Dry Hill Sunset Point–Ruggles Pond, 5 sights
8.3 mi · ▲ 655 ft · 3 hr 6 min
Dry Hill Sunset Point–Ruggles Pond, 5 sights is an 8.3-mile out-and-back in Montague State Forest near Farley, MA. The route passes Wendell State Forest Beach, Ruggles Pond and Ruggles Pond before reaching Dry Hill Sunset Point at the turnaround, 4.2 miles in. It climbs 655 ft. It scores 74/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Dry Hill Sunset Point–Ruggles Pond, 5 sights
8.3 mi · ▲ 655 ft · 3 hr 6 min
Elevation 941–1,222 ft
Out & Back · Montague State Forest
Trailhead: NET/M&M Trail (white) · 42.55127, -72.44884
Weather Aug 4: Heavy rain, high 75°F / low 66° · precip 92% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 5:46 AM · sunset 8:08 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on NET/M&M Trail (white), heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Wendell State Forest Beach.
- 50 ftPass Ruggles Pond.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftPass Ruggles Pond.
- 100 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 100 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.9 miSharp right, heading SE.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto East Chestnut Hill Road, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Upham Road, heading SW.
- 1.5 miTurn left onto Dry Hill Connector, heading N.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Dry Hill Road, heading NW.
- 0.2 miReach Dry Hill Sunset Point, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Dry Hill Connector, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Upham Road, heading E.
- 1.5 miTurn left onto East Chestnut Hill Road, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.6 miSharp left, heading E.
- 0.9 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 500 ftBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto NET/M&M Trail (white), heading N.
- 150 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 4.0 mi in (~110 min). Leave by 5:58 PM for the 8:08 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:08 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from NET/M&M Trail (white) Trailhead
- Ruggles Pond–Wendell State Forest Beach, 3 beaches 2.5 mi · ▲ 142 ft
- Wickett Pond–Ruggles Pond, 3 lakes 3.3 mi · ▲ 171 ft
- Lynn's Falls–Ruggles Pond, 4 beaches 4.8 mi · ▲ 1,125 ft
- Lynn's Falls–Ruggles Pond, 6 sights 5.4 mi · ▲ 868 ft
- Humphry Preserve–Ruggles Pond, 4 beaches 7 mi · ▲ 414 ft
- Ruggles Pond–Wendell State Forest Beach, 6 beaches 7.1 mi · ▲ 335 ft
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