Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge
French Road Pond–Ocean By-Pass, 3 sights
5.9 mi · ▲ 193 ft · 2 hr 4 min
French Road Pond–Ocean By-Pass, 3 sights is a 5.9-mile out-and-back in Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge near Pine Lake, MA. The route reaches French Road Pond at the turnaround, 2.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 193 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 25/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
French Road Pond–Ocean By-Pass, 3 sights
5.9 mi · ▲ 193 ft · 2 hr 4 min
Elevation 169–269 ft
Out & Back · Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge
Trailhead: connector · 42.39510, -71.47382
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:03 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 500 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 100 ftTurn right onto Patrol Road, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 350 ftBear right, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Fisher Trail, heading SW.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Pipeline Pass, heading S.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Plymton Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Pipeline Pass, heading SW.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 350 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.1 miReach French Road Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 150 ftBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 350 ftTurn right onto Plymton Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Ocean By-Pass, heading W.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Fisher Trail, heading SW.
- 1 miBear left, heading SE.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 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 2.8 mi in (~68 min). Leave by 6:36 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from connector Trailhead
- Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside 2.8 mi · ▲ 57 ft
- Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside 2.9 mi · ▲ 28 ft
- Hill Trail & Pine Garden Trail via Tri-Town Trail 3.1 mi · ▲ 55 ft
- Fisher Trail 3.5 mi · ▲ 83 ft
- Fisher Trail 3.5 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Otter Alley–Pine Garden Trail Loop, 4 sights 3.6 mi · ▲ 29 ft
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