Upton State Forest

Peppercorn Hill–Lake Maspenock, 7 sights

10.1 mi · ▲ 1,075 ft · 3 hr 54 min

Peppercorn Hill–Lake Maspenock, 7 sights is a 10.1-mile out-and-back in Upton State Forest near Upton, MA. The route passes Lake Maspenock and Peppercorn Hill before reaching Walleston Viewpoint at the turnaround, 5.1 miles in. It climbs 1,075 ft. It scores 16/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi302 – 574 ft10.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Park Road 42.20944, -71.60576
Nearest town Upton, MA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Peppercorn Hill–Lake Maspenock, 7 sights

10.1 mi · ▲ 1,075 ft · 3 hr 54 min

Elevation 303–575 ft

Out & Back · Upton State Forest

Trailhead: Park Road · 42.20944, -71.60576

Weather Aug 4: Heavy rain, high 77°F / low 68° · precip 83% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 5:43 AM · sunset 8:04 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Park Road, heading E.
  2. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Whistling Cave Trail, heading SW.
  3. 100 ftBear right onto Park Road, heading SW.
  4. 0.6 miTurn right, heading SE.
  5. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SE.
  6. 100 ftContinue straight onto Nuthatch Trail, heading SW.
  7. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  8. 0.2 miBear left onto Powerline Trail, heading SE.
  9. 1.9 miBear right, heading E.
  10. 0.4 miBear left, heading NE.
  11. 350 ftBear right, heading E.
  12. 0.3 miPass Lake Maspenock.
  13. 0.2 miBear left onto Walleston Trail, heading NW.
  14. 0.2 miPass Walleston Viewpoint.
  15. 250 ftReach Peppercorn Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  17. 0.4 miBear left, heading S.
  18. 300 ftBear right, heading NW.
  19. 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
  20. 1.9 miBear right, heading W.
  21. 0.2 miTurn left onto Nuthatch Trail, heading W.
  22. 0.3 miTurn left onto Park Road, heading NW.
  23. 1 miBear left onto Whistling Cave Trail, heading N.
  24. 100 ftContinue straight onto Park Road, heading N.
  25. 0.5 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

49% dirt51% unspecified

Weather

Heavy rainTemperature 77°F68°
Precip83%Wind5 mphUV2Humidity79%
Rained 1″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
80°65° 12 AM: 1% rain1 AM: 1% rain2 AM: 5% rain3 AM: 16% rain4 AM: 61% rain5 AM: 71% rain6 AM: 64% rain7 AM: 59% rain8 AM: 74% rain9 AM: 83% rain10 AM: 78% rain11 AM: 67% rain12 PM: 75% rain1 PM: 63% rain2 PM: 79% rain3 PM: 54% rain4 PM: 44% rain5 PM: 39% rain6 PM: 38% rain7 PM: 33% rain8 PM: 7% rain
Sunrise 5:43 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:04 PM
Tue 82°63°
Wed 83°65°
Thu 84°68° 40%
Fri 94°71° 30%
Sat 91°70° 37%
Sun 95°70° 15%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.1 mi in (~136 min). Leave by 5:27 PM for the 8:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:35 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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