Grinding Rock Hill–Rock Hill, 7 sights
4.8 mi · ▲ 318 ft · 1 hr 46 min
Grinding Rock Hill–Rock Hill, 7 sights is a 4.8-mile out-and-back in Middlesex Fells Reservation near West Medford, MA. The route passes Rock Hill, South Reservoir and Middle Reservoir before reaching Grinding Rock Hill at the turnaround, 2.4 miles in. It climbs 318 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 2/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Grinding Rock Hill–Rock Hill, 7 sights
4.8 mi · ▲ 318 ft · 1 hr 46 min
Elevation 65–223 ft
Out & Back · Middlesex Fells Reservation
Trailhead: 42.42876, -71.12386
Weather Aug 4: Heavy rain, high 77°F / low 69° · precip 81% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 5:40 AM · sunset 8:03 PM
Transit-accessible: 475 Winthrop St @ Temple Shalom stop 222 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 250 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftPass Rock Hill.
- 300 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
- 200 ftTurn left onto Ram's Head Road, heading NE.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Reservoir Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miPass South Reservoir.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Nanepashemet Road, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Reservoir Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Nanepashemet Road, heading W.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Reservoir Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear right onto West Dam Road, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Molly's Spring Road, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Nanepashemet Road, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Reservoir Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Nanepashemet Road, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Reservoir Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftPass Middle Reservoir.
- 150 ftBear left, heading N.
- 200 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 350 ftReach Grinding Rock Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Nanepashemet Road, heading NW.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Reservoir Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Nanepashemet Road, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Molly's Spring Road, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn right onto West Dam Road, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Reservoir Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Nanepashemet Road, heading E.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Reservoir Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Nanepashemet Road, heading S.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Reservoir Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 150 ftBear left onto Ram's Head Road, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 200 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 200 ftSharp left, heading SW.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 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
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: 475 Winthrop St @ Temple Shalom stop 222 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Pine Hill–Rock Hill, 5 summits 2.8 mi · ▲ 248 ft
- Wenepoykin Hill–Rock Hill, 3 summits 2.9 mi · ▲ 310 ft
- Rock Hill–North Reservoir, 7 sights 5.6 mi · ▲ 347 ft
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