AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Lake Cochituate arch on Cochituate Rail Trail (2), March 2022.JPG
Pi.1415926535 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cochituate State Park

Lake Cochituate (South Pond)–Lake Cochituate (North Pond), 6 lakes

6.1 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 4 min

Lake Cochituate (South Pond)–Lake Cochituate (North Pond), 6 lakes is a 6.1-mile out-and-back in Cochituate State Park near Natick, MA. The route passes Pegan Cove, Lake Cochituate (South Pond), Round Pond and 3 more. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi121 – 180 ft7.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.28856, -71.35035
Nearest town Natick, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Cochituate (South Pond)–Lake Cochituate (North Pond), 6 lakes

6.1 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 4 min

Elevation 123–181 ft

Out & Back · Cochituate State Park

Trailhead: 42.28856, -71.35035

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:03 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Transit-accessible: Natick Downtown MBTA Station stop 380 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 450 ftTurn right onto Cochituate Rail Trail, heading NW.
  3. 0.2 miPass Pegan Cove.
  4. 50 ftPass Lake Cochituate (South Pond).
  5. 100 ftPass Round Pond.
  6. 0.7 miTurn left, heading NW.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  8. 50 ftPass Lake Cochituate (Middle Pond).
  9. 0.7 miPass Cochituate State Park Beach.
  10. 0.4 miBear right, heading NW.
  11. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
  12. 450 ftBear right, heading NW.
  13. 200 ftPass Lake Cochituate (North Pond).
  14. 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
  15. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  16. 0.3 miReach Lake Cochituate (South Pond), then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
  18. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  19. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  20. 0.6 miBear left, heading SE.
  21. 1.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  22. 1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  23. 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/round-pond-round-pond-out-back-7-lakes-10-km

Trail surface

80% paved2% dirt18% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:42 AMSunset 8:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~20 min). Leave by 7:23 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:38 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Transit-accessible: Natick Downtown MBTA Station stop 380 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

Hikes near Natick, Massachusetts