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Rafes Chasm Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 235 Google reviews · Running trail in Gloucester, Massachusetts · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Rafes Chasm Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Kid-friendly park featuring sea views, a short trail to the shore, and rocks that are fun to climb around.
What runners say about Rafes Chasm Park
“The rocky area right by the water offers stunning views of the harbor off the Massachusetts coast — I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”
Don't be mistaken by the Google address as this will take you to a Private property. The entry to this park is through 140 Hesperus Ave and you can see a small parking available here. A small walk through the trees and then you can see the magnificent rocks along the water.
Beautiful location overlooking the ocean, it's a short walk from the parking area to the cliffs. The only draw back is limited parking so Definitely get there early to beat the hustle and bustle of the other visitors.
Nice views of the ocean. Its a short walk through the woods. Parking area is off the side of the road; space fits 6 vehicles. Come when the sun is out for scenic photos.
This was a beautiful spot to bring my family! We'd flown into Boston, and I wanted to stop somewhere along the coast before we went on to Vermont. My family initially didn't want to stop, but once we did, they were glad for it! After we found the small parking area, we had a short walk on the path through the woods.
Trail conditions & character
“The rocky area right by the water offers stunning views of the harbor off the Massachusetts coast — I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”
“There is a short trek through a wooded area from the parking lot, which opens to the rocky shoreline.”
“The rocky area right by the water offers stunning views of the harbor off the Massachusetts coast — I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”
Plan your run at Rafes Chasm Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
Hours
| Monday | 7 am–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am–9 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am–9 pm |
| Friday | 7 am–9 pm |
| Saturday | 7 am–9 pm |
| Sunday | 7 am–9 pm |
Running trails near Gloucester
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