Dog walking in Rockport

Downtown Rockport

Downtown Rockport is a pawsome place to enjoy a beautiful sunny day with your dog at your side. First, don't miss the unique experience of taking your dog along to browse dog-themed art at Good Dog! Gallery. The gallery doubles as a boutique with tons of cute accessories for your pup. Within a couple blocks' walk of Good Dog Gallery, you'll find two of the town's many dog-friendly restaurants, Top Dog and Roy Moore Lobster Co. Top Dog's menu includes fried seafood and themed hot dogs named after different dog breeds. You can enjoy amazingly fresh seafood on the deck at Roy Moore, which boasts a harbor view and welcomes well-mannered pups.

Cape Hedge

As with all beaches in the Rockport area, you can only bring your dog to the beaches in this neighborhood during the off-season between September 16 and May 30. If you're in town then, you can find two great beaches for on-leash walks here: Pebble Beach and Cape Hedge Beach. You can take your dog to the pawsome Delmater Sanctuary any time of year, which features a wide meadow, a cranberry bog, a pine grove, a scenic water tower, and one walking trail. You can find the trailhead for the Delmater Sanctuary Trail on South Street. You will need to keep your dog on a leash at all locations in this neighborhood and bring your own waste bags and water.

Ocean View / Pigeon Cove

On a clear day, you can see the mountains of Maine from the rocky shores of Halibut Point State Park. Several trails wind through the varied landscapes of the park, which lets you examine everything from tide pools to forests and marshes. You will need to keep your dog on a leash and bring your own waste bags and water. Just down the street from the park, you can enjoy fresh seafood with an amazing view at Lobster Pool, a seasonal restaurant with dog-friendly outdoor seating. The picnic tables next to the sea are a great place to watch the sunset and refuel after a day spent at Halibut Point State Park.

East Gloucester/ Bass Rocks

Just west of the Cape Hedge neighborhood in Rockport lies East Gloucester. Like the beaches of Cape Hedge, the beaches here do not allow dogs during the main tourist season. However, you can bring your dog to Good Harbor Beach from October 1 to April 30. You can even let them off the leash on even-numbered days! Remember to bring your own waste bags and water. At low tide, you and your furry friend can walk across the sandbar to explore Salt Island. And is there a better way to end a day spent splashing in the salty sea than eating some pizza? You can enjoy a slice with your pup at the outdoor tables at Surfside Subs and Pizza just a little east of the beach.

Magnolia/ West Gloucester

The western side of Gloucester hosts the area's only off-leash dog park. The Gloucester Dog Park is located within Stage Fort Park on Gloucester's Western Harbor. It has separate areas for large and small dogs, waste bags, and water fountains. It also includes a canine obstacle course. You'll have to keep your dog on a leash throughout the rest of the park (except the beach areas, where dogs are prohibited). Walking trails wind through grassy and shaded areas to the Cupboard, an in-park restaurant that sells everything from fried clams to ice cream. Enjoy your food at dog-friendly outdoor tables or carry it anywhere you like in the park for a picnic. Nearby Ravenswood Park has no off-leash areas but boasts 600 acres of hemlock forests and magnolia swamps criss-crossed by an extensive trail network. Remember to bring your own waste bags and water.