AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Assabet River Wildlife Sanctuary near Old Marlboro Road entrance in Maynard MA.jpg
Swampyank · CC BY-SA 4.0
Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

Puffer Pond–Cuttings Pond, 8 sights

8.1 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 2 hr 42 min

Puffer Pond–Cuttings Pond, 8 sights is an 8.1-mile out-and-back in Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge near Pine Rest, MA. The route passes Cuttings Pond, Cuttings Pond, Voss Pond and 2 more. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 9/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi180 – 217 ft8.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.40533, -71.43911
Nearest town Pine Rest, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Puffer Pond–Cuttings Pond, 8 sights

8.1 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 2 hr 42 min

Elevation 180–216 ft

Out & Back · Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

Trailhead: 42.40533, -71.43911

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:03 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 250 ftPass Cuttings Pond.
  3. 0.2 miPass Cuttings Pond.
  4. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
  5. 250 ftPass Voss Pond.
  6. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  7. 0.1 miPass Rice Tavern Foundation.
  8. 150 ftContinue straight onto Taylor Way, heading NW.
  9. 0.3 miBear left onto Otter Alley, heading W.
  10. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  11. 0.1 miPass Puffer Pond.
  12. 200 ftContinue straight onto Harry's Way, heading SW.
  13. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Pine Garden Trail, heading SW.
  14. 0.3 miBear left onto Tri-Town Trail, heading SW.
  15. 0.5 miBear right, heading S.
  16. 0.5 miTurn right onto Fisher Trail, heading SW.
  17. 0.6 miTurn right onto Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside, heading S.
  18. 50 ftBear left onto Old Concord Road, heading S.
  19. 0.2 miReach Puffer Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 0.2 miBear right onto Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside, heading NE.
  21. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  22. 50 ftContinue straight onto Fisher Trail, heading NE.
  23. 1 miBear left, heading N.
  24. 350 ftContinue straight onto Tri-Town Trail, heading NE.
  25. 0.5 miBear right onto Pine Garden Trail, heading N.
  26. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Harry's Way, heading E.
  27. 0.5 miTurn right onto Otter Alley, heading NE.
  28. 0.3 miBear right onto Taylor Way, heading E.
  29. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SE.
  30. 450 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  31. 0.6 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/cuttings-pond-voss-pond-out-back-4-lakes-13-km-4bbe

Trail surface

39% dirt6% paved55% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:42 AMSunset 8:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.5 mi in (~62 min). Leave by 6:42 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:20 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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Hikes near Pine Rest, Massachusetts