Squannacook River–Groton School Pond, 3 lakes
8.6 mi · ▲ 310 ft · 3 hr 1 min
Squannacook River–Groton School Pond, 3 lakes is an 8.6-mile out-and-back in The General Field near Ayer, MA. The route passes Groton School Pond and Dead River before reaching Squannacook River at the turnaround, 4.3 miles in. It climbs 310 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 9/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Squannacook River–Groton School Pond, 3 lakes
8.6 mi · ▲ 310 ft · 3 hr 1 min
Elevation 199–337 ft
Out & Back · The General Field
Trailhead: 42.57889, -71.57426
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:04 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
- 150 ftBear right onto Nashua River Rail Trail, heading N.
- 0.8 miTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftPass Groton School Pond.
- 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading W.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Gardner Terrace, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Wharton Road, heading W.
- 450 ftPass Dead River.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Lawrence Lane, heading W.
- 400 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading S.
- 250 ftBear right, heading E.
- 400 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miReach Squannacook River, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 400 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 200 ftBear right, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Wharton Road, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Gardner Terrace, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 450 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Nashua River Rail Trail, heading NE.
- 0.8 miBear left, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 450 ftArrive 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 1.9 mi in (~48 min). Leave by 6:56 PM for the 8:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:07 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Nashua River Rail Trail 3.4 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Old Limestone Quarry & Groton School Pond via Nashua River Rail Trail 8 mi · ▲ 109 ft
- Groton School Pond–Dead River, 3 lakes 8.9 mi · ▲ 306 ft
- Pepperell Pond–Groton School Pond, 3 lakes 11.9 mi · ▲ 255 ft
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