AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center

Northfield Mountain–Introductory Buttress, 17 sights

10.2 mi · ▲ 1,766 ft · 4 hr 17 min

Northfield Mountain–Introductory Buttress, 17 sights is a 10.2-mile out-and-back in Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center near Sky Farm, MA. The route passes Tooleybush Turnpike Sunset Point, Northfield Mountain, Northfield Mountain Reservoir and 6 more. It climbs 1,766 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 34/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi561 – 1,139 ft · steepest grade: 22%10.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: connector 42.62703, -72.41759
Nearest town Sky Farm, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Northfield Mountain–Introductory Buttress, 17 sights

10.2 mi · ▲ 1,766 ft · 4 hr 17 min

Elevation 561–1,139 ft

Out & Back · Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center

Trailhead: connector · 42.62703, -72.41759

Weather Aug 4: Mostly clear, high 78°F / low 62° · precip 0% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 5:45 AM · sunset 8:08 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on NET/M&M Trail, heading S.
  2. 2.9 miTurn left onto Orange/White Trail, heading W.
  3. 0.2 miSharp right onto Orange Trail, heading S.
  4. 0.4 miTurn right onto Yellow Trail, heading SW.
  5. 150 ftBear left onto Blue Trail, heading SW.
  6. 0.1 miTurn right onto 10th Mountain Division, heading NW.
  7. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Tooleybush Turnpike, heading N.
  8. 50 ftPass Tooleybush Turnpike Sunset Point.
  9. 0.1 miSharp right onto Summit Trail, heading N.
  10. 0.1 miContinue straight onto West Perimeter Road, heading E.
  11. 50 ftPass Northfield Mountain Reservoir.
  12. 300 ftPass Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center Viewpoint.
  13. 100 ftReach Northfield Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  14. 400 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  15. 500 ftTurn left onto Tooleybush Turnpike, heading SW.
  16. 150 ftTurn right onto Summit Trail, heading SW.
  17. 200 ftContinue straight onto Rose Ledge Trail, heading W.
  18. 0.5 miPass Buoux Buttress.
  19. 50 ftPass The Slab.
  20. 150 ftContinue straight onto Lower Ledge Trail, heading S.
  21. 0.4 miPass Introductory Buttress.
  22. 150 ftTurn left onto Rock Oak Ramble, heading W.
  23. 350 ftTurn left onto Talus Toe, heading NW.
  24. 0.2 miTurn left onto 10th Mountain Division, heading SE.
  25. 0.7 miTurn right onto Blue Trail, heading N.
  26. 0.1 miBear right onto Yellow Trail, heading N.
  27. 0.5 miTurn left onto Red Trail, heading E.
  28. 50 ftPass Farley Ledge Caves.
  29. 0.3 miPass Waterfall.
  30. 250 ftTurn right onto NET/M&M Trail, heading NE.
  31. 350 ftBear left onto Gold Dot, heading N.
  32. 0.6 miBear right onto NET/M&M Trail, heading NE.
  33. 0.2 miSharp right onto Hermits Castle Trail, heading NE.
  34. 0.5 miBear right onto Spur, heading NE.
  35. 50 ftBear left onto Hermits Castle Trail, heading NE.
  36. 0.3 miBear left onto NET/M&M Trail, heading E.
  37. 1.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/northfield-mountain-introductory-buttress-out-back-18-sights

Trail surface

66% dirt34% unspecified

Weather

Mostly clearTemperature 78°F62°
Precip0%Wind8 mphUV7Humidity76%
Rained 1.7″ yesterday (3.5″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
80°60°
Sunrise 5:45 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:08 PM
Wed 78°62°
Thu 90°62° 59%
Fri 90°66° 37%
Sat 89°66° 37%
Sun 92°65°
Mon 88°66° 16%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:48 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 8:08 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:39 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from connector Trailhead

Hikes near Sky Farm, Massachusetts