North Reservoir–South Reservoir, 6 sights
5.3 mi · ▲ 496 ft · 2 hr 1 min
North Reservoir–South Reservoir, 6 sights is a 5.3-mile out-and-back in Middlesex Fells Reservation near West Medford, MA. The route passes South Reservoir and Middle Reservoir before reaching North Reservoir at the turnaround, 2.5 miles in. It climbs 496 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 2/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
North Reservoir–South Reservoir, 6 sights
5.3 mi · ▲ 496 ft · 2 hr 1 min
Elevation 97–223 ft
Out & Back · Middlesex Fells Reservation
Trailhead: 42.43142, -71.12453
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: Winthrop St @ Medford HS stop 415 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading E.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 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.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Middle Reservoir Road, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Reservoir Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 200 ftReach North Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Middle Reservoir Road, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left onto Reservoir Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Nanepashemet Road, heading S.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Reservoir Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Nanepashemet Road, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 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 SW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Nanepashemet Road, heading S.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Reservoir Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Nanepashemet Road, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Reservoir Trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading SW.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
- 450 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.2 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 2.5 mi in (~71 min). Leave by 6:33 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:27 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Winthrop St @ Medford HS stop 415 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Pasture Hill & Rock Hill Loop via Ram's Head Road 1.9 mi · ▲ 174 ft
- East Dam Road 2.2 mi · ▲ 376 ft
- Wenepoykin Hill via East Dam Road 2.3 mi · ▲ 386 ft
- Pine Hill–Skyline Viewpoint, 4 sights 2.5 mi · ▲ 394 ft
- Quarry Spring–Bellevue Pond, 3 sights 2.5 mi · ▲ 314 ft
- Rock Hill–Bellevue Pond Loop, 3 sights 2.9 mi · ▲ 284 ft
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