Cedar Swamp, Manchester-by-the-Sea MA

• 3-star hike
• 2 mile part-loop
• Moderate | Gain 160 feet
• Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA | Northeast
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On the boardwalk trail spanning the Cedar Swamp.

This hike begins with an easy stroll. From the parking lot, head south on a wide flat double-track trail that offers a forgiving comfortable way to warm up your legs. Before long, bear right onto the Founders Boardwalk, which carries you across Cedar Swamp. When we visited in late summer, the lush vegetation crowded in closely on both sides, making views of the swamp somewhat scarce. You will likely spend more time admiring the surrounding greenery at arm's length rather than than gazing across open water and marshland.

The boardwalk eventually leads into the Millstone Hill Conservation Area, where the trail network opens up. We chose a loop combining the Cedar Swamp Trail with the Prospect Ledge Trail. Despite its name, the Cedar Swamp Trail offers no further swamp views, but it delivers pleasant hiking under cover of forest. The path winds through the trees at an easy pace, with enough variety underfoot to keep things interesting.

Trail Options Expand KMZ · Google Earth ·

⬤ 4★ Cedar Swamp & Millstone Hill 1.7 mi part-loop, moderate, gain 160 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions GPX?

P Free parking

Switching to Prospect Ledge Trail introduces a modest rocky climb and a continuing woodland walk. The trail leads to Millstone Hill, a broad sunlit granite dome, ringed with mature trees that obscure the possibility of any distant views.

This trail is just one small part of the 1,300 acres of open space protected by the Manchester-Essex Conservation Trust, leaving plenty of neighboring land to explore on a future visit. Free parking is located in a larger lot on the side of School Street.

A sunny, elevated view of a swamp featuring dark water densely covered with green lily pads in the foreground, bordered by vibrant green trees, brush, and a distant blue pond under a clear blue sky.

One of few swamp views from the boardwalk.

A person wearing a red shirt and grey pants walks away from the camera along a rugged, sunlit woodland path flanked by tall slender trees and a large rounded boulder on the right.

Hiking the woodland Prospect Ledge Trail.

A thick cluster of brownish grasses rises from the dark water of a pond, surrounded by numerous floating green lily pads and a few small white blossoms under bright sunlight.

Lilly pads and flowers in the pond.

External links:
Manchester-Essex Conservation Trust area map

Trailspotting nearby:
4★ Danvers-Topsfield Rail Trail (11 mi)
4★ Wenham-Danvers Swamp Walk (1 mi)
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