Russell Mill Pond & Town Forest Reservation

Russell Mill Pond–Blue Heron Loop, 4 sights

1.9 mi · ▲ 135 ft · 42 min

Russell Mill Pond–Blue Heron Loop, 4 sights is a 1.9-mile out-and-back in Russell Mill Pond & Town Forest Reservation near Chelmsford Center, MA. The route reaches Russell Mill Pond at the turnaround, 0.8 miles in. It is mostly level, with 135 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi128 – 217 ft2.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.57675, -71.32285
Nearest town Chelmsford Center, MA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Russell Mill Pond–Blue Heron Loop, 4 sights

1.9 mi · ▲ 135 ft · 42 min

Elevation 128–218 ft

Out & Back · Russell Mill Pond & Town Forest Reservation

Trailhead: 42.57675, -71.32285

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:41 AM · sunset 8:03 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
  3. 50 ftTurn right onto Orange Goose Loop, heading W.
  4. 0.3 miTurn right onto Purple Martin Trail, heading N.
  5. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Noble Road Access, heading N.
  6. 100 ftSharp left onto Coots Connector, heading N.
  7. 150 ftTurn right onto Rocky Hill Pass, heading NW.
  8. 50 ftTurn left onto Coots Connector, heading SW.
  9. 50 ftTurn left onto Green Birdhouse Loop, heading SW.
  10. 250 ftBear left onto Blue Heron Loop, heading W.
  11. 450 ftPass Russell Mill Pond.
  12. 350 ftSharp left onto Green Birdhouse Loop, heading SW.
  13. 300 ftContinue straight onto Upper White Owl, heading SW.
  14. 50 ftBear right onto Green Birdhouse Loop, heading SW.
  15. 200 ftContinue straight onto Lollipop Loop, heading SW.
  16. 250 ftTurn left, heading E.
  17. 150 ftReach Russell Mill Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 400 ftContinue straight onto Green Birdhouse Loop, heading SW.
  19. 200 ftBear left onto Upper White Owl, heading SW.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto Green Birdhouse Loop, heading SW.
  21. 300 ftSharp right onto Blue Heron Loop, heading SW.
  22. 0.1 miBear right onto Green Birdhouse Loop, heading NW.
  23. 250 ftTurn right onto Coots Connector, heading W.
  24. 50 ftTurn right onto Rocky Hill Pass, heading W.
  25. 50 ftTurn left onto Coots Connector, heading W.
  26. 150 ftSharp right onto Noble Road Access, heading NE.
  27. 50 ftContinue straight onto Purple Martin Trail, heading NE.
  28. 0.2 miTurn left onto Orange Goose Loop, heading E.
  29. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  30. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  31. 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

53% dirt47% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:41 AMSunset 8:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~5 min). Leave by 7:38 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:22 PM — 13 min before dark.

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