Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge
Lake Boon–Towhee Trail, 3 sights
5.9 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 2 hr
Lake Boon–Towhee Trail, 3 sights is a 5.9-mile out-and-back in Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge near Maynard, MA. The route reaches Lake Boon at the turnaround, 2.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 55 ft of elevation gain. It scores 13/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Lake Boon–Towhee Trail, 3 sights
5.9 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 2 hr
Elevation 177–228 ft
Out & Back · Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge
Trailhead: 42.42085, -71.45162
Weather Sep 21: Drizzle, high 60°F / low 47° · precip 52% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 6:49 PM
Transit-accessible: stop 265 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading W.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Taylor Way, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Harry's Way, heading S.
- 350 ftSharp right onto Towhee Trail, heading S.
- 0.8 miBear right, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn left onto White Pond Road, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Patrol Road, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
- 250 ftReach Lake Boon, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 250 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto White Pond Road, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
- 150 ftBear left onto Towhee Trail, heading N.
- 0.7 miSharp left onto Harry's Way, heading NE.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Taylor Way, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 350 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.9 mi in (~72 min). Leave by 5:17 PM for the 6:49 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: stop 265 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Gospel Hill–Puffer Pond, 6 sights 13.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Cuttings Pond–Rice Tavern Foundation, 4 lakes 3.5 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Harry's Way–Otter Alley Loop, 3 sights 5.6 mi · ▲ 29 ft
- Puffer Pond–Otter Alley Loop, 4 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 0 ft
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