AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
R, Reformatory Branch Rail Trail, Concord MA.jpg
John Phelan · CC BY-SA 4.0
Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

Lower Impoundment–Upper Impoundment, 7 lakes

2.3 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 47 min

Lower Impoundment–Upper Impoundment, 7 lakes is a 2.3-mile out-and-back in Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge near West Bedford, MA. The route passes Highbush Blueberry, Lower Impoundment, Upper Impoundment and 3 more before reaching Moses Pond at the turnaround, 1.1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi118 – 157 ft3.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Main Dike Trail 42.47661, -71.33021
Nearest town West Bedford, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lower Impoundment–Upper Impoundment, 7 lakes

2.3 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 47 min

Elevation 117–159 ft

Out & Back · Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

Trailhead: Main Dike Trail · 42.47661, -71.33021

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

No dogs on part of this route · Toilets at the trailhead

  1. Start on Main Dike Trail, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftPass Highbush Blueberry.
  3. 50 ftPass Lower Impoundment.
  4. 50 ftPass Upper Impoundment.
  5. 50 ftPass Drainage.
  6. 0.1 miPass Sweet Pepperbush.
  7. 50 ftBear right onto Black Duck Creek Trail, heading S.
  8. 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  9. 50 ftTurn right onto Reformatory Branch Trail, heading S.
  10. 0.4 miPass Moore's Swamp.
  11. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  12. 450 ftTurn right, heading S.
  13. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  14. 150 ftBear right, heading S.
  15. 50 ftContinue straight onto Old Flooded Trail, heading S.
  16. 0.2 miTurn right onto Chestnut Hollow, heading SW.
  17. 50 ftTurn left onto Author's Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  18. 50 ftBear right onto Chestnut Path, heading SW.
  19. 200 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  20. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  21. 50 ftPass Moses Pond.
  22. 50 ftContinue straight onto Upland Avenue, heading SW.
  23. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sleepy Hollow Path, heading SW.
  24. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sleepy Hollow Avenue, heading SW.
  25. 150 ftContinue straight onto Sleepy Hollow Path, heading S.
  26. 50 ftTurn left onto Sleepy Hollow Avenue, heading S.
  27. 50 ftTurn left onto Ridge Path, heading S.
  28. 50 ftReach Lower Impoundment, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  29. 50 ftTurn right onto Sleepy Hollow Avenue, heading S.
  30. 50 ftTurn right onto Sleepy Hollow Path, heading S.
  31. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sleepy Hollow Avenue, heading S.
  32. 100 ftContinue straight onto Sleepy Hollow Path, heading SW.
  33. 50 ftContinue straight onto Upland Avenue, heading SW.
  34. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  35. 50 ftTurn right onto Chestnut Path, heading SE.
  36. 200 ftBear left onto Author's Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  37. 50 ftTurn right onto Chestnut Hollow, heading SE.
  38. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  39. 300 ftContinue straight onto Old Flooded Trail, heading SE.
  40. 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
  41. 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  42. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  43. 400 ftTurn right onto Reformatory Branch Trail, heading N.
  44. 0.5 miTurn left, heading NE.
  45. 50 ftTurn right onto Black Duck Creek Trail, heading NE.
  46. 300 ftBear left, heading N.
  47. 0.1 miBear right onto Main Dike Trail, heading NE.
  48. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/great-meadows-lookout-tower-borden-pond-out-back-5-lakes-6-km

Trail surface

82% dirt1% gravel17% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:41 AMSunset 8:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~27 min). Leave by 7:17 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:45 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Toilets at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

Hikes near West Bedford, Massachusetts