Massachusetts · Mountain biking · Near Newburyport

Dark Tower

0.2 mi
round trip
199 ft
climb
Out and back
route
Apr–Oct
best months

Dark Tower is a short, steep mountain biking route in Massachusetts, about 1.8 miles from Manchester-by-the-Sea. The climb is an out-and-back of roughly 0.4 miles, with a total gain of about 200 feet. The route is back-loaded, meaning the steepest part comes at the end of the climb, and the steepest grade reaches about 9% at around 0.08 miles. The most comfortable months for riding are typically July and August, when typical highs reach about 80°F and lows sit near 60°F, based on averages from a nearby weather station in Beverly. Winters are cold, with January highs around 37°F and a few snow days each month from December through February. Several other mountain biking spots sit within a short distance. Stu & Erin's is about 0.1 mile away, Bullseye and Stupid Trail are each about 0.2 mile away, and Tombstone is about 0.4 mile away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Camp Pinehurst

    Campground

    Campground · 1.7 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Woodman's

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 2 mi
  • If it rainsJohn Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Essex Shipbuilding Museum

    Museum

    On your way back · 2 mi

    Maritime museum in Essex, Massachusetts

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)

More in Newburyport
  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Dark Tower

    Best months: April–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      37° / 18°

      11 wet · 4 snow

    2. Feb

      39° / 18°

      10 wet · 5 snow

    3. Mar

      45° / 25°

      11 wet · 3 snow

    4. Apr

      57° / 33°

      11 wet

    5. May

      66° / 44°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      75° / 54°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      80° / 60°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      79° / 58°

      9 wet

    9. Sep

      72° / 51°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      61° / 40°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      51° / 31°

      11 wet · 1 snow

    12. Dec

      42° / 24°

      11 wet · 2 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Beverly, MA, 4 mi away at 65 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors