Beverly Commons Conservation Area with your dog: 13 miles under the hemlocks

Greenbelt lists dog walking among the activities at Beverly Commons, with hiking, mountain biking, trail running, birdwatching, geocaching and winter recreation. Its dog policy applies on its land except where a property page says otherwise, and the Beverly Commons page adds no exception: carry a leash, leash aggressive dogs, control excessive noise, never leave a dog unattended, prevent digging, and pick up and carry out the waste. Greenbelt properties open at sunrise and close at sunset.

Its Trail Safety Guidelines go further: leash dogs where required, follow posted guidelines, which may vary by property and season, do not let a dog approach wildlife, horses, other dogs or people uninvited, and recall and restrain it when others approach. On this property that last line does the most work. About 288 of the 409 acres belong to the City of Beverly, so city signs carry weight too; read the kiosks that Greenbelt's map marks near the entrances before you start.

Most visitors come in from Greenwood Avenue, and Greenbelt's directions are specific: park to the right on Stone Ridge Road, and do not block the gate. From there a wide cart path leads in. Leash up before you leave the car on a residential street, and keep the dog close at the gate, where people and dogs come and go and a loose greeting can turn into a tangle of leashes.

The Webster Avenue entrance is the other choice, and Greenbelt describes it plainly: a narrow trail that climbs a steep hill, used by mountain bikers and some hikers, with parking along the side of the road. With a dog, that means a tight trail shared with bikes on the steepest stretch of the property. If your dog lunges at wheels, start from Greenwood Avenue instead, and keep the leash short wherever the trails carry bike traffic.

From Beverly, Route 128 runs north to its end in Gloucester, a short way from Dogtown at 210 Eastern Ave. After a wet loop of the Perimeter Trail, our bath and brush washes, dries and brushes the coat for $55 up to 25 pounds, $65 up to 50, $75 up to 90, $85 over 90 and $95 for an extra-large long coat. Grooming needs no evaluation, so you can book straight in online or in the app.

The Pup Van does not run to Beverly, so ask us about pick-up from your street. If your dog would rather spend a day in a playgroup than wait at home while you work, daycare is $42 for a full day after a free evaluation on a weekday between 6:30 and 9:30 AM, and the bath can be booked into the same day. We do not take dogs to Beverly Commons; the hemlocks are yours to walk.