AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Herman Covey Wildlife Management Area

Massachusetts Central Rail Trail

6.6 mi · ▲ 694 ft · 2 hr 33 min

Massachusetts Central Rail Trail is a 6.6-mile out-and-back in Herman Covey Wildlife Management Area near West Ware, MA. It climbs 694 ft, with sections as steep as 15% grade. It scores 25/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi371 – 669 ft · steepest grade: 15%7.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.26308, -72.34117
Nearest town West Ware, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Massachusetts Central Rail Trail

6.6 mi · ▲ 694 ft · 2 hr 33 min

Elevation 370–668 ft

Out & Back · Herman Covey Wildlife Management Area

Trailhead: 42.26308, -72.34117

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 79°F / low 60° · precip 0% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 5:46 AM · sunset 8:07 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  3. 0.4 miBear right, heading W.
  4. 2 miTurn right onto Crankie Caddie, heading SW.
  5. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left onto Out of Bounds, heading W.
  7. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  8. 150 ftTurn left onto Massachusetts Central Rail Trail, heading W.
  9. 300 ftContinue straight onto Bunker Hill, heading NW.
  10. 100 ftContinue straight onto Massachusetts Central Rail Trail, heading NW.
  11. 150 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  12. 150 ftContinue straight onto Bunker Hill, heading W.
  13. 100 ftContinue straight onto Massachusetts Central Rail Trail, heading SE.
  14. 300 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  15. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  16. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  17. 0.2 miBear right onto Crankie Caddie, heading NE.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  19. 2 miBear left, heading N.
  20. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  21. 0.4 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/massachusetts-central-rail-trail-out-back-11-km-1231

Trail surface

3% dirt97% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 79°F60°
Precip0%Wind3 mphUV7Humidity94%
Rained 3.1″ yesterday (5.7″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
80°60°
Sunrise 5:46 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:07 PM
Wed 79°63°
Thu 87°68° 50%
Fri 93°70° 39%
Sat 91°69° 41%
Sun 94°66° 15%
Mon 92°70° 19%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~37 min). Leave by 7:09 PM for the 8:07 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:52 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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Other ways to reach this destination

Hikes near West Ware, Massachusetts