AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Old Millpond–NHESP-certified vernal pool, 5 sights

4.9 mi · ▲ 282 ft · 1 hr 46 min

Old Millpond–NHESP-certified vernal pool, 5 sights is a 4.9-mile out-and-back near Shaker Village, MA. The route passes NHESP-certified vernal pool before reaching Old Millpond at the turnaround, 2.3 miles in. It climbs 282 ft, with sections as steep as 15% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 8/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi226 – 377 ft · steepest grade: 15%5.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Holy Hill (yellow blaze) 42.52950, -71.56244
Nearest town Shaker Village, MA
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Directions

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Old Millpond–NHESP-certified vernal pool, 5 sights

4.9 mi · ▲ 282 ft · 1 hr 46 min

Elevation 227–378 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Holy Hill (yellow blaze) · 42.52950, -71.56244

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 82°F / low 63° · precip 0% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:04 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Holy Hill (yellow blaze), heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass NHESP-certified vernal pool.
  3. 100 ftContinue straight onto Holy Hill (blue blaze), heading N.
  4. 500 ftTurn right onto Holy Hill (yellow blaze), heading NE.
  5. 0.2 miTurn right onto Holy Hill (steep) (blue blaze), heading NE.
  6. 0.1 miBear left onto Holy Hill (blue blaze), heading N.
  7. 300 ftContinue straight onto Holy Hill (unmarked path), heading N.
  8. 0.1 miTurn left onto Holy Hill (yellow blaze), heading N.
  9. 100 ftContinue straight onto Holy Hill (blue blaze), heading NW.
  10. 0.8 miTurn left onto Harvard Snowmobile Club Trail, heading W.
  11. 0.4 miTurn left onto Harvard Snowmobile Club Trail (permit required), heading W.
  12. 50 ftSharp right onto Harvard Snowmobile Club Trail, heading W.
  13. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Stone Field, heading S.
  14. 350 ftContinue straight onto Harvard Park, heading SW.
  15. 250 ftReach Old Millpond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 300 ftContinue straight onto Stone Field, heading E.
  17. 350 ftContinue straight onto Harvard Snowmobile Club Trail, heading E.
  18. 0.6 miSharp left onto Harvard Snowmobile Club Trail (permit required), heading NE.
  19. 50 ftTurn right onto Harvard Snowmobile Club Trail, heading NE.
  20. 0.4 miTurn right onto Blomfelt (Yellow Blaze), heading N.
  21. 0.8 miTurn left onto Holy Hill (blue blaze), heading SE.
  22. 250 ftContinue straight onto Holy Hill (yellow blaze), heading SE.
  23. 100 ftTurn right onto Holy Hill (unmarked path), heading E.
  24. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Holy Hill (blue blaze), heading E.
  25. 350 ftBear right onto Holy Hill (steep) (blue blaze), heading E.
  26. 0.1 miTurn left onto Holy Hill (yellow blaze), heading SE.
  27. 0.2 miTurn left onto Holy Hill (blue blaze), heading S.
  28. 450 ftContinue straight onto Holy Hill (yellow blaze), heading S.
  29. 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/nhesp-certified-vernal-pool-nhesp-certified-vernal-pool-out-back-4-lakes-10-km-9101

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

OvercastTemperature 82°F63°
Precip0%Wind6 mphUV7Humidity78%
Rained 0.6″ yesterday (1.8″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
85°60°
Sunrise 5:42 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:04 PM
Wed 84°64°
Thu 89°68° 29%
Fri 95°71° 32%
Sat 93°70° 31%
Sun 96°69°
Mon 95°72°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~31 min). Leave by 7:13 PM for the 8:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:51 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Holy Hill (yellow blaze) Trailhead

Hikes near Shaker Village, Massachusetts