Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside

3.2 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 5 min

Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside is a 3.2-mile out-and-back in Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge near Pine Lake, MA. It is mostly level, with 26 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 10/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi174 – 200 ft3.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.38423, -71.46388
Nearest town Pine Lake, MA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside

3.2 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 5 min

Elevation 175–199 ft

Out & Back · Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

Trailhead: 42.38423, -71.46388

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  3. 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  4. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  6. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  7. 0.6 miTurn left onto Fisher Trail, heading W.
  8. 0.3 miSharp right onto Sweet Fern Trail, heading SE.
  9. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Fisher Trail, heading W.
  10. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  11. 50 ftTurn right onto Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside, heading W.
  12. 50 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  13. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  14. 50 ftTurn right onto Fisher Trail, heading SW.
  15. 250 ftContinue straight onto Sweet Fern Trail, heading SW.
  16. 0.3 miSharp left onto Fisher Trail, heading NW.
  17. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  18. 0.6 miBear left, heading E.
  19. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  20. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  21. 50 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  22. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  23. 0.1 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

81% dirt19% paved

Weather

Sunrise 5:42 AMSunset 8:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~4 min). Leave by 7:40 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:22 PM — 13 min before dark.

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