AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside

5.3 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 47 min

Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside is a 5.3-mile out-and-back in Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge near Pine Lake, MA. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain. It scores 10/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi184 – 236 ft5.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.38661, -71.48596
Nearest town Pine Lake, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside

5.3 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 47 min

Elevation 184–237 ft

Out & Back · Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

Trailhead: 42.38661, -71.48596

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 6:47 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
  3. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  4. 200 ftTurn left onto Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside, heading S.
  5. 0.7 miTurn left, heading SE.
  6. 50 ftContinue straight onto Fisher Trail, heading SE.
  7. 1 miBear left, heading NE.
  8. 350 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  9. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  10. 50 ftTurn right onto Patrol Road, heading NW.
  11. 0.4 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  12. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
  13. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
  14. 400 ftBear right, heading SE.
  15. 0.5 miTurn right onto Fisher Trail, heading S.
  16. 0.6 miTurn right onto Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside, heading SW.
  17. 0.7 miTurn right, heading NW.
  18. 200 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  19. 300 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  20. 150 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-8-km-9f9e

Trail surface

34% paved28% dirt38% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:33 AMSunset 6:47 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.1 mi in (~53 min). Leave by 5:34 PM for the 6:47 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:54 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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