AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Briar Swamp

Pigeon Hill–Cape Pond, 10 lakes

10 mi · ▲ 444 ft · 3 hr 33 min

Pigeon Hill–Cape Pond, 10 lakes is a 10-mile out-and-back in Briar Swamp near Eden Square, MA. The route passes Cape Pond, Cape Pond, Johnson Pit Quarry and 3 more before reaching Pigeon Hill at the turnaround, 5 miles in. It climbs 444 ft. It scores 6/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi56 – 203 ft11.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Delmater Sanctuary Path 42.64580, -70.59929
Nearest town Eden Square, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pigeon Hill–Cape Pond, 10 lakes

10 mi · ▲ 444 ft · 3 hr 33 min

Elevation 56–203 ft

Out & Back · Briar Swamp

Trailhead: Delmater Sanctuary Path · 42.64580, -70.59929

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:38 AM · sunset 8:01 PM

Transit-accessible: South Street & Eden Road stop 247 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 50 ftBear right onto Delmater Sanctuary Path, heading NW.
  3. 0.1 miSharp left, heading S.
  4. 450 ftBear right, heading SW.
  5. 400 ftTurn left, heading W.
  6. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  7. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  8. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  9. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  10. 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  11. 100 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  12. 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  13. 100 ftBear left, heading SW.
  14. 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  15. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  16. 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
  17. 250 ftBear right, heading SW.
  18. 450 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  19. 450 ftBear left onto NHL, heading W.
  20. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  21. 0.3 miBear right onto Old Joppa Road, heading NE.
  22. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Rum Runner, heading SW.
  23. 0.3 miPass Cape Pond.
  24. 450 ftBear left, heading NW.
  25. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
  26. 0.1 miPass Cape Pond.
  27. 450 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  28. 0.2 miTurn right onto Rocky Rd, heading W.
  29. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  30. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  31. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  32. 450 ftTurn right onto Dinosaur, heading N.
  33. 0.5 miTurn left onto Squam Path, heading W.
  34. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  35. 0.1 miPass Johnson Pit Quarry.
  36. 350 ftTurn left, heading N.
  37. 0.4 miPass Steel Derrick Quarry.
  38. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  39. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  40. 100 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  41. 450 ftPass Big Parker Pit.
  42. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  43. 450 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  44. 50 ftSharp right, heading N.
  45. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  46. 50 ftPass Little Parker Pit.
  47. 0.1 miSharp left, heading NE.
  48. 0.1 miReach Pigeon Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  49. 0.1 miSharp right, heading E.
  50. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  51. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  52. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  53. 450 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  54. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  55. 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  56. 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
  57. 0.4 miTurn right, heading W.
  58. 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
  59. 0.2 miTurn right onto Dinosaur, heading SW.
  60. 0.5 miTurn left, heading SW.
  61. 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
  62. 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
  63. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  64. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  65. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  66. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  67. 0.4 miBear right onto Rum Runner, heading S.
  68. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Old Joppa Road, heading SE.
  69. 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
  70. 0.3 miBear left onto NHL, heading E.
  71. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  72. 450 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  73. 450 ftBear left, heading E.
  74. 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  75. 100 ftTurn left, heading E.
  76. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  77. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  78. 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  79. 200 ftTurn right, heading E.
  80. 100 ftTurn left, heading E.
  81. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  82. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  83. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  84. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  85. 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  86. 350 ftBear left, heading NE.
  87. 450 ftSharp right onto Delmater Sanctuary Path, heading E.
  88. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  89. 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/pigeon-hill-cape-pond-out-back-15-lakes

Trail surface

55% dirt4% other41% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:38 AMSunset 8:01 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.0 mi in (~131 min). Leave by 5:30 PM for the 8:01 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:24 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: South Street & Eden Road stop 247 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Delmater Sanctuary Path Trailhead

Hikes near Eden Square, Massachusetts