AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Riley Conservation Area

Balancing Rock via South Loop Trail

5.7 mi · ▲ 422 ft · 2 hr 7 min

Balancing Rock via South Loop Trail is a 5.7-mile out-and-back in Riley Conservation Area near Wampum Rock, MA. The route reaches Balancing Rock at the turnaround, 2.9 miles in. It climbs 422 ft. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi203 – 361 ft6.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.03044, -71.32846
Nearest town Wampum Rock, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Balancing Rock via South Loop Trail

5.7 mi · ▲ 422 ft · 2 hr 7 min

Elevation 205–362 ft

Out & Back · Riley Conservation Area

Trailhead: 42.03044, -71.32846

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 82°F / low 63° · precip 0% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:02 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 150 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  3. 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  4. 0.3 miBear right, heading SE.
  5. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  6. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  7. 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  8. 350 ftTurn left, heading S.
  9. 150 ftBear right, heading SW.
  10. 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  11. 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  12. 100 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  13. 1.9 miTurn right, heading SE.
  14. 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  15. 50 ftBear right onto Sunrise Hill Trail, heading SE.
  16. 450 ftBear right onto South Loop Trail, heading SE.
  17. 400 ftReach Balancing Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 350 ftBear left onto Sunrise Hill Trail, heading S.
  19. 450 ftBear left, heading S.
  20. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  21. 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  22. 1.9 miTurn right, heading NW.
  23. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  24. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  25. 250 ftBear left, heading N.
  26. 200 ftTurn right, heading N.
  27. 300 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  28. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  29. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  30. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  31. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
  32. 250 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  33. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/balancing-rock-out-back-9-km-8b0a

Trail surface

7% dirt2% gravel91% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 82°F63°
Precip0%Wind7 mphUV8Humidity77%
Rained 0.8″ yesterday (1.3″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
85°60°
Sunrise 5:42 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:02 PM
Wed 82°63°
Thu 86°70° 33%
Fri 95°71° 26%
Sat 94°70° 35%
Sun 95°71° 20%
Mon 96°72° 17%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~26 min). Leave by 7:16 PM for the 8:02 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:40 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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Hikes near Wampum Rock, Massachusetts