AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside

3 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr

Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside is a 3-mile out-and-back in Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge near Pine Lake, MA. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 10/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi174 – 200 ft3.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.38605, -71.46307
Nearest town Pine Lake, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside

3 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr

Elevation 175–199 ft

Out & Back · Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

Trailhead: 42.38605, -71.46307

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:03 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 200 ftBear right, heading NW.
  3. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  4. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  5. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  6. 0.6 miTurn left onto Fisher Trail, heading W.
  7. 0.3 miSharp right onto Sweet Fern Trail, heading SE.
  8. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Fisher Trail, heading W.
  9. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  10. 50 ftTurn right onto Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside, heading SW.
  11. 50 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  12. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  13. 50 ftTurn right onto Fisher Trail, heading SW.
  14. 250 ftContinue straight onto Sweet Fern Trail, heading E.
  15. 0.3 miSharp left onto Fisher Trail, heading NW.
  16. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  17. 0.6 miBear left, heading E.
  18. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  19. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  20. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  21. 200 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/mass-central-rail-trail-wayside-out-back-5-km-1055

Trail surface

80% dirt20% paved

Weather

Sunrise 5:42 AMSunset 8:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:43 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 8:03 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:35 PM.

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