Manchester Essex Woods

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

0 mi39 – 141 ft7.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Homestead Trail 42.61074, -70.77526
Nearest town South Essex, MA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

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

  1. Start on Homestead Trail, heading S.
  2. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Bear's Den Trail, heading W.
  3. 0.2 miTurn right onto Bishop's Grave Cartway, heading W.
  4. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  5. 450 ftTurn right onto Pulpit Rock, heading SW.
  6. 0.5 miBear left onto Ancient Line Trail, heading S.
  7. 200 ftContinue straight onto Spruce Swamp Trail, heading SE.
  8. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  9. 300 ftBear left, heading W.
  10. 350 ftBear right onto Shiftlever, heading SW.
  11. 0.4 miTurn right onto Beach Chair Bluff, heading SE.
  12. 50 ftContinue straight onto Shiftlever, heading SE.
  13. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
  14. 400 ftTurn left, heading W.
  15. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  16. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  17. 450 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  18. 150 ftReach Gravelly Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  19. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  20. 450 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  21. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  22. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  23. 400 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  24. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Beach Chair Bluff, heading SE.
  25. 50 ftTurn left onto Shiftlever, heading SE.
  26. 0.4 miBear left, heading NW.
  27. 350 ftBear right, heading NW.
  28. 300 ftTurn right onto Spruce Swamp Trail, heading E.
  29. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Ancient Line Trail, heading NE.
  30. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  31. 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
  32. 50 ftContinue straight onto Pulpit Rock, heading NE.
  33. 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
  34. 450 ftTurn right onto Bishop's Grave Cartway, heading NE.
  35. 0.2 miTurn left onto Bear's Den Trail, heading N.
  36. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Homestead Trail, heading NE.
  37. 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

49% dirt2% gravel49% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:39 AMSunset 8:01 PM

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.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Homestead Trail Trailhead