AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Estabrook Woods

Circle Viewpoint–Thoreau Pond, 4 sights

5.4 mi · ▲ 111 ft · 1 hr 51 min

Circle Viewpoint–Thoreau Pond, 4 sights is a 5.4-mile out-and-back in Estabrook Woods near Plain, MA. The route passes Thoreau Pond before reaching Circle Viewpoint at the turnaround, 2.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 111 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 33/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi161 – 272 ft5.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.50376, -71.36261
Nearest town Plain, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Circle Viewpoint–Thoreau Pond, 4 sights

5.4 mi · ▲ 111 ft · 1 hr 51 min

Elevation 161–273 ft

Out & Back · Estabrook Woods

Trailhead: 42.50376, -71.36261

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 82°F / low 61° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 5:41 AM · sunset 8:03 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 100 ftSharp left, heading SE.
  3. 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
  4. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  5. 0.2 miSharp left onto Farmyard Trail, heading SE.
  6. 0.4 miTurn right onto Estabrook Trail, heading SE.
  7. 0.1 miTurn left onto West Hubbard Trail, heading S.
  8. 0.3 miPass Thoreau Pond.
  9. 0.2 miSharp left onto East Hubbard Trail, heading S.
  10. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  11. 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
  12. 350 ftTurn left onto Two Rod Road, heading E.
  13. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Circle Trail, heading N.
  14. 0.1 miReach Circle Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Two Rod Road, heading S.
  16. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  17. 350 ftBear right, heading S.
  18. 0.1 miTurn left onto East Hubbard Trail, heading W.
  19. 0.1 miSharp right, heading NW.
  20. 0.2 miContinue straight onto West Hubbard Trail, heading NW.
  21. 0.3 miTurn right onto Estabrook Trail, heading NW.
  22. 0.1 miTurn left onto Farmyard Trail, heading W.
  23. 0.4 miSharp right, heading SW.
  24. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  25. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  26. 0.2 miSharp right, heading N.
  27. 50 ftArrive 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/circle-viewpoint-thoreau-pond-out-back-3-lakes-7-km-e60f

Trail surface

74% dirt26% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 82°F61°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity84%
Rained 1.5″ yesterday (2.4″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
85°60°
Sunrise 5:41 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:03 PM
Wed 84°62°
Thu 88°70° 26%
Fri 96°71° 30%
Sat 93°70° 33%
Sun 95°68°
Mon 92°73° 15%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:43 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 8:03 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:35 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Other ways to reach this destination

Hikes near Plain, Massachusetts