Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center
Northfield Mountain–Introductory Buttress, 12 sights
5.3 mi · ▲ 1,108 ft · 2 hr 19 min
Northfield Mountain–Introductory Buttress, 12 sights is a 5.3-mile out-and-back in Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center near Farley, MA. The route passes Tooleybush Turnpike Sunset Point, Northfield Mountain, Northfield Mountain Reservoir and 3 more. It climbs 1,108 ft, with sections as steep as 30% grade. It scores 33/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Northfield Mountain–Introductory Buttress, 12 sights
5.3 mi · ▲ 1,108 ft · 2 hr 19 min
Elevation 478–1,094 ft
Out & Back · Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center
Trailhead: Mohawk Path · 42.59653, -72.44215
Weather Aug 4: Mostly clear, high 81°F / low 64° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 5:45 AM · sunset 8:08 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Mohawk Path, heading NW.
- 450 ftTurn left onto Rattlesnake Loop, heading S.
- 0.9 miBear left onto Yellow Trail, heading NW.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Blue Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto 10th Mountain Division, heading N.
- 0.2 miPass Tooleybush Turnpike Sunset Point.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Tooleybush Turnpike, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 450 ftPass Northfield Mountain Reservoir.
- 50 ftTurn left onto West Perimeter Road, heading E.
- 250 ftPass Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center Viewpoint.
- 150 ftReach Northfield Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 400 ftContinue straight onto Summit Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Tooleybush Turnpike, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Summit Trail, heading W.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Rose Ledge Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Hill N Dale, heading SW.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Rock Oak Ramble, heading W.
- 500 ftContinue straight onto Rose Ledge Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Lower Ledge Trail, heading SW.
- 200 ftPass Introductory Buttress.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Rock Oak Ramble, heading SW.
- 400 ftTurn left onto Talus Toe, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto 10th Mountain Division, heading S.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Blue Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Yellow Trail, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Orange Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Orange/White Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left onto Orange Trail, heading E.
- 500 ftPass Farley Ledge Caves.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Red Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Rattlesnake Loop, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Mohawk Path, heading N.
- 200 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.5 mi in (~24 min). Leave by 7:24 PM for the 8:08 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:35 PM — 5 min before dark.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Mohawk Path Trailhead
- Green Trail via Rattlesnake Loop 2.1 mi · ▲ 586 ft
- Waterfall–Farley Ledge Caves, 4 sights 2.2 mi · ▲ 700 ft
- Northfield Mountain–Northfield Mountain Reservoir, 5 sights 3.1 mi · ▲ 673 ft
- The Slab–Buoux Buttress, 6 sights 3.5 mi · ▲ 706 ft
- Northfield Mountain Reservoir–Tooleybush Turnpike Sunset Point, 5 sights 3.7 mi · ▲ 731 ft
- Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center Sunset Point–Blue Trail, 3 sights 3.9 mi · ▲ 932 ft
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