AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

McCarthy Park

Charles River Reservoir & Bay Circuit Trail via Bay Colony Rail Trail

4.7 mi · ▲ 109 ft · 1 hr 37 min

Charles River Reservoir & Bay Circuit Trail via Bay Colony Rail Trail is a 4.7-mile out-and-back in McCarthy Park near Farm Street Station, MA. The route reaches Charles River Reservoir at the turnaround, 2.3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 109 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi135 – 187 ft5.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Bay Colony Rail Trail 42.21095, -71.31409
Nearest town Farm Street Station, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Charles River Reservoir & Bay Circuit Trail via Bay Colony Rail Trail

4.7 mi · ▲ 109 ft · 1 hr 37 min

Elevation 135–188 ft

Out & Back · McCarthy Park

Trailhead: Bay Colony Rail Trail · 42.21095, -71.31409

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 84°F / low 62° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:02 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Bay Colony Rail Trail, heading SW.
  2. 1.1 miTurn right onto Bay Circuit Trail, heading W.
  3. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
  4. 150 ftBear right, heading W.
  5. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  6. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  7. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  8. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Charles River Link Trail, heading W.
  9. 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  10. 150 ftReach Charles River Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Bay Circuit Trail, heading S.
  12. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  13. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  14. 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
  15. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  16. 0.4 miTurn left onto Ice House Road, heading S.
  17. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Bay Colony Rail Trail, heading NE.
  18. 0.2 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/charles-river-reservoir-bay-circuit-trail-out-back-8-km-190f

Trail surface

40% dirt16% paved44% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 84°F62°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV7Humidity76%
Rained 0.6″ yesterday (1.4″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
85°60°
Sunrise 5:42 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:02 PM
Wed 85°64°
Thu 89°70° 29%
Fri 96°72° 29%
Sat 93°70° 35%
Sun 96°68° 15%
Mon 94°72° 16%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.3 mi in (~58 min). Leave by 6:44 PM for the 8:02 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Bay Colony Rail Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Farm Street Station, Massachusetts