AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
R, Reformatory Branch Rail Trail, Concord MA.jpg
John Phelan · CC BY-SA 4.0
Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

Concord National Wild & Scenic River–Lower Impoundment, 13 lakes

5.6 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 1 hr 53 min

Concord National Wild & Scenic River–Lower Impoundment, 13 lakes is a 5.6-mile out-and-back in Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge near Concord, MA. The route passes Concord National Wild & Scenic River, Moore's Swamp, Upper Impoundment and 8 more. It is mostly level, with 28 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 3/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi115 – 151 ft6.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.47083, -71.35355
Nearest town Concord, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Concord National Wild & Scenic River–Lower Impoundment, 13 lakes

5.6 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 1 hr 53 min

Elevation 116–150 ft

Out & Back · Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

Trailhead: 42.47083, -71.35355

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:41 AM · sunset 8:03 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftPass Concord National Wild & Scenic River.
  3. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  4. 450 ftBear left, heading E.
  5. 50 ftBear right onto Old Manse Driveway, heading E.
  6. 50 ftTurn right onto Minute Man NHP/North Bridge, heading SE.
  7. 0.2 miSharp left onto Reformatory Branch Trail, heading S.
  8. 0.2 miPass Moore's Swamp.
  9. 0.1 miTurn right onto Moore's Swamp Overlook, heading NE.
  10. 400 ftBear right onto Reformatory Branch Trail, heading SE.
  11. 0.6 miPass Upper Impoundment.
  12. 50 ftPass Drainage.
  13. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  14. 50 ftTurn right onto Black Duck Creek Trail, heading NE.
  15. 150 ftPass Lower Impoundment.
  16. 50 ftPass Sweet Pepperbush.
  17. 100 ftBear left, heading NE.
  18. 500 ftPass Highbush Blueberry.
  19. 150 ftBear right onto Main Dike Trail, heading N.
  20. 0.2 miPass Black Willow.
  21. 150 ftPass Dike Viewpoint.
  22. 150 ftTurn left onto Dike Trail, heading NW.
  23. 0.2 miPass Silver Maple Swamp.
  24. 0.2 miPass Borden Pond.
  25. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  26. 450 ftReach Concord National Wild & Scenic River, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  27. 450 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  28. 0.6 miTurn right onto Main Dike Trail, heading NE.
  29. 0.4 miBear right onto Black Duck Creek Trail, heading SE.
  30. 300 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  31. 50 ftTurn right onto Reformatory Branch Trail, heading SE.
  32. 0.6 miBear left onto Moore's Swamp Overlook, heading SW.
  33. 400 ftTurn left onto Reformatory Branch Trail, heading SW.
  34. 0.3 miSharp right onto Minute Man NHP/North Bridge, heading SW.
  35. 0.2 miTurn left onto Old Manse Driveway, heading SW.
  36. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  37. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  38. 450 ftTurn left onto Old North Bridge, heading SW.
  39. 0.3 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/dike-viewpoint-great-meadows-lookout-tower-out-back-7-lakes-8-km

Trail surface

64% dirt32% gravel1% boardwalk3% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:41 AMSunset 8:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~28 min). Leave by 7:16 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:47 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Concord, Massachusetts