Bicycle Rides in and Around Ipswich, Massachusetts

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Willowdale mountain biking

Willowdale has 40 miles of trails for all levels and great fire roads to learn on. The Forest exists as two separate parcels divided by Route 1. The eastern block of the Forest abuts Bradley Palmer State Park and the Ipswich River; the western section includes 100-acre Hood Pond. Access the trails from Topsfield Rd. between Topsfield and Ipswich MA, or from Linebrook Rd. in Ipswich. Willowdale Trail Map

Start: Linebrook Road in Ipswich MA, across from the Marini farm field on the right-hand side parking lot. Coming from Rt. 1, this is on the right, well before Doyon school. map to start

Directions: From the South: Take I-95 to Exit 50 to Route 1. Take Route 1 North heading towards Topsfield. Travel 4 miles to Ipswich Road. Take a right onto Ipswich Rd. Follow Ipswich Rd for approximately 2 miles. Ipswich Road will turn into Topsfield Rd once you are in Ipswich. There will be two turnouts on the right-hand side for parking.

15-mile ride at RideWithGPS
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A bicycle ride with historic houses and ocean views

From the Ipswich Visitor Center on South Main Street, this bicycle ride takes you through the Historic neighborhoods of Ipswich, out to Great Neck and Labor in Vain Creek before returning.

Route at RideWithGPS
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Town farm road to the wind turbines

Windmills and village PDF cue sheet

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Ipswich to Cape Ann

Ipswich-Magnolia-Essex Cape Ann Ride PDF cue sheet

Cape Ann 35-mile route at RideWithGPS
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Essex and Crane Beach

Ipswich-Essex-Crane Beach PDF cue sheet

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The Ipswich River Sanctuary and Topsfield

Ipswich-Topsfield-Boxford PDF cue sheet

Ipswich-Topsfield-Boxford 40-mile route at RideWithGPS
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Ipswich River and Topsfield

Ipswich-Topsfield ride PDF cue sheet

Topsfield 24-mile route at RideWithGPS
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Jeffreys Neck and Crane Beach

Jeffreys Neck and Crane Beach PDF cue sheet

Jeffreys Neck and Crane Beach route at RideWithGPS
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Ipswich to Newburyport out and back

Start Location: Ipswich Middle and Senior High School, Ipswich MA. This ride takes recently-repaved Rt. 1A from Ipswich through Rowley to Newbury, and then offers options to continue to Newburyport for a 22-mile round trip, or out to the Parker River Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island for a 32-mile round trip. Turns are kept to a minimum. The unofficial NSC ride is not arrowed. Take Rt. 1A from Ipswich through Rowley and Newbury and into Newburyport. One block before reaching the traffic light at State St., turn right on Fruit St., then right on Liberty St. to take you to Market Square. Depart Newburyport on State St., and turn left on High St. (Rt. 1A) to return to Ipswich.

Ipswich to Newburyport PDF cue sheet

Ipswich to Newburyport 11-mile route at RideWithGPS
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Ipswich-Newburyport 34-mile loop

This 34-mile road bike ride begins at the Hammatt St. parking lot in Ipswich, MA, and follows Rt. 1A along the coast to Newbury and Newburyport. The return is along quiet wooded roads west of Rt. 1, then taking newly-reconstructed Linebrook Road back to Ipswich. There is a short extra loop on Pine Swamp Road with a brief section of a private driveway on a town right-of-way.

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Ipswich to Salem

This ride departs from downtown Ipswich MA, taking local roads to Beverly where we cross the bridge to Salem. After riding through the historic neighborhoods in this well-known city, we return to Ipswich through historic downtown Beverly and Hamilton.

Ipswich-Salem ride PDF cue sheet

Ipswich to Salem 33 mile route at RideWithGPS
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Merrimack River ride from Ipswich

Start Location: Ipswich Middle and Senior High School, 130 High St., Ipswich MA. (we start from the parking lot behind the school). (Map to Start) This ride takes Rt. 1A from Ipswich to Rowley then continues on pleasant roads past two reservoirs to the Merrimack River in West Newbury. The ride is not arrowed.

Ipswich-Merrimack River Ride 35 miles

Ipswich-Merrimack River route at RideWithGPS
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Merrimack River Ride from Ipswich, 50 miles

A ride from Ipswich Massachusetts through the state forest area to West Newbury MA, along the Merrimack River, returning through Newburyport and the Great Salt Marsh. (map to start)

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Ipswich 15 mile ride

Start: YMCA, 110 County Rd. (Rt. 133 East and 1A South), Ipswich Massachusetts. map to start and driving directions

Directions: Take Rt. 133/1A heading east from Ipswich. Before the highways split, the YMCA will be set back on the left. The driveway is between the two sets of new apartment buildings. We have permission to park at the YMCA.

What to expect: Ride along the quiet roads between Ipswich, Essex, and Hamilton. Short ride 12 miles, Long 15 miles, Extra long 18 miles. A few short easy climbs.

View 15-mile route at RideWithGPS
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Beverly-Ipswich ride

Start: Cove Elementary School, Beverly, MA map to start

Directions: Exit 18 off of Rte 128 and take Rt. 22 into Beverly. In 1.1 miles turn left on Corning St. After .7 miles turn left on Rt. 127. Take the third left on Eisenhower Ave. (after the green crosswalk and crossing signs), and the school will be straight ahead.

What to expect: This Beverly-Ipswich loop travels quiet woodland and open roads near Cape Ann area, including North Beverly, Centerville, Essex, Ipswich, Wenham, and Hamilton. Long and medium rides go out to Jeffrey’s Neck loop from the town wharf in Ipswich.

Downloads: Please download cue sheets and files for Garmin Edge and other GPS devices from the links below. This ride was developed by Amy Ellis for North Shore Cyclists.

Beverly-Ipswich Long Route (43 miles)
NSC Long Route cue sheet PDF
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Beverly-Ipswich Medium Route (35 miles)
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Beverly-Ipswich Short Route (23 miles)
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Ipswich River Watershed ride

A 60-mile cycling tour of the Ipswich River Watershed

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Cycling tour of the Massachusetts North Shore

This cycling tour of the Massachusetts North Shore is based in Ipswich and Newburyport, Massachusetts, and visits some of the most beautiful and historic coastal areas in New England. GPS Files for Garmin cycling computers can be downloaded from the RideWithGPS route links provided below.

Jeffreys Neck (8-14 miles)

Start: The Ipswich Inn and Kaede Bed and Breakfast. This 10-mile ride to Jeffrey’s Neck, cross the Great Salt Marsh and enjoy a spectacular view of Plum Island, Cape Ann, and the Atlantic. On our return to town, we have a nice out-and-back ride on Labor in Vain Road. (When we get to the bridge, you’ll know how the road got its name). Turkey Shore and Labor in Vain Roads take us out to Gould’s Creek, which runs in opposite directions depending on the tide. Our return takes us along the Ipswich River and some of the oldest parts of town. The ride time is about an hour.

Full-day ride to Salem, 32 miles

Full ride: Historic Salem. Crossing the harbor to historic Salem, we stop for a break at the Salem Visitors Center, run by the National Park Service. Have lunch at Red’s Sandwich Shop, and spend a couple of hours in town so that you have the chance to walk in the historic Chestnut St. neighborhood, visit the Salem Maritime National Historic Site and the Friendship (a reconstruction of a 171-foot three-masted Salem East Indiaman built in 1797), the Salem Witch Museum, or the House of Seven Gables. The return takes us through Beverly and Hamilton on our return to Ipswich.

You may take the commuter rail from Salem to Ipswich for a nominal price. Bikes are allowed except during rush hours.

Essex, Crane Beach, and Cape Ann (17 or 32 miles)

Short Ride: Essex and Crane Beach. This relaxed ride takes us along wooded back roads to historic Essex, one of colonial America’s first ship-building towns. While in Essex we often stop by the Essex Historical Society’s Shipbuilding Museum. Our ride turns back toward Ipswich and continues to Crane Beach, where you can enjoy a gorgeous hike in the dunes, returning along the pristine beach. Have lunch at the Beach or back in Ipswich.

Long Ride: Cape Ann. This faster-paced full-day ride takes participants to Manchester by the Sea. After a short break, ride along the rocky Atlantic shoreline in quaint Magnolia, then circle back past glacial erratics in West Gloucester for lunch at Lobsta Land in Gloucester or Farnham’s in Essex before returning to Ipswich.

View the 17 mile option (includes Crane Beach)
View the 32/37 mile route with a Crane Beach option
Download the full Cape Ann ride cue sheet (PDF)
View the dune trails at Crane Beach.

The Ipswich River Sanctuary and Topsfield

This ride takes along beautiful Perkins Row through the Ipswich River Sanctuary to Topsfield, a charming New England village. We return through Bradley Palmer State Park to Ipswich for lunch.

Canoeing on the Ipswich River: You may wish to stop at Foote Brothers Canoes to enjoy an hour or two of self-guided canoeing or kayaking on the Ipswich River.

Topsfield-Danvers Rail Trail: After the Ipswich River Sanctuary, you may choose to take the stone dust trail from Topsfield to Danvers through the Great Wenham Swamp, then return through Topsfield, and back to Ipswich for a total of 30 miles for the day.

The Parker River Wildlife Refuge and the Merrimack River

West Newbury, the Artichoke Reservoirs, and the Merrimack River

The following rides start at the Essex Street Inn in Newburyport. MA. We cross the bridge to Plum Island for a visit to the Parker River Wildlife Refuge

Plum Island and the Parker River Wildlife Refuge. This short ride takes us out to America’s first national seashore. We often stop at the Joppa Flats Audubon Center on our return to the inn.

The Merrimack River. The rural roads outside of Newburyport in Newbury and West Newbury are some of the most beautiful and less traveled in the North Shore area and are wonderful for cycling. This beautiful ride begins on High Street in Newburyport and continues through Maudslay State Park and along the Artichoke Reservoirs. The full version includes a gorgeous section along the Merrimack River to West Newbury.

Newbury and the Great Salt Marsh. (8 or 17 miles)

Plum Island and the Parker River Wildlife Refuge

This 8-mile ride takes us through historic neighborhoods to the South Green in Newbury. We continue past Old Town Hill into the heart of the Great Salt Marsh. A longer option adds 7 miles, continuing along Historic Route 1A to Rowley and back.