AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Middlesex Fells Reservation

Grinding Rock Hill–South Reservoir, 5 sights

5 mi · ▲ 286 ft · 1 hr 49 min

Grinding Rock Hill–South Reservoir, 5 sights is a 5-mile out-and-back in Middlesex Fells Reservation near Medford, MA. The route passes South Reservoir and Middle Reservoir before reaching Grinding Rock Hill at the turnaround, 2.5 miles in. It climbs 286 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi46 – 223 ft5.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.42557, -71.11572
Nearest town Medford, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Grinding Rock Hill–South Reservoir, 5 sights

5 mi · ▲ 286 ft · 1 hr 49 min

Elevation 46–223 ft

Out & Back · Middlesex Fells Reservation

Trailhead: 42.42557, -71.11572

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 6:47 PM

Transit-accessible: High St @ Rural Ave - Winthrop Circle stop 497 m from the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
  3. 250 ftBear left, heading N.
  4. 250 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  5. 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
  6. 0.2 miTurn right onto Ram's Head Road, heading NW.
  7. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  8. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  9. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto Reservoir Trail, heading N.
  11. 0.4 miPass South Reservoir.
  12. 50 ftContinue straight onto Nanepashemet Road, heading NW.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Reservoir Trail, heading W.
  14. 50 ftContinue straight onto Nanepashemet Road, heading W.
  15. 250 ftContinue straight onto Reservoir Trail, heading W.
  16. 0.8 miTurn right onto Nanepashemet Road, heading N.
  17. 0.1 miTurn left onto Reservoir Trail, heading N.
  18. 50 ftContinue straight onto Nanepashemet Road, heading N.
  19. 200 ftTurn right, heading N.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto Reservoir Trail, heading NW.
  21. 150 ftPass Middle Reservoir.
  22. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  23. 200 ftBear left, heading NW.
  24. 350 ftReach Grinding Rock Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  25. 0.1 miTurn left onto Nanepashemet Road, heading NE.
  26. 200 ftContinue straight onto Reservoir Trail, heading NW.
  27. 50 ftTurn right onto Nanepashemet Road, heading NW.
  28. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  29. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Reservoir Trail, heading S.
  30. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Nanepashemet Road, heading S.
  31. 250 ftContinue straight onto Reservoir Trail, heading S.
  32. 50 ftContinue straight onto Nanepashemet Road, heading S.
  33. 100 ftContinue straight onto Reservoir Trail, heading S.
  34. 0.3 miBear right, heading SW.
  35. 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  36. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  37. 150 ftBear left onto Ram's Head Road, heading SW.
  38. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  39. 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
  40. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  41. 300 ftBear right, heading SW.
  42. 250 ftBear left, heading SW.
  43. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/grinding-rock-hill-out-back-8-km-6bf0

Trail surface

90% dirt10% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 6:47 PM

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: High St @ Rural Ave - Winthrop Circle stop 497 m from the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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Hikes near Medford, Massachusetts