AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

French Road Pond–Pine Garden Trail, 3 sights

7.4 mi · ▲ 140 ft · 2 hr 32 min

French Road Pond–Pine Garden Trail, 3 sights is a 7.4-mile out-and-back in Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge near Pine Lake, MA. The route reaches French Road Pond at the turnaround, 3.6 miles in. It is mostly level, with 140 ft of elevation gain. It scores 24/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi167 – 269 ft8.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Harry's Way 42.40042, -71.46351
Nearest town Pine Lake, MA
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Directions

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French Road Pond–Pine Garden Trail, 3 sights

7.4 mi · ▲ 140 ft · 2 hr 32 min

Elevation 169–269 ft

Out & Back · Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

Trailhead: Harry's Way · 42.40042, -71.46351

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:03 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Harry's Way, heading N.
  2. 0.3 miTurn left onto Pine Garden Trail, heading SW.
  3. 0.3 miBear left onto Tri-Town Trail, heading S.
  4. 0.5 miBear right, heading S.
  5. 0.5 miTurn right onto Fisher Trail, heading SW.
  6. 0.6 miTurn right onto Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside, heading S.
  7. 50 ftTurn left onto Pipeline Pass, heading S.
  8. 0.5 miBear right, heading E.
  9. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  10. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  11. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  12. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  13. 450 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  14. 350 ftBear left, heading SE.
  15. 500 ftBear right, heading S.
  16. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  17. 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  18. 400 ftBear right, heading SE.
  19. 200 ftReach French Road Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 200 ftBear left, heading E.
  21. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  22. 150 ftBear right, heading N.
  23. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  24. 0.1 miBear right, heading SE.
  25. 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  26. 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
  27. 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
  28. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  29. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  30. 0.2 miBear left onto Ocean By-Pass, heading W.
  31. 0.5 miTurn right onto Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside, heading W.
  32. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  33. 50 ftContinue straight onto Fisher Trail, heading NW.
  34. 1 miBear left, heading NE.
  35. 350 ftContinue straight onto Tri-Town Trail, heading NE.
  36. 0.5 miBear right onto Pine Garden Trail, heading N.
  37. 0.3 miTurn right onto Harry's Way, heading N.
  38. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/french-road-pond-french-road-pond-out-back-16-km-5a61

Trail surface

40% dirt6% paved54% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:42 AMSunset 8:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.5 mi in (~87 min). Leave by 6:17 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Harry's Way Trailhead

Hikes near Pine Lake, Massachusetts