Balance Rock–Carter Pond, 5 sights is a 1.1-mile out-and-back in Rock House Reservation near Ware, MA. The route passes Carter Pond and Balance Rock. It is mostly level, with 115 ft of elevation gain. It scores 11/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi794 – 925 ft1.3 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Outer Loop 42.26884, -72.19840
Nearest town Ware, MA
Directions
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Balance Rock–Carter Pond, 5 sights
1.1 mi · ▲ 115 ft · 25 min
Elevation 795–924 ft
Out & Back · Rock House Reservation
Trailhead: Outer Loop · 42.26884, -72.19840
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:35 AM · sunset 6:52 PM
Dogs allowed · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 50 ftPass Carter Pond.
- 350 ftBear left onto Pond Trail, heading E.
- 250 ftBear left onto Outer Loop, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left onto Pond Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miPass Balance Rock.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Fire Road, heading N.
- 200 ftBear right onto Outer Loop, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left onto Fire Road, heading E.
- 0.2 miReach Balance Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftBear left onto Fullam Trail, heading E.
- 250 ftBear right, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Outer Loop, heading SE.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Pond Trail, heading W.
- 300 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 100 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Weather
Sunrise 6:35 AMSunset 6:52 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~8 min). Leave by 6:24 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:12 PM — 7 min before dark.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed
- Parking lot at the trailhead
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Hikes near Ware, Massachusetts