Pierce Hill–Vernal Pool, 7 sights
5.2 mi · ▲ 733 ft · 2 hr 6 min
Pierce Hill–Vernal Pool, 7 sights is a 5.2-mile out-and-back in Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary near Walpole Heights, MA. The route passes Vernal Pool and Pierce Hill. It climbs 733 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 17/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Pierce Hill–Vernal Pool, 7 sights
5.2 mi · ▲ 733 ft · 2 hr 6 min
Elevation 206–458 ft
Out & Back · Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary
Trailhead: Old Post Road · 42.11344, -71.22859
Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 83°F / low 63° · precip 0% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:02 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Old Post Road, heading SE.
- 0.1 miSharp left onto Bay Circuit Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftPass Vernal Pool.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Bay Circuit Trail (the hard way), heading NE.
- 50 ftPass Pierce Hill.
- 50 ftBear right onto Bay Circuit Trail, heading NE.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Bluff Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Turkey Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Bluff Trail, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Billings Loop, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Kettle Trail, heading E.
- 100 ftTurn right onto Bay Circuit Trail, heading E.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Hobbs Hill Loop, heading SE.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Bay Circuit Trail, heading NE.
- 200 ftReach Pierce Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 200 ftBear right onto Hobbs Hill Loop, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Bay Circuit Trail, heading SW.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Kettle Trail, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Billings Loop, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Bluff Trail, heading W.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Turkey Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Bluff Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Bay Circuit Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Bay Circuit Trail (the hard way), heading W.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Bay Circuit Trail, heading SW.
- 450 ftSharp right onto Old Post Road, heading S.
- 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 surface
Weather
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Old Post Road Trailhead
- Pierce Hill–Vernal Pool, 3 summits 1 mi · ▲ 139 ft
- Mass Audubon Society–Vernal Pool, 3 groves 2.8 mi · ▲ 108 ft
- Moose Hill–Pierce Hill, 5 summits 4.9 mi · ▲ 657 ft
- Moose Hill–Pierce Hill, 7 sights 6.9 mi · ▲ 718 ft
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