Ben's Woods–Benfield Hill, 4 groves is a 6.3-mile out-and-back in Spring Hill Conservation Land near Acton, MA. The route passes Ben's Woods and Benfield Hill. It is mostly level, with 164 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 14/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Ben's Woods–Benfield Hill, 4 groves
6.3 mi · ▲ 164 ft · 2 hr 11 min
Elevation 136–274 ft
Out & Back · Spring Hill Conservation Land
Trailhead: Bruce Freeman Rail Trail · 42.49393, -71.41881
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:04 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, heading N.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Red, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Yellow, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 300 ftContinue straight onto Blue, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Yellow, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Red, heading E.
- 400 ftTurn left onto Yellow, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Red, heading SE.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Yellow, heading NE.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Red, heading E.
- 0.3 miPass Ben's Woods.
- 300 ftTurn left onto Marion's Trail, heading SE.
- 0.5 miPass Benfield Hill.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 150 ftReach Ben's Woods, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Twin Peaks Trail, heading NW.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Red, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Yellow, heading W.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Red, heading S.
- 500 ftTurn right onto Yellow, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Red, heading SW.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Yellow, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Blue, heading NW.
- 450 ftTurn left onto Yellow, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Red, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, heading SW.
- 0.6 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 2.3 mi in (~60 min). Leave by 6:44 PM for the 8:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:15 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Trailhead
- Yellow 3.8 mi · ▲ 83 ft
- Yellow 4.4 mi · ▲ 83 ft
- Yellow 4.4 mi · ▲ 110 ft
- Yellow 4.9 mi · ▲ 139 ft
- Old Stone Chamber–Robbins Mill Pond, 3 sights 5.3 mi · ▲ 110 ft
- Strawberry Hill & Red via Yellow 5.9 mi · ▲ 163 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Acton, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Acton, Massachusetts