- TRIFECTA Trail Challenge 2022 (03 Jun 2022)
2022 TRIFECTA Trail Challenge June 3rd - July 17th Log miles on your favorite trails or explore new ones, and achieve one of these 3 challenge […]
- West Newbury Riding & Driving Club Adventure Trail (11 Sep 2022)
WEST NEWBURY ADVENTURE TRAIL--ECTA FUNDRAISER AND FUN RAISER! The goal of Adventure Trail is for all kinds of riders to ride out and have FUN on a […]
- 18th Annual Run for the Trails (17 Sep 2022)
18th Annual Run for the Trails 5-Mile / 10-Mile Trail Run Saturday September 17, 2022 9:00 AM start at Myopia Schooling Field, 394 Bay Road, […]
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The North Shore area has extraordinary recreational trails. Since 1982, Essex County Trail Association has worked to protect and preserve hundreds of miles of trails in Essex, Hamilton, Ipswich, Topsfield, Wenham, and West Newbury. With the help of our team of trail stewards and many volunteers, ECTA maintains and repairs these trails in partnership with public and private landowners, land trusts and local conservation commissions. Our members provide a vital source of funding for trail projects. Come explore these incredible trails, and help us continue our work by supporting ECTA.
UPCOMING EVENTS
TRAIL ALERTS
May 24, 2021: UPDATE The staff at DCR have addressed the water issue at markers 13/18 in Willowdale. There was beaver activity there causing the water to overflow the trail. They removed the branches
Now that the snow has melted it’s surprising to see how much debris is out there on the trails! This is a great time to pitch in while you are out enjoying the warmer weather. Clearing sticks
LATEST NEWS
Spring for the Trails 1/2 Marathon results are in! Congratulations to all our winners! Men Overall: Todd Callaghan (1:33:51) Women Overall: Amy Hollshwandner (1:52:33) Men 70+: Paul Lambert
TRAIL-USER REPORTS
All trails
The trails in our area are a bit treacherous in places now that we have 4” of snow over the ice. The snow prevents yak …Read more
Ipswich, Willowdale State Forest
There is a large tree down blocking the trail aprox 20 feet south of marker 20. The tree fell sometime between 1130am and 2:30pm on …Read more
Discover Hamilton/Hamilton
Two major trees down- one on the Harvard forest portion of the trail and the second on the Pingree Reservation trail portion. Both passable but …Read more
Warren Weld on Apple in Essex
Lots of debris on trail after storm, nothing impassable. Very wet up at the cross trail intersection, that’s no surprise! Wear your boots.Read more
West Newbury
Multiple trees down on Riverbend trail leading from the river up to hay field. Impassable.Read more
Willowdale State Forest
Trail 13/18 back under water and it looks like the beavers have returned. It is more than 6 inches deep in spots and water spills …Read more
FIND A TRAIL
Find a trail with our new Trailfinder Tool*. Select from the options on the left to find trails that meet those criteria.
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*Disclaimer: Please bear in mind that ECTA does not own the listed properties and does not guarantee the information as current. We have tried hard to list the allowed activities but some are seasonal-only, weather-dependent, or require a special permit. Landowners may have changed their rules so please follow all posted signage and let us know in the comments or via an email if you notice anything that could be updated. In addition there are some trails which may not yet be listed for certain activities. If in doubt please always check with the landowner.
FEATURED EVENTS
- 28th Annual Equine Expo & Tack Sale (22 Apr 2023)on April 22, 2023 at 1:00 pm
SATURDAY APRIL 22, 2023 SAVE THE DATE 28th EQUINE EXPO & TACK SALE Essex County Trail Association is hosting the 28th annual Equine Expo & Tack Sale to be held on Saturday, April 22nd in the Arena Building at the Topsfield Fairgrounds on Route 1, Topsfield, MA. For more information or to donate used or new horse related items for our […]
- 5th Annual Thanks for the Trails 5k (25 Nov 2022)on November 25, 2022 at 2:30 pm
SAVE THE DATE! ECTA is holding its 5th Annual Thanks for the Trails 5k and Kids Fun Run the day after Thanksgiving, November 25, 2022, at Patton Park in Hamilton. All 2022 events will offer a $10 discount for ECTA Members. Become a Member BEFORE registration!
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