AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Wachusett Meadows

Quartz Boulder–Wildlife Pond, 9 sights

2.3 mi · ▲ 174 ft · 51 min

Quartz Boulder–Wildlife Pond, 9 sights is a 2.3-mile out-and-back in Wachusett Meadows near Princeton Station, MA. The route passes Wildlife Pond, Farm Pond and Rock Fire Pond before reaching Quartz Boulder at the turnaround, 1.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 174 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 32/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi1,004 – 1,099 ft2.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: North Meadow Trail 42.45583, -71.90535
Nearest town Princeton Station, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Quartz Boulder–Wildlife Pond, 9 sights

2.3 mi · ▲ 174 ft · 51 min

Elevation 1,003–1,098 ft

Out & Back · Wachusett Meadows

Trailhead: North Meadow Trail · 42.45583, -71.90535

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 76°F / low 61° · precip 0% · wind 10 mph · sunrise 5:44 AM · sunset 8:05 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on North Meadow Trail, heading NW.
  2. 50 ftPass Wildlife Pond.
  3. 50 ftPass Farm Pond.
  4. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  5. 250 ftTurn left onto Chapman/Midstate Trail, heading SW.
  6. 0.2 miTurn right onto Beaver Bend/Midstate Trail/Goodnow Road, heading W.
  7. 350 ftTurn left onto Beaver Bend Trail, heading S.
  8. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Pasture Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.1 miPass Rock Fire Pond.
  10. 0.3 miTurn left onto Fern Forest Trail, heading S.
  11. 0.2 miReach Quartz Boulder, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 0.2 miTurn right onto Pasture Trail, heading E.
  13. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Beaver Bend Trail, heading N.
  14. 0.1 miTurn right onto Beaver Bend/Midstate Trail/Goodnow Road, heading NE.
  15. 350 ftTurn left onto Chapman/Midstate Trail, heading NE.
  16. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  17. 250 ftTurn right onto North Meadow Trail, heading E.
  18. 0.2 miArrive 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/quartz-boulder-wildlife-pond-out-back-5-lakes

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

OvercastTemperature 76°F61°
Precip0%Wind10 mphUV7Humidity71%
Rained 1.5″ yesterday (4.9″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
80°60°
Sunrise 5:44 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:05 PM
Wed 78°63°
Thu 86°67° 46%
Fri 91°68° 35%
Sat 90°67° 35%
Sun 90°65°
Mon 88°70° 16%

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from North Meadow Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Princeton Station, Massachusetts