Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge
Desert Loop Trail & Desert Trail via Fisher Trail
3.8 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 1 hr 18 min
Desert Loop Trail & Desert Trail via Fisher Trail is a 3.8-mile out-and-back in Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge near Pine Lake, MA. It is mostly level, with 55 ft of elevation gain. It scores 14/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Desert Loop Trail & Desert Trail via Fisher Trail
3.8 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 1 hr 18 min
Elevation 168–248 ft
Out & Back · Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge
Trailhead: connector · 42.39510, -71.47382
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:03 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 500 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 100 ftTurn right onto Patrol Road, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 350 ftBear right, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Fisher Trail, heading SW.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 150 ftBear left onto Desert Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Desert Loop Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miReach Desert Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Desert Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Fisher Trail, heading NW.
- 1.2 miBear left, heading N.
- 400 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 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 0.7 mi in (~17 min). Leave by 7:27 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from connector Trailhead
- Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside 2.8 mi · ▲ 57 ft
- Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside 2.9 mi · ▲ 28 ft
- Hill Trail & Pine Garden Trail via Tri-Town Trail 3.1 mi · ▲ 55 ft
- Fisher Trail 3.5 mi · ▲ 83 ft
- Fisher Trail 3.5 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Otter Alley–Pine Garden Trail Loop, 4 sights 3.6 mi · ▲ 29 ft
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