AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Briar Swamp

Cape Pond–Upper Pit / Carlson's Reservoir, 8 sights

8.2 mi · ▲ 225 ft · 2 hr 51 min

Cape Pond–Upper Pit / Carlson's Reservoir, 8 sights is an 8.2-mile out-and-back in Briar Swamp near Eden Square, MA. The route passes Cape Pond, Cape Pond and Butman Pit before reaching Upper Pit / Carlson's Reservoir at the turnaround, 4.1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 225 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 5/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi66 – 190 ft9.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.64980, -70.60456
Nearest town Eden Square, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Cape Pond–Upper Pit / Carlson's Reservoir, 8 sights

8.2 mi · ▲ 225 ft · 2 hr 51 min

Elevation 66–190 ft

Out & Back · Briar Swamp

Trailhead: 42.64980, -70.60456

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:38 AM · sunset 8:01 PM

Transit-accessible: South Street & Jerdens Lane stop 593 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.7 miTurn right onto Old Joppa Road, heading N.
  3. 500 ftContinue straight onto Rum Runner, heading NW.
  4. 0.3 miPass Cape Pond.
  5. 300 ftBear left, heading NW.
  6. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  7. 0.1 miPass Cape Pond.
  8. 350 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  9. 0.2 miTurn right onto Rocky Rd, heading NW.
  10. 350 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  11. 450 ftTurn right onto Tarr Trail, heading N.
  12. 0.5 miBear right, heading N.
  13. 100 ftSharp right, heading N.
  14. 0.3 miBear left onto Dinosaur, heading NE.
  15. 0.5 miTurn right onto Squam Path, heading N.
  16. 250 ftTurn left onto Bad Dog, heading N.
  17. 0.6 miPass Butman Pit.
  18. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  19. 450 ftPass Upper Pit / Carlson's Reservoir.
  20. 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
  21. 150 ftBear right onto Squam Hill Road, heading NE.
  22. 50 ftReach Cape Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  23. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  24. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  25. 0.1 miTurn left onto Bad Dog, heading E.
  26. 0.6 miTurn right onto Squam Path, heading SW.
  27. 250 ftTurn left onto Dinosaur, heading S.
  28. 0.5 miBear right, heading SE.
  29. 0.2 miSharp left onto Tarr Trail, heading S.
  30. 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  31. 450 ftTurn right onto Rocky Rd, heading E.
  32. 350 ftTurn left, heading S.
  33. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  34. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  35. 0.4 miBear right onto Rum Runner, heading NE.
  36. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Old Joppa Road, heading E.
  37. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  38. 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/high-rock-cape-pond-out-back-9-sights-10-km

Trail surface

60% dirt2% other38% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:38 AMSunset 8:01 PM

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: South Street & Jerdens Lane stop 593 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Eden Square, Massachusetts