Ruggles Pond–Wendell State Forest Beach, 3 beaches is a 4.4-mile out-and-back in Wendell State Forest near Grounts Corner, MA. The route passes Wendell State Forest Beach and Ruggles Pond. It climbs 277 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 67/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi942 – 1,076 ft4.7 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 42.54996, -72.45282
Nearest town Grounts Corner, MA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Ruggles Pond–Wendell State Forest Beach, 3 beaches
4.4 mi · ▲ 277 ft · 1 hr 36 min
Elevation 941–1,077 ft
Out & Back · Wendell State Forest
Trailhead: 42.54996, -72.45282
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:36 AM · sunset 6:53 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 50 ftPass Wendell State Forest Beach.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftPass Ruggles Pond.
- 250 ftBear left, heading E.
- 150 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 250 ftBear right onto NET/M&M Trail (white), heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Carlton Road, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto NET/M&M Trail (white), heading SE.
- 1.5 miReach Ruggles Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.5 miTurn left onto Carlton Road, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right onto NET/M&M Trail (white), heading N.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
- 150 ftBear right, heading N.
- 250 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 400 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
89% dirt11% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:36 AMSunset 6:53 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.6 mi in (~42 min). Leave by 5:51 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Wendell State Forest Beach & Dry Hill Road 8.7 mi · ▲ 827 ft
- Wendell State Forest Beach & Upham Road 3.8 mi · ▲ 193 ft
- Dan Glazier Forest–Ruggles Pond, 4 beaches 10 mi · ▲ 1,028 ft
- Humphry Preserve–Ruggles Pond, 4 beaches 6.6 mi · ▲ 391 ft
- Dry Hill & Wendell State Forest Beach via Upham Road 7.6 mi · ▲ 561 ft
- Wickett Pond–Ruggles Pond, 4 lakes 3.2 mi · ▲ 142 ft
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