A perfect introductory hike for parents and their kids in West Gloucester

The New Yorker published a cartoon 20 years ago that depicted parents hiking in the woods with their son. His father informs him, “What you hate is walking. This is hiking – hiking is different from walking.” I laughed at the time because I couldn’t get my daughters to hike 100 yards without a sit-down protest!

The good news is that if you’re looking for a short, easy hike on Cape Ann, this one fills the bill. It covers some pretty terrain and offers a hilltop view as a nice ‘carrot’ for young hikers.  

The Eagle Rock trail is a 1.4 mile loop starting at a marked trailhead on Bray Street off of Concord Street in West Gloucester. The trail is located in the Tompson Street Reservation, the largest holding of the Essex County Greenbelt. The Greenbelt has recently released a map app of its properties, GreenbeltGo. It’s an invaluable tool for exploring the area, especially because this neck of the woods is criss-crossed by unmarked trails.

As you enter the woods the sounds of civilization drop away, surrounding you with quiet. Follow the red markers carefully and bear right at two intersections. You’ll arrive at the top of Eagle Rock in 20 minutes or so. Enjoy sweeping views to the north – if it’s clear you can see New Hampshire and Maine in the far distance.

Follow the red markers back to the trailhead or, if you’re adventurous, refer to the GreenbeltGo app for a longer loop to the east. I encountered some very challenging mountain bike features on my exploration, but may have been a bit ‘off course’ at the time!

It looked to me that it’s likely that wild blueberries grow around Eagle Rock. I plan on going back to confirm! Also note that this area has a LOT of briar overgrowth – next hike I’ll wear pants to avoid scratches.