AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary

Shelter Ledge–Upper Long Pond, 6 sights

3.7 mi · ▲ 234 ft · 1 hr 21 min

Shelter Ledge–Upper Long Pond, 6 sights is a 3.7-mile out-and-back in Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary near Willows, MA. The route passes Heronry Viewpoint and Shelter Ledge before reaching Upper Long Pond at the turnaround, 1.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 234 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 10/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi226 – 390 ft4.0 mi

Getting there

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

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Shelter Ledge–Upper Long Pond, 6 sights

3.7 mi · ▲ 234 ft · 1 hr 21 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 miSharp left onto Rocky Hill Trail, heading NW.
  8. 0.1 miBear right onto Vernal Pool Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.1 miTurn left onto Heronry Trail, heading W.
  10. 350 ftPass Heronry Viewpoint.
  11. 0.2 miReach Shelter Ledge, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 50 ftPass Upper Long Pond.
  13. 0.3 miTurn right onto Vernal Pool Trail, heading NE.
  14. 0.1 miBear left onto Rocky Hill Trail, heading E.
  15. 0.1 miSharp right, heading E.
  16. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SE.
  17. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
  18. 100 ftTurn right onto Anaconda, heading SE.
  19. 350 ftTurn left onto Fireroad, heading SE.
  20. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Copperhead, heading E.
  21. 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/heronry-viewpoint-out-back-4-km-d352

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:32 AMSunset 6:49 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~35 min). Leave by 5:54 PM for the 6:49 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:36 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