About Stavros Reservation

74 acres

Enjoy an easy ascent to a coastal hilltop that rewards you with panoramic views of Crane Beach and the Essex River estuary.

What makes Stavros Reservation a special place?
While most of this reservation protects more than 50 acres of salt marsh, its most popular feature is Whites Hill, a coastal drumlin that offers unobstructed views of Crane Beach, the Crane Wildlife Refuge, and Halibut Point.

A loop trail leads you along a field and up the hillside to a broad, open meadow. Here stands the fieldstone base of a 50-foot, three-level tower built by Lamont G. Burnham in the 1880s. It was said that, in its day, the structure was used as a pumping tower to supply water to the Burnham farm. It’s also rumored that a sentinel stationed in the tower would look for coal barges belonging to Mr. Burnham rounding Halibut Point. When the signal came, Mr. Burnham would ride a fast horse to Newburyport to put a price on the cargo.

As you loop back down the hill, you’ll trek through a thicket of Devil's walking stick, broken only by a small hillside clearing that offers views over the salt marshes to Castle Hill.

Trails
3/4-mile trail. Moderate hiking.

When to Visit
Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. Allow a minimum of ½ hour.

Regulations & Advisories

• Tick Warning: Be sure to check for ticks (which can transmit Lyme Disease) after visiting the reservation. Long-sleeve shirts and long pants recommended.
  
  
• Mountain biking is not allowed.

Directions

Island Road
Essex, MA
Telephone: 978.526.8687
E-mail: neregion@ttor.org

Get directions on Google Maps.

From Rt. 128 Exit 15, take School St. north (becomes Southern Ave.) for 3.1 mi. until it ends at Rt. 133. Turn left and follow for 2 mi. through Essex Center. Immediately after the Cape Ann Golf Course, turn right onto Island Rd. Entrance and roadside parking on right.

Admission

When to Visit
Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. Allow a minimum of ½ hour.

Admission
FREE to all

Property History

Property Acquisition History
Original acreage a gift of Mary F. Stavros in 1982. Additional land purchased in 1985.

Volunteer Opportunities

Work Parties

Maps and Resources

At present, a downloadable trail map is not available for Stavros Reservation.

Planning Your Visit

Travel Links
Cape Ann Whale Watch
Cape Ann.com
Essex National Heritage Area
Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce
North Shore Chamber of Commerce

Before You Go
We encourage you to visit as many Trustees properties as you can.

Wherever your travels take you, please observe all posted regulations, follow special instructions from property staff, and keep in mind the Stewardship Code:

• Protect wildlife and plants.
• Guard against all risk of fire.
• Help keep air and water clean.
• Carry out what you carry in.
• Use marked footpaths and bridle paths.
• Leave livestock, crops, and machinery alone.
• Respect the privacy of neighboring land.
• Enjoy and share the landscape with others.

Click on links below for further visitor information:

Before Setting Out

Enjoying Trustees Reservations

Safety

About Hunting on Trustees of Reservations Land

Tell Us What You Think

We’d love to hear about your visit. Click here to take our visitor survey. If you have a question for us about this reservation, you can use this form to send it to us, too.

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