Rock Hill–North Reservoir, 7 sights
5.6 mi · ▲ 347 ft · 2 hr 2 min
Rock Hill–North Reservoir, 7 sights is a 5.6-mile out-and-back in Middlesex Fells Reservation near West Medford, MA. The route passes Rock Hill, South Reservoir and Middle Reservoir before reaching North Reservoir at the turnaround, 2.6 miles in. It climbs 347 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 2/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Rock Hill–North Reservoir, 7 sights
5.6 mi · ▲ 347 ft · 2 hr 2 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.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Middle Reservoir Road, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Reservoir Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miPass North Reservoir.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 200 ftReach Rock Hill, 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.
- 150 ftBear left onto Ram's Head Road, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
- 200 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 200 ftSharp left, heading E.
- 200 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
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.7 mi in (~74 min). Leave by 6:30 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
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
- Grinding Rock Hill–Rock Hill, 7 sights 4.8 mi · ▲ 318 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near West Medford, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near West Medford, Massachusetts