Groton School Pond–Dead River, 3 lakes
6.5 mi · ▲ 224 ft · 2 hr 17 min
Groton School Pond–Dead River, 3 lakes is a 6.5-mile out-and-back in The General Field near Groton, MA. The route passes Groton School Pond and Dead River. It is mostly level, with 224 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 9/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Groton School Pond–Dead River, 3 lakes
6.5 mi · ▲ 224 ft · 2 hr 17 min
Elevation 199–337 ft
Out & Back · The General Field
Trailhead: Nashua River Rail Trail · 42.59702, -71.57383
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:04 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Nashua River Rail Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftPass Groton School Pond.
- 150 ftBear left, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading W.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Gardner Terrace, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Wharton Road, heading NW.
- 450 ftPass Dead River.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Town Forest Road, heading NW.
- 50 ftReach Groton School Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Wharton Road, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Gardner Terrace, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 450 ftBear right, heading N.
- 200 ftTurn left onto Nashua River Rail Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 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 1.3 mi in (~32 min). Leave by 7:12 PM for the 8:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:51 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Nashua River Rail Trail Trailhead
- Groton School Pond via Nashua River Rail Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 56 ft
- Pine Isle–Groton School Pond, 3 groves 6.9 mi · ▲ 194 ft
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