AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Spencer Depot Rail Trail, 2024, Spencer MA.jpg
John Phelan · CC BY 4.0
Sibley Farm

Burncoat Pond–Howe Pond, 10 sights

15.9 mi · ▲ 943 ft · 5 hr 46 min

Burncoat Pond–Howe Pond, 10 sights is a 15.9-mile out-and-back in Sibley Farm near Spencer, MA. The route passes Depot Trail/Corridor 71 Viewpoint, Howe Pond, Howe Pond and Burncoat Pond. It climbs 943 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 12/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi637 – 1,060 ft16.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Depot Trail Entrance 42.23767, -71.99915
Nearest town Spencer, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Burncoat Pond–Howe Pond, 10 sights

15.9 mi · ▲ 943 ft · 5 hr 46 min

Elevation 635–1,058 ft

Out & Back · Sibley Farm

Trailhead: Depot Trail Entrance · 42.23767, -71.99915

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:45 AM · sunset 8:05 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Transit-accessible: Spencer Center/Downtown stop 752 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Depot Trail Entrance, heading SW.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right onto Depot Trail, heading SW.
  3. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Depot Trail/Corridor 71, heading SW.
  4. 0.1 miTurn right onto Old Corridor 71, heading W.
  5. 450 ftBear right onto Depot Trail/Corridor 71, heading S.
  6. 50 ftPass Depot Trail/Corridor 71 Viewpoint.
  7. 0.2 miTurn left onto Corridor 71, heading SW.
  8. 0.7 miPass Howe Pond.
  9. 150 ftBear right onto Lower Trail, heading E.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto Corridor 71, heading E.
  11. 0.3 miPass Howe Pond.
  12. 150 ftBear right, heading S.
  13. 2.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  14. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Morgan Swamp Trail, heading SE.
  15. 0.5 miTurn left onto Corridor 71, heading NE.
  16. 0.4 miTurn right onto Beaver Meadow Trail, heading N.
  17. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Swamp Trail, heading E.
  18. 0.3 miSharp right onto Sibley Trail, heading SE.
  19. 0.1 miSharp left onto Bobolink Trail, heading E.
  20. 0.3 miBear right onto Midstate Trail, heading SW.
  21. 0.4 miPass Burncoat Pond.
  22. 0.6 miReach Burncoat Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  23. 1 miBear left onto Bobolink Trail, heading SW.
  24. 0.3 miSharp right onto Sibley Trail, heading NW.
  25. 0.1 miSharp left onto Swamp Trail, heading W.
  26. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Beaver Meadow Trail, heading NE.
  27. 0.4 miTurn left onto Corridor 71, heading NW.
  28. 0.4 miTurn right onto Morgan Swamp Trail, heading NW.
  29. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Corridor 71, heading S.
  30. 3.2 miContinue straight onto Lower Trail, heading N.
  31. 50 ftBear left onto Corridor 71, heading N.
  32. 0.7 miTurn right onto Depot Trail/Corridor 71, heading NW.
  33. 0.2 miBear left onto Old Corridor 71, heading NW.
  34. 450 ftTurn left onto Depot Trail/Corridor 71, heading N.
  35. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Depot Trail, heading NW.
  36. 0.7 miTurn left onto Depot Trail Entrance, heading NE.
  37. 150 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/depot-trail-corridor-71-viewpoint-howe-pond-out-back-3-lakes-14-km

Trail surface

66% dirt34% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:45 AMSunset 8:05 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~19 min). Leave by 7:27 PM for the 8:05 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:40 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Transit-accessible: Spencer Center/Downtown stop 752 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Depot Trail Entrance Trailhead

Hikes near Spencer, Massachusetts