Walden pond December 2013.jpg
victorgrigas · CC BY-SA 3.0

Mount Misery–Walden Pond, 11 lakes is a 5.3-mile out-and-back in Walden Pond State Reservation near Meriams Corner, MA. The route passes Goose Pond, Walden Pond State Reservation Beach, Red Cross Beach and 7 more before reaching Mount Misery Viewpoint at the turnaround, 2.7 miles in. It climbs 329 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi118 – 276 ft6.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Goose Pond Spur 42.44705, -71.32859
Nearest town Meriams Corner, MA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mount Misery–Walden Pond, 11 lakes

5.3 mi · ▲ 329 ft · 1 hr 56 min

Elevation 118–274 ft

Out & Back · Walden Pond State Reservation

Trailhead: Goose Pond Spur · 42.44705, -71.32859

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:41 AM · sunset 8:03 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Goose Pond Spur, heading SW.
  2. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  3. 0.1 miPass Goose Pond.
  4. 0.3 miPass Walden Pond State Reservation Beach.
  5. 50 ftTurn right onto Pine Hill Spur, heading S.
  6. 150 ftBear right onto Goose Pond Trail, heading W.
  7. 350 ftPass Red Cross Beach.
  8. 50 ftPass Walden Pond.
  9. 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  10. 300 ftTurn left onto Lower Woods Path, heading NW.
  11. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  12. 50 ftBear left onto Ridge Path, heading SW.
  13. 450 ftPass Walden Pond State Reservation Beach.
  14. 200 ftTurn right onto Pond Path, heading W.
  15. 0.2 miPass Walden Pond State Reservation Beach.
  16. 500 ftPass Andromeda Pond (north).
  17. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  18. 200 ftPass Andromeda Pond (middle).
  19. 200 ftSharp right onto Esker Trail, heading SE.
  20. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  21. 450 ftBear right, heading S.
  22. 50 ftPass Andromeda Pond (south).
  23. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  24. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  25. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Adams Woods - Mt Misery Path, heading SW.
  26. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SE.
  27. 400 ftBear right, heading SW.
  28. 0.2 miPass Mount Misery Viewpoint.
  29. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  30. 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  31. 450 ftReach Mount Misery, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  32. 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
  33. 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  34. 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
  35. 0.6 miTurn right, heading NW.
  36. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  37. 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
  38. 450 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  39. 100 ftContinue straight onto Esker Trail, heading NE.
  40. 50 ftSharp left onto Pond Path, heading NE.
  41. 0.5 miTurn left onto Ridge Path, heading W.
  42. 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
  43. 50 ftTurn left onto Lower Woods Path, heading NW.
  44. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  45. 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  46. 150 ftContinue straight onto Goose Pond Trail, heading NE.
  47. 400 ftBear left onto Pine Hill Spur, heading NE.
  48. 150 ftTurn left onto Goose Pond Spur, heading NE.
  49. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
  50. 50 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

62% dirt4% gravel34% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:41 AMSunset 8:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.2 mi in (~56 min). Leave by 6:47 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:15 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Goose Pond Spur Trailhead