Congratulations to all the 2017 graduates including dogs who mastered puppy kindergarten, to humans who earned their college degrees, and everyone in between!  Before setting out to conquer the world, we suggest taking a hike at Dogtown Woods in Gloucester, Massachusetts.  There recent graduates will find solid advice along the Babson Boulder Trail.

Dogtown Common is not your average dog friendly hike. It is an adventure! Comprised of 3,600 acres, the trails wind their way through the abandoned community of Dogtown, past eighteenth century cellar holes, through overgrown apple orchards, and along forgotten rock wall lined roads. In addition, hidden amongst the dense woods are large boulders that were carved during the 1930s with inspirational mottos.  During the Great Depression, Roger Babson who founded Babson College, hired unemployed stonecutters to carve over 20 words on the boulders scattered throughout Dogtown.  As Roger Babson explained in his 1935 memoir, “My family says that I am defacing the boulders and disgracing the family with these inscriptions, but the work gives me a lot of satisfaction, fresh air, exercise and sunshine.  I am really trying to write a simple book with words carved in stone instead of paper.”  When this Works Projects Administration project was completed the immense boulders were located in a cleared field.  However, over time, nature has reclaimed this field, making the Babson Boulder Trail a fascinating scavenger hunt through the dense woods to rediscover these important life lessons carved in stone.

The following are just a few of the mottos found on the Babson Word Rocks that are good reminders for everyone:

Just as Roger Babson enjoyed fresh air, sunshine and exercise at Dogtown, we hope you do too!  The Babson Boulder Trail at Dogtown Woods in Gloucester, MA is one of our favorite places to hike.  Dogs are allowed off leash, under voice control.  The trails are not well marked.  Nor are the inspirational boulders easily seen along the main trail.  Maps are available at the trailhead, and are a valuable tool when when exploring the extensive trails at Dogtown.  To plan your own inspirational hike along the Babson Boulder Trail, including directions, please visit our Dogtown Woods post located on our Dog Trails page.  Also, for those you who already conquered this trail and are looking for more places to explore, check out our Dog Friendly Places page.