Sunday Morning Hike- MECT Wilderness Conservation Area: Cedar Swamp to West and North Loops

Join us for a hike in the beautiful Manchester Essex Wilderness Conservation Area, where the majestic trees provide cooling shade from the summer heat. 

Our route takes us over the boardwalk across Cedar Swamp, then heads west to a loop that includes the Bishop’s Grave Cartway and the Bear’s Den Trail;  then north to a loop over the Sam Hoar Memorial Trail to the Prospect Ledge Trail, which we follow down to the boardwalk and back across Cedar Swamp.  Click HERE to see a map of the hiking route in Gaia GPS.

Manchester Essex Conservation Trust has been working for 60 years to protect this land.  To learn more about MECT, you can go to their website.  To view and download MECT's map of the Wilderness Conservation Area, click HERE.

This is a moderate hike on terrain that is up and down throughout, with a few relatively steep sections that require careful stepping. Pine needles and leaves make for soft footing most of the way.  Be prepared for a few wet spots.  Total distance is about 3.3 miles; allow just over 2 hours.  (Note: Distance shown on Gaia GPS map is incorrect due to a recording glitch.) 

Please arrive early (we recommend planning to arrive between 9:50 and 9:55 am in order to be ready for the group's 10 am departure).  The hike will depart promptly at 10 am.

Please note that dogs are not permitted on the Sunday Morning hikes.  The Cape Ann Sunday Hikes group has a Dog-Friendly Hikes group which is repeating each Sunday Morning hike the following month.  You can join the Dog-Friendly Hikes Google group from The Cape Ann Sunday Hikes  home page to get announcements of each Dog-Friendly hike.