AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Wharton Plantation

Massapoag Pond–Lower Massapoag Pond, 4 sights

9.2 mi · ▲ 684 ft · 3 hr 25 min

Massapoag Pond–Lower Massapoag Pond, 4 sights is a 9.2-mile out-and-back in Wharton Plantation near East Groton, MA. The route passes Massapoag Pond before reaching Lower Massapoag Pond at the turnaround, 4.4 miles in. It climbs 684 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 37/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi164 – 364 ft9.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.61914, -71.52274
Nearest town East Groton, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Massapoag Pond–Lower Massapoag Pond, 4 sights

9.2 mi · ▲ 684 ft · 3 hr 25 min

Elevation 165–363 ft

Out & Back · Wharton Plantation

Trailhead: 42.61914, -71.52274

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:04 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Sledgehammer (■), heading N.
  3. 250 ftTurn left onto Sledgehammer (♦), heading N.
  4. 0.5 miBear left onto Secret Squirrel, heading N.
  5. 0.7 miTurn right onto Dan Parker Road, heading NW.
  6. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  7. 0.5 miTurn left onto Blood Road, heading NE.
  8. 0.9 miTurn right, heading N.
  9. 1.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
  10. 400 ftPass Massapoag Pond.
  11. 50 ftPass Lower Massapoag Pond.
  12. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  13. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  14. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  15. 200 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  16. 300 ftBear right, heading E.
  17. 250 ftReach Massapoag Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 250 ftBear left, heading SE.
  19. 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  20. 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
  21. 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
  22. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  23. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
  24. 2.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  25. 0.5 miBear left onto Dan Parker Road, heading SW.
  26. 0.2 miTurn left onto Secret Squirrel, heading SW.
  27. 0.7 miBear right onto Sledgehammer (♦), heading N.
  28. 0.5 miTurn right onto Sledgehammer (■), heading E.
  29. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/lower-massapoag-pond-out-back-15-km-7cf8

Trail surface

77% dirt23% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:42 AMSunset 8:04 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.2 mi in (~110 min). Leave by 5:54 PM for the 8:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:12 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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Hikes near East Groton, Massachusetts