Balance Rock–Harrington/Mid State Viewpoint, 12 sights is a 10-mile out-and-back in Wachusett Mountain State Reservation near Leino Park, MA. The route passes Balance Rock, Harrington/Mid State Viewpoint, Siplas Pool and Farm Pond before reaching Rock Fire Pond at the turnaround, 5 miles in. It climbs 2,052 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 49/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi1,027 – 2,001 ft · steepest grade: 28%10.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 42.50266, -71.88671
Nearest town Leino Park, MA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Balance Rock–Harrington/Mid State Viewpoint, 12 sights
10 mi · ▲ 2,052 ft · 4 hr 22 min
Elevation 1,028–2,000 ft
Out & Back · Wachusett Mountain State Reservation
Trailhead: 42.50266, -71.88671
Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 78°F / low 63° · precip 0% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 5:43 AM · sunset 8:05 PM
Transit-accessible: Wachusett Shuttle Stop stop 89 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Midstate Trail, heading NW.
- 150 ftBear left onto Balance Rock Trail, heading NW.
- 0.3 miPass Balance Rock.
- 200 ftBear right onto Balance Rock Road, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Old Indian Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Semuhenna Trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto West Side Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Old Indian Trail, heading NE.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Harrington Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left onto Harrington/Mid State Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miPass Harrington/Mid State Viewpoint.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Link Trail/Harrington/Mid State, heading SW.
- 250 ftBear left onto Harrington/Mid State Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto West Road, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Harrington/Mid State Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miPass Siplas Pool.
- 1.9 miPass Farm Pond.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Beaver Bend/Midstate Trail/Goodnow Road, heading SW.
- 350 ftTurn left onto Beaver Bend Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Pasture Trail, heading W.
- 450 ftPass Rock Fire Pond.
- 150 ftReach Balance Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Beaver Bend Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Beaver Bend/Midstate Trail/Goodnow Road, heading NE.
- 350 ftTurn left onto Chapman/Midstate Trail, heading N.
- 2.3 miTurn right onto West Road, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Harrington/Mid State Trail, heading NE.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Link Trail/Harrington/Mid State, heading NE.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Harrington/Mid State Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Harrington Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Old Indian Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miSharp left onto West Side Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Semuhenna Trail, heading NW.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Old Indian Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Balance Rock Road, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left onto Balance Rock Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Midstate Trail, heading N.
- 400 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
97% dirt3% unspecified
Weather
OvercastTemperature 78°F63°
Precip0%Wind7 mphUV7Humidity75%
Rained 1.4″ yesterday (4.2″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
80°60°
Sunrise 5:43 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:05 PM
Wed
79°64°
Thu
86°66°
46%
Fri
92°69°
34%
Sat
89°69°
35%
Sun
93°67°
Mon
90°69°
16%
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Wachusett Shuttle Stop stop 89 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Mount Wachusett–Balance Rock, 5 sights 3.3 mi · ▲ 970 ft
- Balance Rock–Harrington/Mid State Viewpoint, 6 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 1,632 ft
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