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, 8 lakes

3.1 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 2 min

Lower Impoundment–Upper Impoundment, 8 lakes is a 3.1-mile out-and-back in Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge near Concord, MA. The route passes Moore's Swamp, Upper Impoundment, Drainage and 3 more before reaching Main Dike Viewpoint at the turnaround, 1.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi115 – 141 ft3.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.46978, -71.34822
Nearest town Concord, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lower Impoundment–Upper Impoundment, 8 lakes

3.1 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 2 min

Elevation 114–139 ft

Out & Back · Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

Trailhead: 42.46978, -71.34822

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

No dogs on part of this route · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  4. 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
  5. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  6. 150 ftTurn right onto Old Manse Driveway, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftTurn left onto Minute Man NHP/North Bridge, heading SW.
  8. 0.2 miSharp left onto Reformatory Branch Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.2 miPass Moore's Swamp.
  10. 0.1 miTurn right onto Moore's Swamp Overlook, heading NE.
  11. 400 ftBear right onto Reformatory Branch Trail, heading E.
  12. 0.6 miPass Upper Impoundment.
  13. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  14. 50 ftPass Drainage.
  15. 50 ftTurn right onto Black Duck Creek Trail, heading NE.
  16. 200 ftPass Lower Impoundment.
  17. 50 ftPass Sweet Pepperbush.
  18. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  19. 0.1 miPass Highbush Blueberry.
  20. 50 ftBear right onto Main Dike Trail, heading N.
  21. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  22. 50 ftPass Main Dike Viewpoint.
  23. 50 ftReach Lower Impoundment, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  24. 0.2 miBear right onto Black Duck Creek Trail, heading SE.
  25. 350 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  26. 50 ftTurn right onto Reformatory Branch Trail, heading SE.
  27. 0.6 miBear left onto Moore's Swamp Overlook, heading SW.
  28. 400 ftTurn left onto Reformatory Branch Trail, heading SW.
  29. 0.3 miSharp right onto Minute Man NHP/North Bridge, heading SW.
  30. 0.2 miTurn right onto Old Manse Driveway, heading SW.
  31. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  32. 150 ftBear right, heading SW.
  33. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  34. 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  35. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  36. 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-main-dike-viewpoint-out-back-4-viewpoints-5-km

Trail surface

72% dirt23% gravel4% paved1% boardwalk

Weather

Sunrise 5:41 AMSunset 8:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~19 min). Leave by 7:25 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

Hikes near Concord, Massachusetts