Butternut Hill Wildlife Sanctuary
Harkness Conservation Area & Ice Pond Loop
5.2 mi · ▲ 750 ft · 2 hr 7 min
Harkness Conservation Area & Ice Pond Loop is a 5.2-mile out-and-back in Butternut Hill Wildlife Sanctuary near West Pelham, MA. The route reaches Harkness Conservation Area. It climbs 750 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade. It scores 17/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Harkness Conservation Area & Ice Pond Loop
5.2 mi · ▲ 750 ft · 2 hr 7 min
Elevation 354–783 ft
Out & Back · Butternut Hill Wildlife Sanctuary
Trailhead: 42.36308, -72.47059
Weather Sep 20: Light rain, high 60°F / low 54° · precip 66% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 6:36 AM · sunset 6:53 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 50 ftPass Harkness Conservation Area.
- 250 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Ice Pond Loop, heading N.
- 0.3 miReach Harkness Conservation Area, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Whsipering Winds Loop, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Ice Pond Loop, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.9 miBear right, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
- 250 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 1.9 mi in (~62 min). Leave by 5:31 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:00 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
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