Boston Hill–Elephant Rock, 6 sights
4.3 mi · ▲ 253 ft · 1 hr 34 min
Boston Hill–Elephant Rock, 6 sights is a 4.3-mile out-and-back in Ward Reservation near Boxford Station, MA. The route passes Boston Hill, Elephant Rock and Bay Circuit Viewpoint. It climbs 253 ft, with sections as steep as 15% grade. It scores 4/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Boston Hill–Elephant Rock, 6 sights
4.3 mi · ▲ 253 ft · 1 hr 34 min
Elevation 219–382 ft
Out & Back · Ward Reservation
Trailhead: 42.64514, -71.09227
Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 83°F / low 63° · precip 0% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 5:40 AM · sunset 8:03 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Elephant Rock Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Boston Hill.
- 50 ftPass Elephant Rock.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
- 450 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 200 ftSharp right onto Old Chestnut Street, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Judy Family Trail, heading N.
- 500 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Ward Trail, heading SW.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Bay Circuit Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miPass Bay Circuit Viewpoint.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.3 miReach Boston Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Ward Trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left onto Judy Family Trail, heading NE.
- 500 ftTurn right onto Old Chestnut Street, heading NE.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 250 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 450 ftBear right onto Elephant Rock Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miSharp right, heading S.
- 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 2.1 mi in (~56 min). Leave by 6:47 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Margaret's Viewpoint & Ward Trail via Old Chestnut Street 1.9 mi · ▲ 151 ft
- Old Stiles Street via Vetter Trail 2 mi · ▲ 173 ft
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Hikes near Boxford Station, Massachusetts