Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside

4.7 mi · ▲ 58 ft · 1 hr 36 min

Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside is a 4.7-mile out-and-back in Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge near Lower Village, MA. It is mostly level, with 58 ft of elevation gain. It scores 6/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi187 – 246 ft5.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.40356, -71.49146
Nearest town Lower Village, MA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside

4.7 mi · ▲ 58 ft · 1 hr 36 min

Elevation 187–247 ft

Out & Back · Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

Trailhead: 42.40356, -71.49146

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  3. 0.7 miTurn left, heading NE.
  4. 50 ftTurn right onto Patrol Road, heading E.
  5. 200 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  6. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  7. 300 ftBear right, heading SE.
  8. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  9. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  10. 400 ftBear right, heading E.
  11. 0.5 miTurn right onto Fisher Trail, heading SW.
  12. 0.6 miTurn right onto Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside, heading S.
  13. 50 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  14. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  15. 100 ftContinue straight onto Fisher Trail, heading S.
  16. 1 miBear left, heading N.
  17. 400 ftTurn left, heading N.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  19. 100 ftTurn right, heading N.
  20. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  21. 300 ftTurn right, heading W.
  22. 100 ftTurn left onto Patrol Road, heading W.
  23. 200 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  24. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  25. 0.7 miTurn left, heading NW.
  26. 0.2 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

49% dirt10% paved41% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:32 AMSunset 6:49 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~26 min). Leave by 6:02 PM for the 6:49 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:30 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead