AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary

Pierce Hill–Vernal Pool, 5 sights

3 mi · ▲ 328 ft · 1 hr 10 min

Pierce Hill–Vernal Pool, 5 sights is a 3-mile out-and-back in Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary near Sharon Heights, MA. The route passes Pierce Hill before reaching Vernal Pool at the turnaround, 1.5 miles in. It climbs 328 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 18/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi295 – 459 ft · steepest grade: 16%3.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Billings Loop 42.12305, -71.20853
Nearest town Sharon Heights, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pierce Hill–Vernal Pool, 5 sights

3 mi · ▲ 328 ft · 1 hr 10 min

Elevation 297–458 ft

Out & Back · Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary

Trailhead: Billings Loop · 42.12305, -71.20853

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 83°F / low 62° · precip 0% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:02 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Billings Loop, heading SW.
  2. 100 ftBear left onto Wood Thrush Way, heading SW.
  3. 500 ftTurn right onto Billings Loop, heading W.
  4. 0.2 miTurn left onto Bluff Trail, heading S.
  5. 0.5 miBear right onto Turkey Trail, heading SW.
  6. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Bluff Trail, heading W.
  7. 0.2 miBear right onto Bay Circuit Trail, heading SW.
  8. 0.3 miPass Vernal Pool.
  9. 0.1 miBear left onto Bay Circuit Trail (the hard way), heading NW.
  10. 100 ftReach Pierce Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 100 ftBear right onto Bay Circuit Trail, heading NW.
  12. 0.4 miBear left onto Bluff Trail, heading N.
  13. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Turkey Trail, heading E.
  14. 0.2 miBear left onto Bluff Trail, heading SE.
  15. 0.5 miTurn right onto Billings Loop, heading NW.
  16. 0.2 miTurn left onto Wood Thrush Way, heading N.
  17. 450 ftBear right onto Billings Loop, heading N.
  18. 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/pierce-hill-out-back-5-km-0862

Trail surface

90% dirt8% boardwalk1% gravel1% grass

Weather

OvercastTemperature 83°F62°
Precip0%Wind6 mphUV7Humidity79%
Rained 0.7″ yesterday (1.4″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
85°60°
Sunrise 5:42 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:02 PM
Wed 83°64°
Thu 90°70° 28%
Fri 96°71° 28%
Sat 92°69° 35%
Sun 95°67° 18%
Mon 95°72° 16%

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Billings Loop Trailhead

Hikes near Sharon Heights, Massachusetts