AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Bruce Freeman Rail Trail bridge over the Assabet River June 2025.jpg
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Old Rifle Range

Musquetaquid Pond–Kennedy's Pond, 5 lakes

5 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 41 min

Musquetaquid Pond–Kennedy's Pond, 5 lakes is a 5-mile out-and-back in Old Rifle Range near West Concord, MA. The route passes Diamond Crossing, Kennedy's Pond and Musquetaquid Pond before reaching Haywards Pond at the turnaround, 2.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 26 ft of elevation gain. It scores 3/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi118 – 177 ft5.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.46036, -71.39560
Nearest town West Concord, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Musquetaquid Pond–Kennedy's Pond, 5 lakes

5 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 41 min

Elevation 117–177 ft

Out & Back · Old Rifle Range

Trailhead: 42.46036, -71.39560

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:03 PM

Transit-accessible: West Concord stop 441 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftTurn right onto Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, heading SE.
  3. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  4. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  5. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  6. 50 ftPass Diamond Crossing.
  7. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  8. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  9. 0.7 miTurn right, heading W.
  10. 0.8 miPass Kennedy's Pond.
  11. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  12. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  13. 250 ftBear right, heading W.
  14. 50 ftBear left onto Target Trail (yellow), heading W.
  15. 0.1 miPass Musquetaquid Pond.
  16. 0.3 miPass Haywards Pond.
  17. 300 ftReach Musquetaquid Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 0.5 miBear right, heading SE.
  19. 100 ftBear left, heading S.
  20. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  21. 0.9 miTurn left onto Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, heading E.
  22. 0.7 miBear right, heading N.
  23. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  24. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  25. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  26. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/musquetaquid-pond-kennedys-pond-out-back-5-lakes-8-km

Trail surface

51% dirt39% paved10% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:42 AMSunset 8:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~17 min). Leave by 7:26 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:35 PM — 0 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: West Concord stop 441 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

Hikes near West Concord, Massachusetts