NHESP-certified vernal pool–Old Millpond, 5 sights

5.3 mi · ▲ 316 ft · 1 hr 55 min

NHESP-certified vernal pool–Old Millpond, 5 sights is a 5.3-mile out-and-back near Harvard Station, MA. The route passes Old Millpond before reaching NHESP-certified vernal pool at the turnaround, 2.6 miles in. It climbs 316 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 7/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi226 – 377 ft5.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Harvard Park 42.53049, -71.58379
Nearest town Harvard Station, MA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

NHESP-certified vernal pool–Old Millpond, 5 sights

5.3 mi · ▲ 316 ft · 1 hr 55 min

Elevation 227–378 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Harvard Park · 42.53049, -71.58379

Weather Sep 20: Light rain, high 58°F / low 47° · precip 55% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 6:49 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Harvard Park, heading N.
  2. 0.3 miTurn left onto Stone Field, heading E.
  3. 50 ftPass Old Millpond.
  4. 300 ftContinue straight onto Harvard Snowmobile Club Trail, heading N.
  5. 0.6 miSharp left onto Harvard Snowmobile Club Trail (permit required), heading S.
  6. 50 ftTurn right onto Harvard Snowmobile Club Trail, heading S.
  7. 0.4 miTurn right onto Blomfelt (Yellow Blaze), heading N.
  8. 0.8 miTurn left onto Holy Hill (blue blaze), heading S.
  9. 250 ftContinue straight onto Holy Hill (yellow blaze), heading E.
  10. 100 ftTurn right onto Holy Hill (unmarked path), heading E.
  11. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Holy Hill (blue blaze), heading E.
  12. 350 ftBear right onto Holy Hill (steep) (blue blaze), heading SE.
  13. 0.1 miTurn left onto Holy Hill (yellow blaze), heading S.
  14. 0.2 miTurn left onto Holy Hill (blue blaze), heading S.
  15. 500 ftReach NHESP-certified vernal pool, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 450 ftTurn right onto Holy Hill (yellow blaze), heading S.
  17. 0.2 miTurn right onto Holy Hill (steep) (blue blaze), heading NE.
  18. 0.1 miBear left onto Holy Hill (blue blaze), heading N.
  19. 350 ftContinue straight onto Holy Hill (unmarked path), heading N.
  20. 0.1 miTurn left onto Holy Hill (yellow blaze), heading N.
  21. 100 ftContinue straight onto Holy Hill (blue blaze), heading N.
  22. 0.8 miTurn left onto Harvard Snowmobile Club Trail, heading W.
  23. 0.4 miTurn left onto Harvard Snowmobile Club Trail (permit required), heading S.
  24. 50 ftSharp right onto Harvard Snowmobile Club Trail, heading S.
  25. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Stone Field, heading W.
  26. 300 ftTurn right onto Harvard Park, heading SW.
  27. 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Light rainTemperature 58°F47°
Precip55%Wind4 mphUV1Humidity98%
Rained 1.2″ 7 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
60°45° 5 AM: 2% rain6 AM: 8% rain7 AM: 1% rain8 AM: 4% rain9 AM: 8% rain10 AM: 5% rain11 AM: 24% rain12 PM: 35% rain1 PM: 44% rain2 PM: 52% rain3 PM: 54% rain4 PM: 37% rain5 PM: 39% rain6 PM: 55% rain7 PM: 44% rain8 PM: 37% rain9 PM: 43% rain10 PM: 39% rain11 PM: 37% rain
Sunrise 6:32 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:49 PM
Mon 66°53° 38%
Tue 60°45°
Wed 61°43°
Thu 63°41°
Fri 63°47° 35%
Sat 60°51° 40%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.5 mi in (~64 min). Leave by 5:25 PM for the 6:49 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:08 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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