Crystal Lake & Heywood Branch is a 1.4-mile out-and-back near Gardner, MA. The route reaches Crystal Lake at the turnaround, 0.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 29 ft of elevation gain. It scores 4/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi1,086 – 1,125 ft1.4 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Heywood Branch 42.59224, -71.99913
Nearest town Gardner, MA
Directions
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Crystal Lake & Heywood Branch
1.4 mi · ▲ 29 ft · 29 min
Elevation 1,085–1,126 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Heywood Branch · 42.59224, -71.99913
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
Bikes allowed on the whole route · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Heywood Branch, heading S.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 0.3 miReach Crystal Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.7 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
56% dirt44% paved
Weather
Sunrise 6:34 AMSunset 6:51 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~18 min). Leave by 6:13 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:23 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Bikes allowed on the whole route
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Heywood Branch Trailhead
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