North Shore cycling tour

This former cycling tour of the Massachusetts North Shore was developed for Road Scholar, and is based in Ipswich and Newburyport, Massachusetts. The routes for the daily rides are provided below.

Ipswich rides

Ipswich rides start from the Ipswich Inn at the intersection of North Main St. and East St.

To the Windmills and about Ipswich

Cape Ann ride (35 miles)

This ride takes participants to Manchester by the Sea and the rocky Atlantic shoreline in quaint Magnolia, then circles back past glacial erratics in West Gloucester. View the 32/37 mile route with Crane Beach option

Essex and Crane Beach (17 mi.)

This relaxed ride from the Ipswich Inn takes us along wooded back roads to historic Essex, one of colonial America’s first ship-building towns..

The Ipswich River Sanctuary and Topsfield (40 miles)

Ipswich River and Topsfield (22 miles)

Ride 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 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. From Topsfield, you can add on the Topsfield-Danvers Rail Trail, a stone dust trail from Topsfield to Danvers through the Great Wenham Swamp.

Wednesday: Jeffreys Neck and Crane Beach

The ride to Jeffrey’s Neck crosses the Great Salt Marsh and enjoy a spectacular view of Plum Island, Cape Ann, and the Atlantic. View the Jeffreys Neck Ride

Ipswich to Newburyport (one way)

This ride takes you to Newburyport for two nights at the Essex Inn.

Ipswich to Salem

Starting from the Ipswich Inn Crossing the harbor to historic Salem. The return takes us through Beverly and Hamilton on our return to Ipswich. View the 32-mile route

Newburyport rides

These rides start at the Essex Street Inn in Newburyport. MA.

Plum Island and Parker River Wildlife Refuge

Cross the bridge to Plum Island for a visit to the Parker River Wildlife Refuge, then return to Newburyport. You may wish to stop at the Joppa Flats Audubon Center. View the 16-mile Plum Island route

The Artichoke Reservoirs and Merrimack River (16 mi)

The rural roads outside of Newburyport in Newbury and West Newbury are some of the most beautiful and less-travelled 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.

Artichoke Reservoirs and Merrimack River (23 mi)

Newbury and the Great Salt Marsh

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.