French Road Pond–Ocean By-Pass, 3 sights
4.6 mi · ▲ 115 ft · 1 hr 35 min
French Road Pond–Ocean By-Pass, 3 sights is a 4.6-mile out-and-back in Memorial Forest near Pine Lake, MA. The route reaches French Road Pond at the turnaround, 2.3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 115 ft of elevation gain. It scores 36/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
French Road Pond–Ocean By-Pass, 3 sights
4.6 mi · ▲ 115 ft · 1 hr 35 min
Elevation 169–269 ft
Out & Back · Memorial Forest
Trailhead: 42.38661, -71.48596
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:04 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 200 ftTurn left onto Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside, heading S.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Pipeline Pass, heading SE.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Plymton Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Pipeline Pass, heading W.
- 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 S.
- 350 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 250 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 150 ftReach French Road Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftBear right, heading E.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 100 ftBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 350 ftTurn right onto Plymton Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Ocean By-Pass, heading NW.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside, heading N.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 300 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 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 2.2 mi in (~54 min). Leave by 6:49 PM for the 8:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:13 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- White Pond & Old Concord Road via Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside 2.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside 3.2 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside 3.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside 3.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Gospel Hill & White Pond via Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside 4.1 mi · ▲ 120 ft
- French Road Pond via Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside 4.6 mi · ▲ 115 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Pine Lake, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Pine Lake, Massachusetts