AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary

Half Moon Pond–Anaconda, 3 sights

5.4 mi · ▲ 316 ft · 1 hr 57 min

Half Moon Pond–Anaconda, 3 sights is a 5.4-mile out-and-back in Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary near Willows, MA. The route reaches Half Moon Pond at the turnaround, 2.7 miles in. It climbs 316 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 17/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi226 – 390 ft5.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Copperhead 42.57494, -71.51795
Nearest town Willows, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Half Moon Pond–Anaconda, 3 sights

5.4 mi · ▲ 316 ft · 1 hr 57 min

Elevation 228–392 ft

Out & Back · Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary

Trailhead: Copperhead · 42.57494, -71.51795

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 6:49 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Copperhead, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftContinue straight onto Fireroad, heading S.
  3. 0.4 miTurn right onto Anaconda, heading NW.
  4. 350 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  5. 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  6. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  7. 0.5 miTurn left onto Fire Road, heading NW.
  8. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Heronry Trail, heading W.
  9. 50 ftContinue straight onto Fire Road, heading SW.
  10. 100 ftTurn right onto Ovenbird Trail, heading SW.
  11. 0.2 miTurn right onto Chestnut Oak Loop Trail, heading W.
  12. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  13. 350 ftBear right, heading NW.
  14. 450 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  15. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  16. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  17. 0.5 miReach Half Moon Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 0.5 miTurn right, heading E.
  19. 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
  20. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  21. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  22. 150 ftTurn left onto Ovenbird Trail, heading S.
  23. 0.2 miTurn left onto Fire Road, heading E.
  24. 100 ftContinue straight onto Heronry Trail, heading E.
  25. 50 ftContinue straight onto Fire Road, heading NE.
  26. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  27. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SE.
  28. 0.4 miTurn left, heading E.
  29. 100 ftTurn right onto Anaconda, heading SE.
  30. 350 ftTurn left onto Fireroad, heading SE.
  31. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Copperhead, heading NE.
  32. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/half-moon-pond-out-back-9-km-5cae

Trail surface

94% dirt6% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:32 AMSunset 6:49 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.1 mi in (~58 min). Leave by 5:31 PM for the 6:49 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:00 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Copperhead Trailhead

Hikes near Willows, Massachusetts