Quabbin Reservoir Reservation

Pottapaug Pond–Quabbin Reservoir, 7 sights

12.8 mi · ▲ 1,390 ft · 4 hr 58 min

Pottapaug Pond–Quabbin Reservoir, 7 sights is a 12.8-mile out-and-back in Quabbin Reservoir Reservation near South Athol, MA. The route passes Quabbin Reservoir before reaching Pottapaug Pond at the turnaround, 6.3 miles in. It climbs 1,390 ft, with sections as steep as 32% grade. It scores 75/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi525 – 951 ft · steepest grade: 32%13.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: West Street 42.48714, -72.25617
Nearest town South Athol, MA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pottapaug Pond–Quabbin Reservoir, 7 sights

12.8 mi · ▲ 1,390 ft · 4 hr 58 min

Elevation 525–952 ft

Out & Back · Quabbin Reservoir Reservation

Trailhead: West Street · 42.48714, -72.25617

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 79°F / low 62° · precip 0% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 5:45 AM · sunset 8:07 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on West Street, heading W.
  2. 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
  3. 0.2 miBear left onto Soapstone Mtn Trail, heading S.
  4. 0.9 miBear right, heading SE.
  5. 0.2 miPass Quabbin Reservoir.
  6. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  7. 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
  8. 0.6 miTurn left, heading E.
  9. 0.8 miBear left, heading E.
  10. 0.5 miTurn right onto Whitney Hill Road, heading S.
  11. 2.3 miTurn left onto Skinner Hill Road, heading S.
  12. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  13. 50 ftTurn right onto Greenwich Dana Road, heading E.
  14. 300 ftBear left onto Thayer Road, heading E.
  15. 50 ftReach Pottapaug Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 50 ftBear right onto Greenwich Dana Road, heading E.
  17. 300 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  18. 50 ftTurn left onto Skinner Hill Road, heading S.
  19. 0.3 miTurn right onto Whitney Hill Road, heading W.
  20. 2.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  21. 0.5 miBear right, heading NW.
  22. 0.8 miTurn right, heading W.
  23. 0.6 miTurn left, heading NW.
  24. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  25. 0.2 miBear left onto Soapstone Mtn Trail, heading W.
  26. 0.9 miBear right, heading N.
  27. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  28. 0.1 miContinue straight onto West Street, heading N.
  29. 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 surface

27% dirt5% paved68% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 79°F62°
Precip0%Wind2 mphUV7Humidity68%
Rained 2.4″ yesterday (4″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
80°60°
Sunrise 5:45 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:07 PM
Wed 79°63°
Thu 88°68° 55%
Fri 92°69° 39%
Sat 90°69° 39%
Sun 92°66°
Mon 90°69° 18%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.9 mi in (~140 min). Leave by 5:27 PM for the 8:07 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:31 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from West Street Trailhead