Porter Lake–Forest Park Viewpoint, 4 lakes is a 2-mile out-and-back in Forest Park near Forest Park, MA. The route passes Porter Lake, Forest Park Viewpoint and Fountain Lake before reaching Barney Pond at the turnaround, 1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 176 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Porter Lake–Forest Park Viewpoint, 4 lakes
2 mi · ▲ 176 ft · 45 min
Elevation 92–178 ft
Out & Back · Forest Park
Trailhead: 42.08034, -72.56870
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:47 AM · sunset 8:07 PM
Transit-accessible: SUMNER / FOREST PARK stop 400 m from the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Snake Hill Road, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Bowling Green Path, heading E.
- 150 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftPass Porter Lake.
- 0.3 miPass Forest Park Viewpoint.
- 50 ftPass Fountain Lake.
- 50 ftPass Barney Pond.
- 50 ftReach Porter Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
- 300 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 150 ftBear right, heading N.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Snake Hill Road, heading W.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~23 min). Leave by 7:25 PM for the 8:07 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: SUMNER / FOREST PARK stop 400 m from the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
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