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    Stage Fort Park

    3.8 (28 reviews)

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    Nice sign
    Brian S.

    Beaches lights and history Stage Fort Park is the place where the very first settlers of Gloucester came ashore back in 1630.. They even have a huge boulder with a plaque on it to remember the occasion. The park is a whole lot more than just a part of history. One of those parks that seems to have everything. Two beaches, Half Moon and Cressy, are located within the park and although not the greatest beaches in the world they are nice places to walk in the cold weather and nice for a refreshing, and I mean really refreshing, dip in the water in the summer. That water temp is numbing even in the warmest weather. The park also has a nice playground, some ball fields and a whole lot of room for picnics and even weddings. Dogs are allowed as long as you clean up after them and public bathrooms are available. One of the problems with the park is that they kill you for parking. I believe the last I heard it was fifteen bucks. But I always go in the off season so I don't have to worry about the parking fee. And even if you go in the summer you can always find on street parking for free as long as you are willing to walk a bit. A very cool park that lovely views of the ocean and you can even see Eastern Point Lighthouse in the distance. A wonderful place to enjoy the sea breezes and catch up on your history.

    Wendy B.

    A cozy park with great views, lots of shade, extensive playground, and a small beach nested in a cove. Clean toilets and changing rooms, but this place has no shower for body or feet. Did get a few mosquito bites at the playground, but it was okay. Beach cove offers great fun hunting for crabs and hermit crabs. Seaweeds in the water. No waves. The sandy beach is partially shaded and that is a plus for those who want to have a break from the sun while still enjoying the beach. No need for umbrellas! Parking is $10/day. Parking outside the park is free for an hour if you want to drop off and pick up people. The sign says there are no lifeguards, but there were actually two lifeguards on duty. Mainly their job is to tell the boys to not jump off the rocks into the water. This is a low-danger swimming place. We would definitely come back here again.

    Large rock for rock climbing. Where's the grass!?

    You might call this 'The Dust Bowl!' Broken glass everywhere, no green grass due to no sprinkler system and lack of shade by natural trees. To add insult to this place, they charge $20 for parking with large signs stating "ABSOLUTELY NO REFUNDS". Interesting. I'm sure many have been duped into coming here only to quickly regret like we did. Don't bother. Save your $$ and take a trek over to Wingaersheek beach or Good Harbor. There seems to be a beach although we didn't stay long enough to venture down to it. Maybe that's this parks saving grace. Who knows.

    This rock is huge!! Pictures do not do it justice. I was shocked at how large this is.

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    4 years ago

    so much to offer at this place. there are multiple different ocean views and paths to check out. amazing vibes.

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    9 years ago

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    15 years ago

    The beach was small and dirty. $15 to park- Crane Beach is well worth the $25 compared to this. I will NEVER go here again.

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    11 years ago

    Nice small quiet beach. Little bit if sand, but rocks to explore and jump off off. We had a great time

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    12 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Stage Fort Park

    Review Highlights - Stage Fort Park

    But I always go in the off season so I don't have to worry about the parking fee.

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    Stacy Boulevard Park - The drawbridge up

    Stacy Boulevard Park

    (6 reviews)

    Simply an amazing park to walk, run or ride your bike. You have a beautiful water view along the…read morepark. The landscaping is absolutely beautiful-all types of Dahlias planted along the park with other types of flowers as well. Such a beautiful pop of color with all those flowers. In addition they had a few statues along the way which paid tribute to their sailing past and present. This park is definitely a place the community comes to. It was nice to just take a stroll and sit and look out into the harbor. By the way when we visited there was plenty of street parking available, definitely a plus.

    What a fabulous place to stroll by the shore! We were up in town for a day trip…read more The landscaping is fabulous to look at; beautiful garden beds in color blocked themes: purple, orange, yellow, and more. There are quite a few statues along the walk, including one that is a memorial to the wives and children of sailors out to sea. There's a nice, wide path to walk on and as we did, we observed many people walking together with their dogs, babies in strollers, jogging, kids on razor scooters, bikes, etc. The atmosphere was very friendly and the views were stunning. There are plenty of benches where one could just sit and people-watch or enjoy the sounds of the ocean. We enjoyed watching the drawbridge go up a few times so that boats could pass through to/from the harbor. This is some place we'd walk at frequently if we lived in the area.

    Ravenswood Park - Nice raised walkway to avoid the swamp :-)

    Ravenswood Park

    (17 reviews)

    This is one of my favorite places in Gloucester. I've been coming here since I was a kid; back…read morethen, we only walked the main trail and didn't do very much hiking. When I rediscovered it, I was surprised how many little trails there are! If you're directionally challenged, like me, you'll probably want to pick up a map before you start walking. The parking lot is pretty small and fills up quickly. Even when it's full, though, I rarely run into other people walking the trails. I love coming here to just pretend I'm in the middle of nowhere, away from all traces of human life... this is the one place I'm happy to be alone, with no music, no kind of stimulation besides the woods. Is there anything better than listening to leaves/branches crunch under your feet, the wind through the trees, the faint sounds of squirrels running on the ground? I think not. Best of all, the trails are easy enough for most people. There are many short trails that connect to longer ones, so if you find it too easy, you can just keep going. I tend to walk longer than I should and end up sore the next day-- but it's always worth it.

    What a great park for the north shore!!!…read more We struggle to find places our dog is allowed off leash- so this place is a saving grace!!!! Love that you can spend just an hour or a whole day, since there are so many trails. Not a ton of hills or anything, but the occasionally slight ascent / descent. Followed the yellow and blue trails last time (can't remember the names) and there were a few very unavoidable muddy patches, so make sure you have some footwear you don't mind getting dirty. If you plug it into google maps you may get routed to some awkward non-entrance (we had this problem). Make sure you check Yelp or the Maps app (on iPhone) for the actual entrance. As others mentioned, small parking lot with plenty of street parking. Can't wait to go back!

    Eastern Point Lighthouse - Gorgeous views of the water

    Eastern Point Lighthouse

    (10 reviews)

    If you're in Gloucester and looking for something non-beachy to do, I recommend checking out…read moreEastern Point Lighthouse and walking across the breakwater to Dog Bar Lighthouse. First, you have to turn onto a private street lined with ridiculously beautiful mansions that you will never be able to afford in your lifetime and possibly your children's, staffed by a security guard (tell him you're here to see the lighthouse). After you drive past the private beach and the yacht club, all bedecked with No Trespassing and Private Entry Only signs to make you feel as unwelcome and plebian as possible by the 1% of Gloucester, you'll see the parking turn-off for the lighthouse. There, we met a very kind lady from Mass Audubon who explained the various migrational birds roaming around the area. You can't actually see or tour the lighthouse because it's fenced around and, from a distance, looks a little worse for wear. But looping around the side across some rocks, you can hop onto the jetty and stroll around and take in the sights. Great spot for photographers. It was beating down with zero shade and we forgot to put on sunscreen before heading out so we did a quick out-and-back but otherwise, it'd be a neat area to sit. $10 fee per vehicle (cash or QR code). No fee if you walk in. Definitely wear close-toed shoes; sandals or flip-flops on slippery rocks are a recipe for disaster. Also, watch out for poison ivy along the path to the jetty.

    Beware: This is not a polished tourist destination. Only visit if you're looking for a bit of…read moreadventure. To get to the Eastern Point Lighthouse, you have to turn down a road marked as private. (Apparently it isn't, really?) Then, you pass some other unwelcoming signs. Then you finally get to a small gravel parking lot with a sign that says "All are welcome!" The lighthouse isn't operational or open for tours. It's surrounded by fencing that makes it look condemned. But, if you walk through some sand and rocks along the water and then do a small bit of rock climbing, you can get a good view of an iconic lighthouse. When I visited, it was freezing rain and very windy. When I climbed up on the rocks to take a picture, the winds up there were so strong I was worried they'd blow my phone out of my hand. Combined with the sense that I was almost trespassing, it was oddly thrilling. There's not enough going on to warrant a long trip, but if you're in the area, want a fun diversion, and are fine driving down narrow, possibly private roads to a small gravel parking lot before navigating sandy, rocky, seaweedy tidewaters to see something iconic, it's a worthwhile diversion.

    Stage Fort Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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