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
Getting there
Directions
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 Sep 20: Light rain, high 59°F / low 51° · precip 64% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 6:35 AM · sunset 6:52 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on West Street, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Soapstone Mtn Trail, heading S.
- 0.9 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miPass Quabbin Reservoir.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.8 miBear left, heading E.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Whitney Hill Road, heading S.
- 2.3 miTurn left onto Skinner Hill Road, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Greenwich Dana Road, heading E.
- 300 ftBear left onto Thayer Road, heading E.
- 50 ftReach Pottapaug Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftBear right onto Greenwich Dana Road, heading E.
- 300 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Skinner Hill Road, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Whitney Hill Road, heading W.
- 2.3 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.5 miBear right, heading NW.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Soapstone Mtn Trail, heading W.
- 0.9 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto West Street, heading N.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.7 mi in (~135 min). Leave by 4:17 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:11 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from West Street Trailhead
- Quabbin Reservoir–Camel Hump Road, 4 sights 8.1 mi · ▲ 579 ft
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