Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge
Desert Loop Trail–Desert Trail, 4 sights
10 mi · ▲ 108 ft · 3 hr 23 min
Desert Loop Trail–Desert Trail, 4 sights is a 10-mile out-and-back in Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge near Lower Village, MA. It is mostly level, with 108 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 22/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Desert Loop Trail–Desert Trail, 4 sights
10 mi · ▲ 108 ft · 3 hr 23 min
Elevation 168–247 ft
Out & Back · Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge
Trailhead: 42.42125, -71.47421
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:04 PM
Toilets at the trailhead
- Start on Track Road/Assabet River Rail Trail Easement, heading N.
- 1.2 miContinue straight onto Track Road, heading W.
- 350 ftSharp left, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 1.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 100 ftTurn right onto Patrol Road, heading SE.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 350 ftBear right, heading E.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 350 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Fisher Trail, heading S.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading E.
- 150 ftBear left onto Desert Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Desert Loop Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miReach Track Road, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 500 ftContinue straight onto Desert Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Fisher Trail, heading NW.
- 1.2 miBear left, heading N.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 100 ftBear left, heading N.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Patrol Road, heading NW.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 1.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto Track Road, heading NE.
- 400 ftContinue straight onto Track Road/Assabet River Rail Trail Easement, heading NW.
- 1.1 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.8 mi in (~95 min). Leave by 6:09 PM for the 8:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:54 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Track Road/Assabet River Rail Trail Easement 2.3 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Patrol Road–Track Road/Assabet River Rail Trail Easement, 3 sights 6.3 mi · ▲ 196 ft
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