AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Whitney & Thayer Woods

Bigelow Boulder–Aaron River Reservoir, 5 sights

6.7 mi · ▲ 225 ft · 2 hr 21 min

Bigelow Boulder–Aaron River Reservoir, 5 sights is a 6.7-mile out-and-back in Whitney & Thayer Woods near Black Rock, MA. The route passes Bigelow Boulder and Aaron River Reservoir. It is mostly level, with 225 ft of elevation gain. It scores 3/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi46 – 118 ft7.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Bancroft Trail 42.23407, -70.82400
Nearest town Black Rock, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Bigelow Boulder–Aaron River Reservoir, 5 sights

6.7 mi · ▲ 225 ft · 2 hr 21 min

Elevation 46–119 ft

Out & Back · Whitney & Thayer Woods

Trailhead: Bancroft Trail · 42.23407, -70.82400

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 83°F / low 63° · precip 0% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 5:40 AM · sunset 8:00 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Bancroft Trail, heading S.
  2. 0.5 miPass Bigelow Boulder.
  3. 150 ftContinue straight onto Boulder Lane, heading W.
  4. 0.5 miBear right, heading NW.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  6. 350 ftBear left onto Ayer's Lane, heading S.
  7. 350 ftSharp left, heading S.
  8. 0.2 miBear left onto Milliken Memorial Path, heading S.
  9. 1.2 miTurn left onto Doane Street, heading SW.
  10. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  11. 0.2 miPass Aaron River Reservoir.
  12. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  13. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  14. 500 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  15. 350 ftReach Bigelow Boulder, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
  17. 450 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  18. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  19. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
  20. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Milliken Memorial Path, heading N.
  21. 0.7 miBear right onto Ayer's Lane, heading NW.
  22. 0.1 miSharp left, heading W.
  23. 450 ftBear right, heading NW.
  24. 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
  25. 0.2 miBear left onto Boulder Lane, heading N.
  26. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Bancroft Trail, heading E.
  27. 0.4 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/heron-pond-heron-pond-out-back-11-km-b340

Trail surface

55% dirt19% gravel6% paved20% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 83°F63°
Precip0%Wind7 mphUV7Humidity78%
Rained 0.4″ yesterday (0.7″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
85°60°
Sunrise 5:40 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:00 PM
Wed 85°64°
Thu 88°71° 26%
Fri 94°72° 27%
Sat 89°69° 36%
Sun 86°68° 16%
Mon 93°74° 15%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.2 mi in (~56 min). Leave by 6:44 PM for the 8:00 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:12 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Bancroft Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Black Rock, Massachusetts