Cains Hill & Stump Pond is a 9.2-mile out-and-back in Sesachacha Heathlands Wildlife Sanctuary near Polpis, MA. The route passes Stump Pond before reaching Cains Hill at the turnaround, 4.6 miles in. It is mostly level, with 109 ft of elevation gain. It scores 48/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Cains Hill & Stump Pond
9.2 mi · ▲ 109 ft · 3 hr 7 min
Elevation 14–64 ft
Out & Back · Sesachacha Heathlands Wildlife Sanctuary
Trailhead: Polpis Bike Path · 41.29542, -70.01737
Weather Aug 4: Light rain, high 79°F / low 73° · precip 59% · wind 14 mph · sunrise 5:39 AM · sunset 7:55 PM
Transit-accessible: 253 Polpis Road stop 157 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 0.9 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear right, heading E.
- 250 ftBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.3 miPass Stump Pond.
- 0.5 miBear right, heading E.
- 100 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 450 ftSharp left, heading NE.
- 400 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 1.5 miBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right, heading S.
- 150 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.4 miSharp right, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 300 ftReach Cains Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 350 ftBear left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
- 200 ftBear left, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right, heading N.
- 1.5 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 400 ftSharp right, heading NW.
- 450 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 100 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 0.8 miBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading W.
- 200 ftBear left, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~17 min). Leave by 7:18 PM for the 7:55 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:27 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: 253 Polpis Road stop 157 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Polpis Bike Path Trailhead
- Macys Hill & Altar Rock via Polpis Bike Path 2.8 mi · ▲ 56 ft
- Stump Pond Loop via Polpis Bike Path 3 mi · ▲ 29 ft
- Polpis Bike Path 5.8 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Polpis Bike Path 5.8 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Polpis Bike Path 6.2 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Polpis Bike Path 6.3 mi · ▲ 54 ft
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Hikes near Polpis, Massachusetts