AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Billerica State Forest

Gilson Hill–Fitness Trail (red), 5 sights

2.5 mi · ▲ 189 ft · 56 min

Gilson Hill–Fitness Trail (red), 5 sights is a 2.5-mile out-and-back in Billerica State Forest near North Billerica, MA. The route reaches Gilson Hill at the turnaround, 1.3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 189 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi115 – 302 ft3.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.58505, -71.29891
Nearest town North Billerica, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Gilson Hill–Fitness Trail (red), 5 sights

2.5 mi · ▲ 189 ft · 56 min

Elevation 113–301 ft

Out & Back · Billerica State Forest

Trailhead: 42.58505, -71.29891

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:41 AM · sunset 8:03 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 0.2 miTurn left onto Fitness Trail (red), heading SW.
  3. 300 ftBear left onto Flow Rock Flow, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  5. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  6. 0.3 miTurn left onto Rt 3 Overlook, heading S.
  7. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  8. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  9. 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  10. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  11. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  12. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  13. 350 ftTurn right onto Yellow Rabbit, heading S.
  14. 450 ftBear right, heading SE.
  15. 0.1 miTurn left onto Gilson Hill Loop, heading S.
  16. 50 ftBear left onto Northern Loop, heading S.
  17. 50 ftSharp right onto Gilson Hill Loop, heading S.
  18. 350 ftTurn right onto Gilson Hill Fireroad, heading S.
  19. 0.1 miBear left onto Gilson Hill Loop, heading SE.
  20. 50 ftReach Gilson Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  21. 50 ftBear right onto Gilson Hill Fireroad, heading SE.
  22. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  23. 100 ftContinue straight onto Gilson Hill Loop, heading SW.
  24. 250 ftSharp left onto Northern Loop, heading S.
  25. 50 ftBear right onto Gilson Hill Loop, heading S.
  26. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  27. 0.1 miBear left onto Yellow Rabbit, heading SE.
  28. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  29. 450 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  30. 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
  31. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  32. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  33. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  34. 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  35. 150 ftSharp left onto Rt 3 Overlook, heading W.
  36. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  37. 0.3 miBear left onto Flow Rock Flow, heading NE.
  38. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  39. 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
  40. 200 ftContinue straight onto Fitness Trail (red), heading NW.
  41. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  42. 400 ftArrive 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/gilson-hill-out-back-4-km-7218

Trail surface

62% dirt6% gravel1% paved31% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:41 AMSunset 8:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~35 min). Leave by 7:08 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:52 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

Hikes near North Billerica, Massachusetts