From meadows to scenic woodlands, trail races offer runners a variety of courses and distance in 2019 on the North Shore.
In Gloucester, the Cape Ann Trail Stewards is sponsoring their annual 5-mile Dogtown Trail Run on May 19. This race offers an experience unique to Cape Ann, providing runners with a technical, exciting course guaranteed to challenge even the most nimble runners. Racers will enjoy running through most of Dogtown, past many cultural and natural features such as the cellar holes, Babson's motto boulders, Whale's Jaw and Peter's Pulpit.
The North Shore Trail Series features six local trail races from May through November. Two of the races are sponsored by Greenbelt, and others run through Greenbelt properties.
Greenbelt's Pingree Run for the Hills 5/10K on July 13 features trails through the 136 acres of Greenbelt's Pingree Reservation in South Hamilton. Runners will also notice a remarkable series of eskers, uncommon glacial formations recognizable as winding ridges on the property.
Greenbelt's second race is through the 126 acres of the Beverly Commons Conservation Area on Aug. 24. The 3.5 and 7-mile runs take runners through a scenic woodlot dotted with wildflowers and home to a variety of woodland birds.
Shorter courses are featured in the BTA/BOLT Trail Festival on Oct. 20 in Boxford. The event will include a 1K Fun Run, 5K Walk, 5K and 10K Run, and the series ends on Nov. 2, back at Willowdale State Forest, with the Stone Cat 50K race.