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Stoney Cove and Presson Point

Stoney Cove and Presson Point with your dog: Gloucester's river trail

Most drivers know Stoney Cove only as the salt marsh beside Route 128 at the entrance to Gloucester. Behind it sits a small Greenbelt reservation with a hill, two points and a stone pier. Here is what Greenbelt asks of a dog, what the short trail covers, and how the spring herring run and the tide shape a visit.

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A man sits on a blanket by a river holding a tennis ball up for a yellow Labrador.

Last reviewed October 10, 2026 · by the Dogtown team · rules checked for fall 2026

The rule

Dog walking is a listed activity, under Greenbelt's leash-where-required guideline

Greenbelt's property page lists dog walking alongside birdwatching, fishing, hiking, paddling and winter recreation. Its Trail Safety Guidelines set the terms for dog walkers: leash dogs where required and follow posted guidelines, which may vary by property and season; bag the waste and take it with you rather than leaving bags on or beside the trail; keep your dog from approaching wildlife, horses, other dogs or people uninvited; and recall and hold your dog when others pass.

Greenbelt's standing policies add a few more lines for dog owners: carry a leash, leash an aggressive dog, never leave a dog unattended, keep noise down and stop any digging. Greenbelt opens all its land from sunrise to sunset. The reservation is in Gloucester, whose dog regulations page says a dog must always remain under the control of its owner or keeper, and our page on Gloucester's leash law covers the city ordinance itself.

  • Dog walking: listed by Greenbelt
  • Leash where required or posted, and carry one always
  • Waste bagged and carried out, never left beside the trail
  • Open sunrise to sunset

The walk

1.1 miles over Hodson Hill and out to Presson Point and Susan's Point

Greenbelt's 2022 map shows a short network rather than one loop. From the kiosk at the Route 128 pullout, the trail climbs over Hodson Hill, with a scenic viewpoint above the cove near the stone pier, then crosses a short boardwalk and loops out around Presson Point and Susan's Point, with a second viewpoint at the tip of Susan's Point. The terrain is rated moderate. At 1.1 miles in all, even a walk down every spur is short, which suits an older dog or a slow, sniffing one.

Greenbelt describes a forest in mid-change: old pasture giving way to poplar and juniper, then hickory, oak and maple, with red maples in the wet ground and a freshwater marsh slowly filling in. The stone pier is where people fish, birdwatch and picnic, and the map marks a paddle launch beside it. Clammers still work the Little River flats. Private land borders the reservation along Saville Road and Presson Point Road, so keep to the trails.

Parking

One pullout off busy Route 128, just before the stone pier

Greenbelt's directions come down to one sentence: park in the pullout off Route 128 just before the stone pier. It is the only parking the property page gives, and it sits beside a highway, so the order of things matters. Clip the leash on inside the car, open the door away from traffic if you can, and walk straight to the kiosk. Greenbelt's map shows Exit 54 just to the west of the pullout.

Do not try the side streets instead. The map shows private land along Saville Road and Presson Point Road, Greenbelt lists no other access, and a car parked in front of a neighbor's house does the next dog walker no favors. If the pullout is full, come back later or pick another Gloucester walk for the day; Tompson Street Reservation in West Gloucester has several small lots, and Dogtown Common is a short drive away.

  1. 01

    Clip on the leash before you leave the car

  2. 02

    Pull into the Route 128 pullout just before the stone pier

  3. 03

    Walk from the kiosk over Hodson Hill, keeping your dog off the marsh edge

  4. 04

    Cross the boardwalk and follow the loop around Presson Point and Susan's Point

  5. 05

    Give anyone fishing on the pier or the points plenty of room

  6. 06

    Carry every bag back to the car and check for ticks before you drive

When to go

The herring run in late April and early May, and the mud flats at low tide

Greenbelt notes that the Little River supports a herring run in late April to early May, and that gulls and river otters gather to feed on the fish then. It is a lively few weeks for a dog's nose. Keep the leash short near the stream and the shoreline, and let the otters and birds eat in peace, since Greenbelt's guidelines ask walkers not to let a dog approach wildlife. Coyote, skunk and deer tracks show up near the streambed too.

At low tide the flats draw shorebirds and clammers, and they are no place for a dog: soft mud, shell and channels that fill again as the tide turns. Keep to the trail and the points. Ticks are active on Cape Ann from April to November, and grassy edges by the marsh are just where they wait. For anyone hiking with a dog, Greenbelt's list of essentials includes a K9 rescue sling along with water, a whistle and a first-aid kit.

  • Late April to early May: herring run, otters and gulls
  • Low tide: stay off the flats
  • April to November: a tick check at the car
  • Any season: room for anglers and clammers

Weekdays

A short river walk for the weekend, and a Dogtown walker for the busy days

A 1.1-mile trail is a weekend stroll, not a daily outlet for a young dog. On the weekdays you cannot get out, our at-home walks start at your door: 20 minutes for $25, 30 minutes for $35 or 60 for $55, always solo, with a photo and a note after each walk. A 10-pack of 20-minute walks is $225. Coverage depends on the address and the season, so ask us whether we cover yours.

Every walking dog starts with the free evaluation at 210 Eastern Ave, on a weekday between 6:30 and 9:30 AM, with Rabies, DHPP and Bordetella records and a current license; Gloucester licenses come from the City Clerk at 9 Dale Ave. If a playgroup suits your dog better than a walk, a full daycare day is $42, and the Pup Van collects anywhere in Gloucester for $10 each way.

At Dogtown

For the other five days

Solo walks from your Gloucester door with a photo after each one, and daycare days with Pup Van pick-up.

Dogtown walker and dog on a coastal trail at sunrise in Gloucester Dog WalkingNewFrom $25 · Explore Husky standing on the turf play yard at Dogtown, looking at the camera Dog DaycareFrom $33 · Explore

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Asked and answered

Questions people ask about this

Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.

Can I walk my dog at Stoney Cove in Gloucester?
Yes. Essex County Greenbelt lists dog walking at Stoney Cove and Presson Point. Its guidelines ask you to leash where required, keep your dog from approaching wildlife or people uninvited, and bag the waste and carry it out. Like all Greenbelt land, it is open from sunrise to sunset.
Where do I park for Stoney Cove and Presson Point?
In the pullout off Route 128 just before the stone pier, according to Greenbelt; it is the only parking the property page lists. Because the pullout sits beside the highway, leash your dog before the car door opens. The streets around the reservation border private land, so do not park there.
How long is the trail at Stoney Cove?
Greenbelt lists 1.1 miles of trails on 53 acres, over moderate terrain. Its map shows paths over Hodson Hill, a short boardwalk and a loop around Presson Point and Susan's Point, with two scenic viewpoints. Walking all of it at a dog's pace still makes a short outing.
When is the herring run at Stoney Cove?
Greenbelt says the Little River's herring run comes in late April to early May, when gulls and river otters gather to feed on the fish. It is a good time to visit with binoculars and a dog on a short leash. Keep your dog away from the stream and out of the water while the fish are running.

More questions? Read the full FAQ

Sources

Rules and dates change. We re-check every beach, licensing and ordinance page each spring and fall; the source above is the current word.

Keep reading

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Next step

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Book a free evaluation on a weekday between 6:30 and 9:30 AM, then set up solo at-home walks from $25 or a daycare day.

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