Ipswich to Salem Advanced Level MTB Adventure

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Ipswich, MA, US

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Route Overview

All Day Adventures

Hiking, Cyclo-Cross, MTB, Fat Bike, Road Bike: in Eastern Mass, and New England www.AllDayAdventures.org

33 mi.

1,585 ft.

30+ mile ride through 7 different parks. Advanced Level MTB Ride. 85% of this ride is Real Single-tracks.

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Route Details

The **Ipswich to Salem  MTB Adventure Ride** is a long advanced level mountain bike ride that connects 7 of the best parks on the North Shore.

[**www.AllDayAdventures.org**](https://www.alldayadventures.org)

**About the Ride:** This is a 30+ mile Advanced Level Mountain Bike Ride. This ride has more than 75% real Single-tracks and rugged terrains.

**Ride Equipment:**   Full-Suspension bike, Mountain bike, or Fat bike is recommended.  A cycle-cross bike is your last choice because of the trail systems in some parks are more difficult than the rest of the ride, and does require suspension. There is no place to stop for food/water, or bike parts on this ride. Expect 4-8 hours for this ride.  Pack 100 oz water, and FOOD. Like a sandwich. This ride burns 3500 - 4000 calories.

**Riding the Route:**  This ride makes use of the MBTA Train system to start your ride.  The 2 mile road ride to the forest starts at the Ipswich Train Station, heads over to Washington Street, which will take you to Pine Swamp Road. The @poi[trail head](1969481) will be at the end of this road, at a small dirt parking lot with room for 4 cars.

Immediately you will climb to the top of Bartholomew Hill, and one hell of a fast down hill blast.  The trails in Willowdale forest feature a good mix of difficult and fun single-track trails.  Few scattered fire roads, but you are not on them for long.  Have fun in this forest, the trails are known for being Fast.

At @poi[Mile 9](1969482), you will approach @photo[Ipswich Road](1637097), and the crossing to the Bradley Palmer Reservation.  Once across the @photo[foot bridge](1637098), you travel along the flat @photo[river trail](1637099), to get back of the park. There is an option to go straight up Blueberry Hill, if you wish.  But the downhill is not worth the climb. There is no single-track descent.  The route takes you on some back trails that will properly line up for the next park.

Near @poi[Mile 12](1969484), you will enter what looks like a private driveway. Follow this driveway up the hill, and just before the main house, there will be a trail to your left with a small green sign that denotes the Hamilton Heritage Trail.  Get on this and keep your eyes open for these green trail guides.  At one point, you will shy away from this trail, and get on the single-tracks.   If you are successful following this route, you will cross the train tracks and continue on for a while. If you miss your turn, you will end up on Cutler Road. If this happens, you can just continue down and re-join the route. On the other side of the tracks, there is a private farm, do not trespass on this property. If you see a sign that says this, you missed another turn.

From here it is a quick 2 miles to the Gordon College Woods. This is where you will be schooled.  You are about to hit some of the most technical singletrack riding of the day for the remainder of your ride.

There is a @photo[back road](1637100) entrance @poi[here](1969485) that will take you into this park at Mile 16.  The first 2 miles of this are just the warm up, the trails are about to get a lot more technical, after you pass the ponds.
Shift-lever is the trail that takes you out of this park, to cross under Rt 128 where you gain access to the next park.

At @poi[Mile 20](1969486), you will be on Pine Street. Just after you cross under the highway, you will see a drainage culvert coming down the hill from the Highway.  You want to go up this and ride along Rt 128 for about 100 yards.  The trail system at Wyman Hill is very technical. I have selected a good balance of less technical trails with a few fun parts put in.  If you explore alternate trails, you are on your own.  Some real nasty stuff out there. Plan ahead if you are going off the route.  You may get lost.

@poi[Mile 24](1969487) puts you in the woods at Greenwood Ave. (AKA: Beverly Commons)  While there are many very technical trail in this park too, I have actually selected a few good ones for you.  But this already has been a long ride, so I keep riding in this park to under 3 miles.

The back roads from this park, take you over to a quick @poi[cut-through park](1969487) with about ½ mile of trails.
This wraps up your ride. It is about 5 miles back to Salem from here, all on the road.  Most likely you will be wiped out by this point and will welcome the road ride.

Ipswich to Salem Advanced Level MTB Adventure

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