Erving State Forest

Farley Ledge Caves–Hermits Castle Trail, 4 sights

4.3 mi · ▲ 891 ft · 1 hr 53 min

Farley Ledge Caves–Hermits Castle Trail, 4 sights is a 4.3-mile out-and-back in Erving State Forest near Erving, MA. The route reaches Farley Ledge Caves at the turnaround, 2.2 miles in. It climbs 891 ft, with sections as steep as 15% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 20/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi577 – 958 ft · steepest grade: 15%4.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Spur 42.60983, -72.41635
Nearest town Erving, MA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Farley Ledge Caves–Hermits Castle Trail, 4 sights

4.3 mi · ▲ 891 ft · 1 hr 53 min

Elevation 579–957 ft

Out & Back · Erving State Forest

Trailhead: Spur · 42.60983, -72.41635

Weather Aug 4: Heavy rain, high 78°F / low 68° · precip 91% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 5:45 AM · sunset 8:08 PM

  1. Start on Spur, heading NW.
  2. 0.3 miBear left onto Hermits Castle Trail, heading W.
  3. 0.5 miSharp left onto NET/M&M Trail, heading S.
  4. 1 miTurn left onto Orange/White Trail, heading SW.
  5. 0.2 miBear left onto Orange Trail, heading SW.
  6. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Red Trail, heading S.
  7. 50 ftReach Farley Ledge Caves, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 50 ftContinue straight onto Orange Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.1 miBear right onto Orange/White Trail, heading NW.
  10. 0.2 miTurn right onto NET/M&M Trail, heading NE.
  11. 1 miSharp right onto Hermits Castle Trail, heading NE.
  12. 0.5 miBear right onto Spur, heading E.
  13. 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

70% dirt30% unspecified

Weather

Heavy rainTemperature 78°F68°
Precip91%Wind9 mphUV5Humidity74%
Rained 1.8″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
80°65° 12 AM: 5% rain1 AM: 15% rain2 AM: 16% rain3 AM: 51% rain4 AM: 71% rain5 AM: 91% rain6 AM: 84% rain7 AM: 86% rain8 AM: 86% rain9 AM: 79% rain10 AM: 56% rain11 AM: 40% rain12 PM: 27% rain1 PM: 41% rain2 PM: 43% rain3 PM: 44% rain4 PM: 69% rain5 PM: 51% rain6 PM: 7% rain7 PM: 1% rain
Sunrise 5:45 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:08 PM
Tue 81°64°
Wed 81°64°
Thu 92°64° 59%
Fri 92°68° 37%
Sat 91°68° 37%
Sun 94°67°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~31 min). Leave by 7:17 PM for the 8:08 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:43 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Spur Trailhead