Charles River Reservoir–Bay Circuit Trail, 4 sights
9 mi · ▲ 384 ft · 3 hr 12 min
Charles River Reservoir–Bay Circuit Trail, 4 sights is a 9-mile out-and-back in Peters Reservation near Harding, MA. The route reaches Charles River Reservoir at the turnaround, 4.3 miles in. It climbs 384 ft. It scores 21/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Charles River Reservoir–Bay Circuit Trail, 4 sights
9 mi · ▲ 384 ft · 3 hr 12 min
Elevation 119–278 ft
Out & Back · Peters Reservation
Trailhead: 42.20495, -71.33067
Weather Sep 20: Heavy drizzle, high 63°F / low 50° · precip 55% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:31 AM · sunset 6:48 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Bay Circuit Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Ice House Road, heading SE.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Bay Colony Rail Trail, heading NE.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 150 ftSharp left, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Hunt Drive Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Donelly's Trail, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Red Loop, heading W.
- 100 ftBear right, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Blue Loop, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 400 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 150 ftPass Charles River Reservoir.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftReach Charles River Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Red Loop, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading SE.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Donelly's Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Hunt Drive Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miSharp right, heading S.
- 100 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 100 ftBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right, heading S.
- 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 300 ftContinue straight onto Bay Colony Rail Trail, heading SE.
- 1.4 miTurn right onto Bay Circuit Trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 150 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.5 mi in (~63 min). Leave by 5:25 PM for the 6:48 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:04 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Wylde Woods–Bay Circuit Trail, 4 sights 5.3 mi · ▲ 58 ft
- Juniper Hill–Bay Circuit Trail, 4 sights 7 mi · ▲ 217 ft
- Charles River Reservoir via Charles River Link Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 83 ft
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