AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Northfield State Forest

Garnet Rock–Notch Mountain Trail (Red), 3 sights

4.7 mi · ▲ 894 ft · 2 hr 1 min

Garnet Rock–Notch Mountain Trail (Red), 3 sights is a 4.7-mile out-and-back in Northfield State Forest near East Northfield, MA. The route reaches Garnet Rock. It climbs 894 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 25/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi397 – 1,309 ft · steepest grade: 25%4.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Richardson Trail (Yellow) 42.70115, -72.44184
Nearest town East Northfield, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Garnet Rock–Notch Mountain Trail (Red), 3 sights

4.7 mi · ▲ 894 ft · 2 hr 1 min

Elevation 395–1,308 ft

Out & Back · Northfield State Forest

Trailhead: Richardson Trail (Yellow) · 42.70115, -72.44184

Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 80°F / low 62° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 5:45 AM · sunset 8:08 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Richardson Trail (Yellow), heading SE.
  2. 0.3 miTurn right onto Notch Mountain Trail (Red), heading S.
  3. 0.2 miBear right onto Richardson Trail (Yellow), heading NE.
  4. 100 ftTurn left onto Notch Mountain Trail (Red), heading N.
  5. 0.4 miBear left onto Notch Mountain Trail, heading N.
  6. 100 ftBear right onto Notch Mountain Trail (Red), heading NE.
  7. 0.2 miPass Garnet Rock.
  8. 1.3 miReach Garnet Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 1.5 miBear left onto Notch Mountain Trail, heading S.
  10. 100 ftBear right onto Notch Mountain Trail (Red), heading S.
  11. 0.4 miTurn right onto Richardson Trail (Yellow), heading NW.
  12. 100 ftBear left onto Notch Mountain Trail (Red), heading SW.
  13. 0.2 miTurn left onto Richardson Trail (Yellow), heading NW.
  14. 0.2 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/garnet-rock-out-back-d31e

Trail surface

99% dirt1% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 80°F62°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV7Humidity78%
Rained 1.9″ yesterday (4″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
80°60°
Sunrise 5:45 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:08 PM
Wed 80°64°
Thu 88°66° 58%
Fri 92°69° 36%
Sat 90°69° 37%
Sun 93°66°
Mon 90°67° 16%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.8 mi in (~65 min). Leave by 6:43 PM for the 8:08 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:08 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

Hikes near East Northfield, Massachusetts