Wharton Plantation

Hells Gate (♦♦)

4.4 mi · ▲ 478 ft · 1 hr 42 min

Hells Gate (♦♦) is a 4.4-mile out-and-back in Wharton Plantation near East Groton, MA. It climbs 478 ft, with sections as steep as 15% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 45/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi187 – 358 ft · steepest grade: 15%4.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.62715, -71.50676
Nearest town East Groton, MA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Hells Gate (♦♦)

4.4 mi · ▲ 478 ft · 1 hr 42 min

Elevation 186–357 ft

Out & Back · Wharton Plantation

Trailhead: 42.62715, -71.50676

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:04 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  3. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  4. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  6. 0.7 miTurn right, heading S.
  7. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  8. 200 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  9. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  10. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  11. 400 ftTurn left onto Hells Gate (♦♦), heading SW.
  12. 50 ftReach Hells Gate (♦♦), then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  14. 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
  15. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
  16. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  17. 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  19. 0.7 miTurn right, heading W.
  20. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  21. 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
  22. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  23. 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

88% dirt10% gravel2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:42 AMSunset 8:04 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~26 min). Leave by 7:18 PM for the 8:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:45 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 this trailhead