West approach to Clinton Tunnel, March 2022.JPG
Pi.1415926535 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Lancaster Mill Pond–Clamshell Pond, 6 lakes is a 2.7-mile out-and-back in Rauscher Farm near West Berlin, MA. The route passes Frog Pond, Clamshell Pond, Clinton Tunnel - East Entrance and Clinton Tunnel - West Entrance before reaching Lancaster Mill Pond at the turnaround, 1.3 miles in. It climbs 287 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 9/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi377 – 499 ft · steepest grade: 16%2.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Rich Freel Memorial Overlook 42.39218, -71.67660
Nearest town West Berlin, MA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lancaster Mill Pond–Clamshell Pond, 6 lakes

2.7 mi · ▲ 287 ft · 1 hr 3 min

Elevation 376–499 ft

Out & Back · Rauscher Farm

Trailhead: Rich Freel Memorial Overlook · 42.39218, -71.67660

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:43 AM · sunset 8:04 PM

  1. Start on Rich Freel Memorial Overlook, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Frog Pond.
  3. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  4. 50 ftTurn left onto Hickory Trail, heading W.
  5. 0.1 miSharp right onto Old Clamshell road, heading N.
  6. 0.1 miPass Clamshell Pond.
  7. 50 ftContinue straight onto Powerline Trail, heading NW.
  8. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  9. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  11. 300 ftSharp right, heading W.
  12. 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
  13. 0.1 miPass Clinton Tunnel - East Entrance.
  14. 50 ftTurn right onto Central Massachusetts Branch, heading N.
  15. 0.2 miPass Clinton Tunnel - West Entrance.
  16. 50 ftReach Lancaster Mill Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  18. 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
  19. 0.2 miSharp left, heading SW.
  20. 250 ftTurn left, heading E.
  21. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  22. 0.2 miBear left onto Powerline Trail, heading S.
  23. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Old Clamshell road, heading S.
  24. 0.1 miSharp left onto Hickory Trail, heading S.
  25. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  26. 100 ftTurn right onto Rich Freel Memorial Overlook, heading SE.
  27. 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

63% dirt37% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:43 AMSunset 8:04 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~5 min). Leave by 7:40 PM for the 8:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:24 PM — 12 min before dark. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Other ways to reach this destination