Lilja Pit–Johnson Pit, 8 lakes
7.2 mi · ▲ 253 ft · 2 hr 32 min
Lilja Pit–Johnson Pit, 8 lakes is a 7.2-mile out-and-back in Briar Swamp near Rockport, MA. The route passes Bay State Quarry, Pine Pit, Oregon Pit / Pond and 3 more before reaching Canney Pit at the turnaround, 3.6 miles in. It climbs 253 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 9/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Lilja Pit–Johnson Pit, 8 lakes
7.2 mi · ▲ 253 ft · 2 hr 32 min
Elevation 32–187 ft
Out & Back · Briar Swamp
Trailhead: Rocky Rd · 42.64266, -70.63522
Weather Sep 20: Drizzle, high 61°F / low 49° · precip 46% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 6:28 AM · sunset 6:45 PM
- Start on Rocky Rd, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 450 ftTurn right onto Dinosaur, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Squam Path, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Anne's Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.7 miPass Bay State Quarry.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Old Rail Track, heading N.
- 0.4 miPass Pine Pit.
- 150 ftBear right, heading E.
- 500 ftPass Oregon Pit / Pond.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Edmonds Lane, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Old Rail Track, heading NE.
- 0.4 miPass Johnson Pit.
- 50 ftPass Mason Pit.
- 50 ftPass Canney Pit.
- 200 ftReach Lilja Pit, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Edmonds Lane, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Old Rail Track, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Anne's Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Squam Path, heading S.
- 350 ftTurn right onto Dinosaur, heading SW.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 450 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 2.7 mi in (~69 min). Leave by 5:16 PM for the 6:45 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:09 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Rocky Rd Trailhead
- Johnson Pit Quarry & Dinosaur 3.7 mi · ▲ 147 ft
- Barker Co Quarries–Barker Reservoir, 8 lakes 5.4 mi · ▲ 224 ft
- Butman Pit–Steel Derrick Quarry, 5 lakes 4.4 mi · ▲ 218 ft
- Steel Derrick Quarry–Johnson Pit Quarry, 4 sights 4.8 mi · ▲ 194 ft
- Flat Ledge Quarry–Steel Derrick Quarry, 6 lakes 5.5 mi · ▲ 296 ft
- Cape Pond–Dry Pond Drop, 3 sights 2 mi · ▲ 90 ft
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