Benson Mountain–Whitin Reservoir, 7 sights
15.3 mi · ▲ 831 ft · 5 hr 31 min
Benson Mountain–Whitin Reservoir, 7 sights is a 15.3-mile out-and-back in Douglas State Forest near West Sutton, MA. The route passes Whitin Reservoir before reaching Benson Mountain at the turnaround, 7.6 miles in. It climbs 831 ft. It scores 47/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Benson Mountain–Whitin Reservoir, 7 sights
15.3 mi · ▲ 831 ft · 5 hr 31 min
Elevation 515–759 ft
Out & Back · Douglas State Forest
Trailhead: 42.07889, -71.78665
Weather Aug 3: Heavy rain, high 76°F / low 68° · precip 87% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 5:43 AM · sunset 8:05 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
- 50 ftPass Whitin Reservoir.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Midstate Trail, heading SW.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 1.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Schmidt Trail, heading S.
- 1 miTurn right, heading S.
- 450 ftBear left onto Streeter Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Grand Trunk Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Pain in the Pullman, heading W.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Saddle Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miSharp right onto Hay Ride Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Saddle Trail, heading SE.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Southern New England Trunkline Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 200 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 0.7 miBear left onto Tri-State Marker Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Border Trail, heading S.
- 1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miReach Benson Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.2 miContinue straight onto Tri-State Marker Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Southern New England Trunkline Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Saddle Trail, heading N.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Hay Ride Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Saddle Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Pain in the Pullman, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Grand Trunk Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Streeter Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
- 450 ftTurn left onto Schmidt Trail, heading NW.
- 1 miTurn left onto Midstate Trail, heading NW.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 1.6 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 2.6 mi in (~71 min). Leave by 6:34 PM for the 8:05 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:27 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- 200 Sportsmen Club & Whitin Reservoir via Midstate Trail 4.8 mi · ▲ 250 ft
- 200 Sportsmen Club–Whitin Reservoir Loop, 3 groves 6.2 mi · ▲ 449 ft
- 200 Sportsmen Club & Whitin Reservoir via Midstate Trail 7.5 mi · ▲ 282 ft
- 200 Sportsmen Club–Bare Hill, 3 groves 8.3 mi · ▲ 415 ft
- Wallum Pond Hill–Whitin Reservoir, 3 summits 10 mi · ▲ 506 ft
- Whitin Reservoir & Chamberlain Pond via Midstate Trail 10.1 mi · ▲ 448 ft
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