Valley Farm Wildlife Sanctuary–Birchwood Hills, 4 groves
2.6 mi · ▲ 139 ft · 56 min
Valley Farm Wildlife Sanctuary–Birchwood Hills, 4 groves is a 2.6-mile out-and-back in Ronchetti Conservation Area near Shirley Center, MA. The route passes Birchwood Hills and Holden Road Conservation Area before reaching Valley Farm Wildlife Sanctuary at the turnaround, 1.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 139 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 35/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Valley Farm Wildlife Sanctuary–Birchwood Hills, 4 groves
2.6 mi · ▲ 139 ft · 56 min
Elevation 316–453 ft
Out & Back · Ronchetti Conservation Area
Trailhead: Robbs Hill Ridge Trail · 42.56072, -71.67774
Weather Sep 20: Heavy drizzle, high 58°F / low 47° · precip 57% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 6:50 PM
- Start on Robbs Hill Ridge Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Robbs Hill Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Holden Trust Eastern Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Holden Trust to Ronchetti, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Holden Trust Eastern Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Ronchetti to Holden Trust and Robbs Hill, heading SE.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Robbs Hill to Ronchetti, heading E.
- 0.4 miPass Birchwood Hills.
- 50 ftPass Holden Road Conservation Area.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 450 ftReach Valley Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Ronchetti to Holden Trust and Robbs Hill, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Holden Trust Eastern Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Holden Trust to Ronchetti, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Holden Trust Eastern Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Robbs Hill Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Robbs Hill Ridge Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 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 1.1 mi in (~31 min). Leave by 5:59 PM for the 6:50 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:34 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Robbs Hill Ridge Trail Trailhead
- Fairbanks Gift from Page Street–Holden Trust Eastern Trail, 5 sights 5 mi · ▲ 83 ft
- Holden Trust Eastern Trail–Robbs Hill Northern Loop, 4 sights 2.7 mi · ▲ 56 ft
- Birchwood Hills–Holden Road Conservation Area, 4 groves 2.7 mi · ▲ 58 ft
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