the trail.  Upset trail users are lobbying Town Selectmen to close all equestrian access to this trail!  There are many other places to ride where you do not have to clean up afterward – please respect the many non-equestrian Rail Trail users and honor this request.

ATTENTION ALL MAUDSLAY EQUESTRIANS
There should be no ring work in the fields **especially on the lawn under the tree in the picnic area!**  The park mows this area every week for families to sit at the picnic table and on the lawn under the tree and enjoy the park. THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THIS AREA DUE TO HOOFPRINTS.

Equestrian please use the TRAILS ONLY!  Please spread the word to fellow riders about not using the lawn and fields as training rings. We do not want to jeopardize equestrian access to this resource.  THANK YOU!!

The trail between Gathering Farm and “Yellow House Field” will not be accessible until further notice due to heavy equipment work on the landowner’s property.  This trail is located off of Bridge Street in Hamilton.