Shelter Ledge–Upper Long Pond, 4 rocks
3.5 mi · ▲ 277 ft · 1 hr 18 min
Shelter Ledge–Upper Long Pond, 4 rocks is a 3.5-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, 1.7 miles in. It climbs 277 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 12/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Shelter Ledge–Upper Long Pond, 4 rocks
3.5 mi · ▲ 277 ft · 1 hr 18 min
Elevation 243–392 ft
Out & Back · Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary
Trailhead: Fireroad · 42.57829, -71.52325
Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 83°F / low 62° · precip 0% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:04 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Fireroad, heading SW.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.5 miSharp left onto Rocky Hill Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Vernal Pool Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Heronry Trail, heading W.
- 350 ftPass Heronry Viewpoint.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftPass Upper Long Pond.
- 350 ftReach Shelter Ledge, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Vernal Pool Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Rocky Hill Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading NE.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Fireroad, heading SE.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~29 min). Leave by 7:15 PM for the 8:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:47 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
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