Team Gloucester Guide to Area Trails: Ravenswood Park
Directions:
From Route 128, take exit 14 (Route 133) and follow east towards Gloucester for 3 mi. until it dead ends into Route 127. Turn right onto Route 127 and follow for 2 mi. to entrance and parking area (12 cars) on right.
From Gloucester, follow Western Ave. heading towards Magnolia. The parking area is on the right after you pass Hesperus Ave.
Why We Like It:
Home of the Ravenswood Trail Race, Ravenswood is ideal for midweek runs and shorter long runs. It's possible to do true long runs back here, but you do have to get creative with the loops after a while. Almost any weekday, you can find a Team Gloucester runner leaving from the Y, cutting through Stage Fort and up Old Salem for a training run.
Ravenswood is a mix of carriage road, smooth trails, and a few more rugged ones. Most of the trails are moderate enough for tempo runs and the carriage roads are ideal for speedwork. The Fernwood Lakes- Magnolia Swamp loop makes a great longer training run. Bob's favorite 45 minute lunch-time loop is from the Y up Old Salem and then back on the Ledge Hill Trail. (Note: this run actually takes 60 minutes).
Though we usually run to it via Old Salem Road, Sunday long runs at Ravenswood start from the main parking lot off of Western Ave.
