Gloucester and Rockport sit side by side on Cape Ann, about 30 minutes from Salem: a working harbour and the Fisherman's Memorial, granite headlands at Halibut Point, and long beaches at Good Harbor and Wingaersheek.
Cape Ann is a rocky, harbour-side corner of the Massachusetts coast, about 30 minutes from Salem. Gloucester's official city pages call it the oldest seaport in the United States. Stacy Boulevard looks over the harbour to the Fisherman's Memorial and Cenotaph, and to the Fishermen's Wives Memorial. Stage Fort Park, at 24 Hough Avenue, is where official pages say the first settlers set up fishing stages in 1623.
In Rockport, Halibut Point Reservation and the adjoining state park sit at 4 Gott Avenue, Pigeon Cove: 12 acres, about 2.5 miles of trails, and a springs-filled quarry that you look at, not swim in. South and west, Good Harbor and Wingaersheek are Gloucester's long sand beaches. Ravenswood Park, 600 acres on Western Avenue, offers carriage paths, a ledge trail and a boardwalk through Great Magnolia Swamp.
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Free No charge to enter · Cheap A small entry, permit or parking fee · Paid Tickets, tours or rentals
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Ravenswood Park
A 600-acre Trustees reservation in Gloucester, at 481 Western Avenue (Route 127), with about 10 miles of carriage paths and trails, open daily sunrise to sunset and free to visit. Official pages name a 2-mile Ledge Hill Trail, a harbour overlook, and a boardwalk through Great Magnolia Swamp. Bikes are allowed only on designated trails and are prohibited from 1 March to 30 April. Dogs must be leashed in the parking area. Seasonal bow hunting is listed for October through December, Monday to Saturday; check current notices before you go.
Season Official pages list it as open daily, sunrise to sunset. Bikes are prohibited from 1 March to 30 April. Seasonal bow hunting is listed for October through December, Monday to Saturday (check notices before you go).
A Trustees reservation at 4 Gott Avenue, Pigeon Cove, Rockport: 12 acres and about 2.5 miles of trails, open daily sunrise to sunset. Official pages describe a visitor centre on the granite industry and headland views, including Folly Cove. Free for members and for pedestrians and cyclists; a parking fee applies for nonmembers from May through October (free November through April). From Memorial Day through Labor Day, a full lot closes for a two-hour window, with no waiting at the gate. Dogs on leash. Allow one to two hours.
Season Official pages list the reservation as open daily, sunrise to sunset. A parking fee applies for nonmembers from May through October; parking is listed as free from November through April. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, a full lot closes for a two-hour window (check before you go).
The springs-filled quarry at the adjoining state park on Halibut Point. Official Trustees pages say there is no swimming and that visitors must not enter the quarry. Reach it from the Halibut Point trails; the same parking and hours apply.
Season Same hours and parking as Halibut Point Reservation. Official pages say there is no swimming and that visitors must not enter the quarry (check before you go).
A long white-sand beach on Thatcher Road (Route 127A) in Gloucester. Official city pages list lifeguards from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; restrooms and showers from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and parking gates from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dogs are prohibited from 1 April to 30 September. The beach has a carry-in, carry-out policy. Alcohol is prohibited, and inflatable objects and flotation devices (except Styrofoam boogie boards) are prohibited while lifeguards are on duty. Non-resident parking reservations are required from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day; cash is not accepted at the gate.
Season Official pages list lifeguards from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; restrooms and showers from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; parking gates from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dogs are prohibited from 1 April to 30 September. Non-resident parking reservations are required from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day (check before you go).
A beach in western Gloucester, at the end of Atlantic Street off Route 133 and Concord Street, along the Annisquam River and Ipswich Bay. Official pages list lifeguards from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and restrooms and showers from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Surfing, inflatable objects and flotation devices are prohibited while lifeguards are on duty. Alcohol is prohibited, and the beach has a carry-in, carry-out policy. Non-resident parking reservations are required from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day; cash is not accepted at the gate.
Season Official pages list lifeguards from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and restrooms and showers from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Non-resident parking reservations are required from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day (check before you go).
A historic park at 24 Hough Avenue, the site official city pages name for Gloucester's first settlers in 1623, who set up fishing stages here. The park holds Half Moon and Cressy's beaches, picnic tables, a visitor centre and restrooms. Dogs are allowed in the park but not on the beaches, and must be leashed. Alcohol is prohibited. Non-resident parking reservations are required from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day; cash is not accepted at the gate.
Season Non-resident parking reservations are required from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. Dogs are allowed in the park but not on the beaches (check before you go).
A small crescent beach inside Stage Fort Park. Official pages list lifeguards from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, restrooms at the visitor centre, and a concrete ramp to the beach. Alcohol, flotation devices and inflatable objects are prohibited. Use the park's parking lot and reservation rules.
Season Official pages list lifeguards from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Use the Stage Fort Park parking and reservation rules (check before you go).
Six municipally owned beaches, including Long Beach, Front Beach, Back Beach, Cape Hedge Beach, Old Garden Beach and Pebble Beach. Official pages ban smoking on all of them, and prohibit dogs from 1 June through 15 September except certified service animals. Confirm current restroom hours and any seasonal closures before you go.
Season Dogs are prohibited from 1 June through 15 September except certified service animals. Confirm current restroom hours and any seasonal closures before you go.
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Stacy Boulevard and the Fisherman's Memorial
A harbour promenade and the Fisherman's Monument and Cenotaph, which official city pages say lists Gloucester fishermen lost at sea, in a city they call the oldest seaport in the United States. On the west side of the drawbridge is the Fishermen's Wives Memorial. Benches look out over the harbour.
A small park at 19 Harbor Loop, official pages say, beside the Coast Guard Station and a short walk from the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center, with benches and a walkway to a public landing on the inner harbour.
Rockport's working harbour and waterfront, with town beaches close at hand. Official Parks, Grounds, and Beaches pages list Front Beach, Back Beach and the other municipal beaches, and give restroom hours at Front Beach and T-Wharf; confirm current hours before you go. Smoking is banned on all six town beaches, and dogs are prohibited on the beaches from 1 June through 15 September except certified service animals.
Season Confirm current restroom hours at Front Beach and T-Wharf before you go. Dogs are prohibited on town beaches from 1 June through 15 September except certified service animals.
A working waterfront museum on Harbor Loop, a short walk from Solomon Jacobs Park. Official pages listed hours that can vary with the season (including a closed-for-the-season notice alongside listed daytime hours) so confirm current hours before you go.
Season Official pages listed hours that can vary with the season, including a closed-for-the-season notice alongside listed daytime hours; confirm current hours before you go.
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Tickets
Maritime Gloucester
A working waterfront museum on Harbor Loop. Official pages listed hours that can vary with the season, including a closed-for-the-season notice alongside listed daytime hours; confirm current hours before you go.
Season Official pages listed hours that can vary with the season, including a closed-for-the-season notice alongside listed daytime hours; confirm current hours before you go.
Halibut Point: Official Trustees pages list the reservation as open daily, sunrise to sunset. Entry is free for members and for people arriving on foot or by bicycle. A parking fee applies for nonmembers from May through October; parking is listed as free from November through April. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, when the lot is full it closes for a two-hour window, with no waiting at the gate. Dogs on leash. Allow one to two hours. Do not swim in or enter the quarry.
Gloucester beaches: Non-resident parking reservations are required at Good Harbor Beach, Wingaersheek Beach and Stage Fort Park from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day; cash is not accepted at the gate. After Labor Day, official pages say reservations are not required and fees are not collected at those lots. Alcohol, flotation devices and dogs (except certified service dogs) are prohibited on the city beaches. Details: Gloucester Beach Information.
Rockport beaches: Official pages ban smoking on all six town beaches. Dogs are prohibited on the beaches from 1 June through 15 September, except certified service animals. Confirm current restroom hours; when pages were read, Front Beach was listed as 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and T-Wharf as 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., with Back Beach restrooms closed for the season as of Columbus Day. See Parks, Grounds, and Beaches.
We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
