Ravenswood Park

Explore a shrouded landscape of hemlock groves, a magnolia swamp, and other trees species where you’ll find remnants of Colonial habitation. Ravenswood Park offers 600 acres for solitude and quiet contemplation of nature. Whether you prefer to surround yourself with snow-covered hemlocks, experience spring emerging in a burst of color and aroma, or escape the summer’s heat you’ll find a refuge here. The park is a testament to one man’s conservationist philosophy, and to all those who have cared for this special place. With 10 miles of carriage paths and trails that meander through the park, you can find plenty of room to picnic, bird watch, walk, cross-country ski, and simply appreciate the outdoors. Children love the Ledge Hill Trail a 2-mile round-trip walk among magical-looking, fern-covered boulders. A plaque marks the spot in the woods where naturalist Mason “The Hermit” Walton built his cabin in the 1880s. You don’t want to miss trekking to the overlook to Gloucester Harbor or traversing the boardwalk through the Great Magnolia Swamp, home to native sweetbay magnolias (Magnolia virginiana).