AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Walter Cowls Jones Working Forest

Roaring Brook Conservation Area–Bates Sanctuary, 3 groves

9.7 mi · ▲ 1,372 ft · 3 hr 55 min

Roaring Brook Conservation Area–Bates Sanctuary, 3 groves is a 9.7-mile out-and-back in Walter Cowls Jones Working Forest near Cushman, MA. The route passes Robert Frost Sunset Point and Bates Sanctuary before reaching Roaring Brook Conservation Area at the turnaround, 4.8 miles in. It climbs 1,372 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade. It scores 46/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi253 – 846 ft · steepest grade: 16%10.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.40338, -72.49155
Nearest town Cushman, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Roaring Brook Conservation Area–Bates Sanctuary, 3 groves

9.7 mi · ▲ 1,372 ft · 3 hr 55 min

Elevation 252–846 ft

Out & Back · Walter Cowls Jones Working Forest

Trailhead: 42.40338, -72.49155

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 79°F / low 61° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 5:46 AM · sunset 8:08 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.7 miBear right, heading SW.
  3. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  4. 1.1 miTurn left onto Robert Frost Trail, heading E.
  5. 0.3 miPass Robert Frost Sunset Point.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  7. 450 ftTurn left, heading E.
  8. 0.3 miTurn left onto Poverty Mountain Trail, heading E.
  9. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  10. 0.2 miSharp left, heading SE.
  11. 250 ftBear left, heading SE.
  12. 1.2 miContinue straight onto M&M Trail (Old Route), heading N.
  13. 0.5 miPass Bates Sanctuary.
  14. 0.1 miReach Roaring Brook Conservation Area, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 1.8 miBear right, heading SE.
  16. 200 ftSharp right, heading S.
  17. 0.2 miTurn left onto Poverty Mountain Trail, heading NW.
  18. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  19. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
  20. 450 ftTurn left onto Robert Frost Trail, heading SW.
  21. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
  22. 1.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  23. 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
  24. 0.7 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/roaring-brook-conservation-area-bates-sanctuary-out-back-16-km-695e

Trail surface

31% gravel4% dirt65% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 79°F61°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV7Humidity74%
Rained 1.1″ yesterday (3.9″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
80°60°
Sunrise 5:46 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:08 PM
Wed 79°65°
Thu 89°68° 57%
Fri 93°69° 39%
Sat 93°68° 36%
Sun 93°65°
Mon 92°69° 18%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.2 mi in (~66 min). Leave by 6:42 PM for the 8:08 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:22 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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