AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary

Shelter Ledge–Lost Lake, 4 lakes

7.6 mi · ▲ 313 ft · 2 hr 41 min

Shelter Ledge–Lost Lake, 4 lakes is a 7.6-mile out-and-back in Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary near Willows, MA. The route passes Lost Lake, Heronry Viewpoint and Shelter Ledge before reaching Upper Long Pond at the turnaround, 3.8 miles in. It climbs 313 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 17/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi230 – 345 ft8.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.58974, -71.53296
Nearest town Willows, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Shelter Ledge–Lost Lake, 4 lakes

7.6 mi · ▲ 313 ft · 2 hr 41 min

Elevation 230–343 ft

Out & Back · Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary

Trailhead: 42.58974, -71.53296

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 82°F / low 61° · precip 0% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:04 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 50 ftPass Lost Lake.
  3. 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
  4. 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
  5. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  6. 200 ftBear right, heading N.
  7. 0.3 miBear left, heading NE.
  8. 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  9. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  10. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NW.
  11. 500 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  12. 450 ftBear right, heading W.
  13. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  14. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  15. 1.4 miBear right, heading SE.
  16. 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  17. 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  19. 450 ftBear left onto Chestnut Oak Loop Trail, heading SE.
  20. 300 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  21. 150 ftTurn left onto Ovenbird Trail, heading SE.
  22. 0.2 miTurn right onto Heronry Trail, heading S.
  23. 350 ftPass Heronry Viewpoint.
  24. 0.2 miPass Upper Long Pond.
  25. 150 ftReach Shelter Ledge, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  26. 0.3 miTurn left onto Ovenbird Trail, heading SW.
  27. 0.2 miTurn right onto Chestnut Oak Loop Trail, heading N.
  28. 100 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  29. 350 ftBear right, heading N.
  30. 450 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  31. 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
  32. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  33. 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
  34. 1.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  35. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  36. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  37. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  38. 500 ftSharp right, heading N.
  39. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
  40. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  41. 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
  42. 0.3 miBear left, heading SE.
  43. 200 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  44. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  45. 200 ftBear right, heading SW.
  46. 450 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/lost-lake-out-back-16-km-e61b

Trail surface

67% dirt33% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 82°F61°
Precip0%Wind6 mphUV7Humidity83%
Rained 0.8″ yesterday (1.7″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
85°60°
Sunrise 5:42 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:04 PM
Wed 84°63°
Thu 87°70° 30%
Fri 95°71° 32%
Sat 94°68° 32%
Sun 94°68°
Mon 92°72°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.3 mi in (~87 min). Leave by 6:17 PM for the 8:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:45 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Other ways to reach this destination

Hikes near Willows, Massachusetts