Flat Ledge Quarry–Steel Derrick Quarry, 12 lakes is a 5.6-mile out-and-back in Carlson Quarry Watershed near Pigeon Cove, MA. The route passes Flat Ledge Quarry, Little Parker Pit, Big Parker Pit and 8 more before reaching Sheep Pasture Motions at the turnaround, 2.8 miles in. It is mostly level, with 220 ft of elevation gain. It scores 4/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Flat Ledge Quarry–Steel Derrick Quarry, 12 lakes
5.6 mi · ▲ 220 ft · 1 hr 59 min
Elevation 30–202 ft
Out & Back · Carlson Quarry Watershed
Trailhead: 42.66835, -70.62672
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:38 AM · sunset 8:01 PM
Transit-accessible: Back Beach stop 795 m from the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Flat Ledge Quarry.
- 50 ftPass Little Parker Pit.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 50 ftPass Big Parker Pit.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
- 50 ftPass Steel Derrick Quarry.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading W.
- 0.7 miPass Bay State Quarry.
- 100 ftTurn right onto Old Rail Track, heading N.
- 0.4 miPass Pine Pit.
- 100 ftBear right, heading E.
- 0.1 miPass Oregon Pit / Pond.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Edmonds Lane, heading E.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Old Rail Track, heading E.
- 0.4 miPass Johnson Pit.
- 50 ftPass Lilja Pit.
- 50 ftPass Mason Pit.
- 50 ftPass Canney Pit.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 300 ftPass Sheep Pasture Motions.
- 150 ftReach Flat Ledge Quarry, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Edmonds Lane, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Old Rail Track, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.8 miSharp left, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 450 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miSharp right, heading E.
- 500 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 1.8 mi in (~48 min). Leave by 6:53 PM for the 8:01 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:04 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Back Beach stop 795 m from the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Loop Pond–Steel Derrick Quarry, 8 lakes 4.5 mi · ▲ 164 ft
- Steel Derrick Quarry–Flat Ledge Quarry, 8 lakes 5.1 mi · ▲ 221 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Pigeon Cove, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Pigeon Cove, Massachusetts