Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center
Rattlesnake Mountain–Rattlesnake Viewpoint, 8 sights
5.5 mi · ▲ 1,334 ft · 2 hr 30 min
Rattlesnake Mountain–Rattlesnake Viewpoint, 8 sights is a 5.5-mile out-and-back in Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center near Northfield Farms, MA. The route passes Tooleybush Turnpike Sunset Point and Rattlesnake Mountain before reaching Rattlesnake Viewpoint at the turnaround, 2.8 miles in. It climbs 1,334 ft, with sections as steep as 53% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 27/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Rattlesnake Mountain–Rattlesnake Viewpoint, 8 sights
5.5 mi · ▲ 1,334 ft · 2 hr 30 min
Elevation 277–1,055 ft
Out & Back · Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center
Trailhead: 42.61043, -72.47225
Weather Sep 20: Heavy drizzle, high 58°F / low 50° · precip 69% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:36 AM · sunset 6:53 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 150 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto 10th Mountain Division, heading E.
- 450 ftBear left onto Hidden Quarry Trail, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Hemlock Hill, heading S.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Rose Ledge Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto West Slope Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Rock Oak Ramble, heading E.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto West Slope Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Summit Trail, heading NE.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Tooleybush Turnpike, heading E.
- 0.1 miPass Tooleybush Turnpike Sunset Point.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto 10th Mountain Division, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Blue Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Yellow Trail, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Red Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Rattlesnake Loop, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Mohawk Path, heading SW.
- 300 ftPass Rattlesnake Viewpoint.
- 100 ftReach Rattlesnake Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 350 ftTurn left onto Rattlesnake Loop, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Red Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Yellow Trail, heading NE.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Blue Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto 10th Mountain Division, heading NW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Tooleybush Turnpike, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Summit Trail, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto West Slope Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Rock Oak Ramble, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right onto West Slope Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Rose Ledge Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Hemlock Hill, heading SW.
- 300 ftTurn right onto Hidden Quarry Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right onto 10th Mountain Division, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
- 150 ftSharp left, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right, heading N.
- 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 0.5 mi in (~18 min). Leave by 6:14 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:20 PM — 1 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Tooleybush Turnpike Sunset Point–10th Mountain Division, 8 sights 8.6 mi · ▲ 1,705 ft
- Introductory Buttress–Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center Sunset Point, 4 sights 2.6 mi · ▲ 718 ft
- Waterfall–Tooleybush Turnpike Sunset Point, 7 sights 5.3 mi · ▲ 1,197 ft
- Northfield Mountain–Northfield Mountain Reservoir, 5 sights 3.1 mi · ▲ 843 ft
- Tooleybush Turnpike Sunset Point–10th Mountain Division, 5 sights 4.9 mi · ▲ 1,221 ft
- Northfield Mountain Reservoir & Bobcat Trail via Hemlock Hill 2.3 mi · ▲ 709 ft
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