AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Brooks Woodland Preserve

Old Town Road–Tumbledown South, 3 sights

6.3 mi · ▲ 855 ft · 2 hr 32 min

Old Town Road–Tumbledown South, 3 sights is a 6.3-mile out-and-back in Brooks Woodland Preserve near Petersham, MA. It climbs 855 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade. It scores 25/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi764 – 1,024 ft · steepest grade: 21%6.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.49107, -72.17061
Nearest town Petersham, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Old Town Road–Tumbledown South, 3 sights

6.3 mi · ▲ 855 ft · 2 hr 32 min

Elevation 764–1,024 ft

Out & Back · Brooks Woodland Preserve

Trailhead: 42.49107, -72.17061

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:45 AM · sunset 8:07 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  3. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  4. 0.5 miBear left, heading SE.
  5. 450 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  6. 0.2 miTurn right onto Tumbledown North, heading SE.
  7. 0.2 miTurn left onto Tumbledown East, heading SE.
  8. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
  9. 400 ftBear right, heading SE.
  10. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  11. 250 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  12. 150 ftBear left, heading SE.
  13. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  14. 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
  15. 50 ftTurn right onto Quaker Drive, heading NE.
  16. 300 ftBear left onto Rutland Brook Trail, heading NE.
  17. 0.3 miSharp left onto Old Town Road, heading SE.
  18. 0.7 miSharp left onto Quaker Drive, heading N.
  19. 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
  20. 0.3 miBear right, heading SW.
  21. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  22. 250 ftSharp left, heading SE.
  23. 0.1 miBear right onto Tumbledown South, heading NW.
  24. 0.7 miSharp left onto Tumbledown West, heading N.
  25. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  26. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  27. 450 ftBear left, heading N.
  28. 1.3 miSharp left, heading N.
  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/old-town-road-out-back

Trail surface

37% dirt63% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:45 AMSunset 8:07 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.1 mi in (~62 min). Leave by 6:45 PM for the 8:07 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:22 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 this trailhead

Hikes near Petersham, Massachusetts