AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Brooks Woodland Preserve

Buell Trail–Dudley Trail, 5 sights

5.6 mi · ▲ 603 ft · 2 hr 10 min

Buell Trail–Dudley Trail, 5 sights is a 5.6-mile out-and-back in Brooks Woodland Preserve near Petersham, MA. It climbs 603 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade. It scores 35/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi778 – 1,014 ft · steepest grade: 19%5.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Surprise Meadow Trail 42.49069, -72.16197
Nearest town Petersham, MA
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Directions

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Buell Trail–Dudley Trail, 5 sights

5.6 mi · ▲ 603 ft · 2 hr 10 min

Elevation 776–1,015 ft

Out & Back · Brooks Woodland Preserve

Trailhead: Surprise Meadow Trail · 42.49069, -72.16197

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:45 AM · sunset 8:06 PM

  1. Start on Surprise Meadow Trail, heading S.
  2. 0.8 miTurn left onto Dudley Trail, heading S.
  3. 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
  4. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  5. 500 ftBear left, heading NW.
  6. 0.6 miTurn left onto Buell Trail, heading NW.
  7. 0.3 miReach Surprise Meadow Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 0.3 miBear left, heading E.
  9. 0.3 miBear right onto Jerry's Trail, heading S.
  10. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  11. 200 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  12. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  13. 500 ftTurn right, heading E.
  14. 0.3 miTurn left onto Tumbledown West, heading SE.
  15. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Tumbledown South, heading E.
  16. 50 ftSharp right onto Tumbledown East, heading E.
  17. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
  18. 0.6 miTurn right onto Dudley Trail, heading W.
  19. 0.1 miTurn right onto Surprise Meadow Trail, heading N.
  20. 0.8 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/buell-trail-dudley-trail-out-back-6-sights

Trail surface

20% dirt80% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:45 AMSunset 8:06 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.8 mi in (~50 min). Leave by 6:56 PM for the 8:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:11 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

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Other ways to reach this destination

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