Gravelly Pond–Beach Chair Bluff, 7 sights
7 mi · ▲ 359 ft · 2 hr 31 min
Gravelly Pond–Beach Chair Bluff, 7 sights is a 7-mile out-and-back in Manchester Essex Woods near South Essex, MA. The route reaches Gravelly Pond at the turnaround, 3.4 miles in. It climbs 359 ft. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Gravelly Pond–Beach Chair Bluff, 7 sights
7 mi · ▲ 359 ft · 2 hr 31 min
Elevation 41–141 ft
Out & Back · Manchester Essex Woods
Trailhead: Homestead Trail · 42.61074, -70.77526
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:39 AM · sunset 8:01 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Homestead Trail, heading S.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Bear's Den Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Bishop's Grave Cartway, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn right onto Pulpit Rock, heading SW.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Ancient Line Trail, heading S.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Spruce Swamp Trail, heading SE.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
- 300 ftBear left, heading W.
- 350 ftBear right onto Shiftlever, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Beach Chair Bluff, heading SE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Shiftlever, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 400 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 150 ftReach Gravelly Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 400 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Beach Chair Bluff, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Shiftlever, heading SE.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading NW.
- 350 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 300 ftTurn right onto Spruce Swamp Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Ancient Line Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Pulpit Rock, heading NE.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
- 450 ftTurn right onto Bishop's Grave Cartway, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Bear's Den Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Homestead Trail, heading NE.
- 0.7 miArrive 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 1.2 mi in (~32 min). Leave by 7:09 PM for the 8:01 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Homestead Trail Trailhead
- Millstone Hill–Bear's Den Trail, 3 sights 3.3 mi · ▲ 206 ft
- The Monoliths–Bear's Den Trail, 4 sights 4 mi · ▲ 220 ft
- Ancient Line Trail–Bear's Den Trail, 6 sights 4.4 mi · ▲ 172 ft
- Bear's Den Trail–Bishop's Grave Cartway Loop, 5 sights 4.5 mi · ▲ 407 ft
- Conomo Drive–Homestead Trail, 3 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 243 ft
- Caeser's Lane–Gas Line, 4 sights 4.8 mi · ▲ 250 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near South Essex, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near South Essex, Massachusetts