AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Ashley Watershed

McLean Reservoir–Overlook, 12 lakes

15.1 mi · ▲ 1,694 ft · 5 hr 53 min

McLean Reservoir–Overlook, 12 lakes is a 15.1-mile out-and-back in Ashley Watershed near Ingleside, MA. The route passes Ashley Cutoff, Wright Cutoff, Wright Pond and 5 more. It climbs 1,694 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 7/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi236 – 699 ft · steepest grade: 19%16.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Whitney Avenue 42.17582, -72.65292
Nearest town Ingleside, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

McLean Reservoir–Overlook, 12 lakes

15.1 mi · ▲ 1,694 ft · 5 hr 53 min

Elevation 235–699 ft

Out & Back · Ashley Watershed

Trailhead: Whitney Avenue · 42.17582, -72.65292

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 81°F / low 62° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 5:47 AM · sunset 8:08 PM

Transit-accessible: LOWER WESTFIELD / HOMESTEAD stop 470 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 200 ftBear right, heading SW.
  3. 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
  4. 50 ftPass Ashley Cutoff.
  5. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Whitney Avenue, heading N.
  6. 0.3 miPass Wright Cutoff.
  7. 0.2 miPass Wright Pond.
  8. 500 ftTurn left, heading N.
  9. 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
  10. 350 ftPass Clear Pond.
  11. 150 ftTurn left onto Dailey's Road, heading N.
  12. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  13. 400 ftPass Clear Pond.
  14. 150 ftTurn right onto Trolley Trail, heading W.
  15. 0.4 miTurn left onto Pipeline Trail, heading N.
  16. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Old NET/M&M Trail, heading SW.
  17. 0.7 miPass McLean Reservoir.
  18. 150 ftTurn left onto NET/M&M Trail (white), heading SW.
  19. 0.8 miTurn left, heading S.
  20. 0.6 miPass Overlook.
  21. 50 ftPass Snake Pond.
  22. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  23. 0.4 miBear left, heading S.
  24. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Widow Maker, heading SW.
  25. 250 ftContinue straight onto NET/M&M Trail (white), heading NE.
  26. 100 ftContinue straight onto Widow Maker, heading NE.
  27. 0.2 miBear right onto NET/M&M Trail (white), heading SW.
  28. 0.4 miBear left onto Quarry Trail, heading E.
  29. 0.1 miTurn left onto Chumbawumba Trail, heading E.
  30. 0.5 miTurn right onto Tin Can, heading NE.
  31. 50 ftReach McLean Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  32. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  33. 0.5 miTurn right onto Quarry Trail, heading W.
  34. 0.1 miBear right onto NET/M&M Trail (white), heading SW.
  35. 0.4 miBear left onto Widow Maker, heading SW.
  36. 0.2 miContinue straight onto NET/M&M Trail (white), heading SW.
  37. 150 ftContinue straight onto Widow Maker, heading SW.
  38. 250 ftContinue straight onto NET/M&M Trail (white), heading SW.
  39. 1.1 miBear left, heading N.
  40. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
  41. 1.6 miTurn right onto Old NET/M&M Trail, heading N.
  42. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Pipeline Trail, heading E.
  43. 0.4 miTurn right onto Trolley Trail, heading NE.
  44. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
  45. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  46. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  47. 450 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  48. 450 ftTurn right, heading S.
  49. 1.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  50. 450 ftBear left, heading S.
  51. 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/overlook-snake-pond-out-back-9-lakes-25-km-3247

Trail surface

88% dirt6% gravel6% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 81°F62°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV7Humidity78%
Rained 1.4″ yesterday (3.9″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
85°60°
Sunrise 5:47 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:08 PM
Wed 80°62°
Thu 90°66° 55%
Fri 94°69° 42%
Sat 93°69° 35%
Sun 95°68°
Mon 91°69° 19%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.4 mi in (~151 min). Leave by 5:17 PM for the 8:08 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: LOWER WESTFIELD / HOMESTEAD stop 470 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Whitney Avenue Trailhead

Hikes near Ingleside, Massachusetts