Rattlesnake Hill–The Shield, 5 lakes
6.9 mi · ▲ 386 ft · 2 hr 30 min
Rattlesnake Hill–The Shield, 5 lakes is a 6.9-mile out-and-back in Blue Hills Reservation near Camp Sayre, MA. The route passes Hillside Pond, Kayla's Pond and Rattlesnake Hill before reaching The Shield at the turnaround, 3.4 miles in. It climbs 386 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 5/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Rattlesnake Hill–The Shield, 5 lakes
6.9 mi · ▲ 386 ft · 2 hr 30 min
Elevation 154–274 ft
Out & Back · Blue Hills Reservation
Trailhead: 42.21065, -71.09589
Weather Sep 21: Drizzle, high 64°F / low 54° · precip 44% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 6:31 AM · sunset 6:45 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Headquarters Path, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left, heading N.
- 400 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miPass Hillside Pond.
- 350 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Dark Hollow Path, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
- 400 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Red Dot Loop, heading E.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.6 miBear left, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right onto Headquarters Path, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading N.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Indian Camp Path, heading E.
- 400 ftPass Kayla's Pond.
- 0.2 miPass The Shield.
- 200 ftSharp left, heading NE.
- 150 ftReach Rattlesnake Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.8 miSharp left, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Headquarters Path, heading NW.
- 250 ftBear left, heading W.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Red Dot Loop, heading S.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading SW.
- 350 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Dark Hollow Path, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 400 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Headquarters Path, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 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
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.8 mi in (~45 min). Leave by 5:40 PM for the 6:45 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:45 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Houghton's Pond–M Wall, 8 sights 8.9 mi · ▲ 552 ft
- Nahanton Hill–Wampatuck Hill, 7 lakes 7.8 mi · ▲ 1,042 ft
- J Wall–K Wall, 6 sights 8.7 mi · ▲ 550 ft
- Little Blue Hill–Great Blue Hill, 5 summits 3.2 mi · ▲ 984 ft
- Breeze Hill–Blue Hills Reservation Beach Loop, 3 beaches 0.9 mi · ▲ 84 ft
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Hikes near Camp Sayre, Massachusetts