Mink Pond–Thoreau Pond, 4 sights
5.9 mi · ▲ 135 ft · 2 hr 2 min
Mink Pond–Thoreau Pond, 4 sights is a 5.9-mile out-and-back in Estabrook Woods near Carlisle, MA. The route passes Thoreau Pond and Mink Pond. It is mostly level, with 135 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 41/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Mink Pond–Thoreau Pond, 4 sights
5.9 mi · ▲ 135 ft · 2 hr 2 min
Elevation 161–232 ft
Out & Back · Estabrook Woods
Trailhead: Two Rod Road · 42.51584, -71.34107
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:31 AM · sunset 6:48 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Two Rod Road, heading S.
- 300 ftTurn left onto Highwater Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Two Rod Road, heading S.
- 1.6 miTurn right, heading S.
- 350 ftBear right, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto East Hubbard Trail, heading NW.
- 150 ftPass Thoreau Pond.
- 450 ftSharp right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto West Hubbard Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.1 miPass Mink Pond.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Esker Trail, heading W.
- 150 ftBear left onto Estabrook Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
- 100 ftReach Mink Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Esker Trail, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto West Hubbard Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto East Hubbard Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
- 350 ftTurn left onto Two Rod Road, heading NE.
- 1.6 miBear right onto Highwater Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Two Rod Road, heading N.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.2 mi in (~56 min). Leave by 5:32 PM for the 6:48 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:01 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Two Rod Road Trailhead
- Esker Viewpoint–Mink Pond, 5 lakes 4.9 mi · ▲ 115 ft
- Rockstrom Trail & Two Rod Road 3.2 mi · ▲ 28 ft
- Davis Trail 2.3 mi · ▲ 83 ft
- Circle Viewpoint–Circle Trail, 3 sights 2.8 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Blood Farm Trail 2 mi · ▲ 55 ft
- Thoreau Pond–Sachs Greenway, 4 sights 4.9 mi · ▲ 84 ft
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