AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary

Heronry Trail

3.4 mi · ▲ 142 ft · 1 hr 12 min

Heronry Trail is a 3.4-mile out-and-back in Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary near Willows, MA. It is mostly level, with 142 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 21/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi259 – 345 ft3.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.59294, -71.54313
Nearest town Willows, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Heronry Trail

3.4 mi · ▲ 142 ft · 1 hr 12 min

Elevation 260–345 ft

Out & Back · Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary

Trailhead: 42.59294, -71.54313

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 0.6 miBear right, heading S.
  3. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  4. 0.1 miBear right, heading SE.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  6. 450 ftBear left onto Chestnut Oak Loop Trail, heading SE.
  7. 350 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  8. 150 ftTurn left onto Ovenbird Trail, heading SE.
  9. 0.2 miTurn left onto Fire Road, heading SE.
  10. 100 ftContinue straight onto Heronry Trail, heading SE.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Fire Road, heading SE.
  12. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Heronry Trail, heading E.
  13. 200 ftTurn right, heading E.
  14. 0.1 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  15. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  16. 250 ftContinue straight onto Fire Road, heading SW.
  17. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Heronry Trail, heading W.
  18. 50 ftContinue straight onto Fire Road, heading W.
  19. 50 ftTurn right onto Ovenbird Trail, heading W.
  20. 0.2 miTurn right onto Chestnut Oak Loop Trail, heading NW.
  21. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  22. 350 ftBear right, heading W.
  23. 450 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  24. 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  25. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  26. 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
  27. 0.6 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/heronry-trail-out-back-6-km-4476

Trail surface

91% dirt9% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:32 AMSunset 6:49 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~11 min). Leave by 6:18 PM for the 6:49 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:15 PM — 2 min before dark.

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