Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary

Ovenbird Trail

8.3 mi · ▲ 423 ft · 2 hr 59 min

Ovenbird Trail is an 8.3-mile out-and-back in Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary near Willows, MA. It climbs 423 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 13/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi259 – 390 ft8.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.59663, -71.53204
Nearest town Willows, MA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Ovenbird Trail

8.3 mi · ▲ 423 ft · 2 hr 59 min

Elevation 260–392 ft

Out & Back · Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary

Trailhead: 42.59663, -71.53204

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 6:47 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
  3. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  4. 250 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  5. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  6. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  7. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  8. 0.3 miSharp left, heading E.
  9. 500 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  10. 450 ftBear right, heading SW.
  11. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  12. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  13. 1.4 miBear right, heading SW.
  14. 100 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  15. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  16. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  17. 450 ftBear left onto Chestnut Oak Loop Trail, heading S.
  18. 300 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  19. 150 ftTurn left onto Ovenbird Trail, heading SE.
  20. 0.2 miTurn left onto Heronry Trail, heading E.
  21. 150 ftContinue straight onto Fire Road, heading SE.
  22. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  23. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SE.
  24. 0.4 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  25. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
  26. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Heronry Trail, heading NW.
  27. 150 ftTurn right onto Ovenbird Trail, heading NW.
  28. 0.2 miTurn right onto Chestnut Oak Loop Trail, heading W.
  29. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  30. 350 ftBear right, heading NW.
  31. 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
  32. 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  33. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  34. 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
  35. 1.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  36. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  37. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  38. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  39. 500 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  40. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
  41. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  42. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  43. 0.2 miSharp left, heading SE.
  44. 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  45. 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
  46. 0.1 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

77% dirt23% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:33 AMSunset 6:47 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.1 mi in (~55 min). Leave by 5:32 PM for the 6:47 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:57 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead