AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary

Shelter Ledge–Lost Lake, 4 lakes

7.2 mi · ▲ 317 ft · 2 hr 34 min

Shelter Ledge–Lost Lake, 4 lakes is a 7.2-mile out-and-back in Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary near Willows, MA. The route passes Lost Lake, Heronry Viewpoint and Shelter Ledge before reaching Upper Long Pond at the turnaround, 3.6 miles in. It climbs 317 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 21/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi217 – 345 ft7.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.59576, -71.52858
Nearest town Willows, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Shelter Ledge–Lost Lake, 4 lakes

7.2 mi · ▲ 317 ft · 2 hr 34 min

Elevation 216–343 ft

Out & Back · Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary

Trailhead: 42.59576, -71.52858

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 83°F / low 61° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:04 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 50 ftPass Lost Lake.
  3. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  4. 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  5. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  6. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  7. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  8. 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  9. 450 ftBear right, heading W.
  10. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  11. 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  12. 1.4 miBear right, heading SW.
  13. 100 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  14. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  15. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  16. 450 ftBear left onto Chestnut Oak Loop Trail, heading S.
  17. 300 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  18. 150 ftTurn left onto Ovenbird Trail, heading S.
  19. 0.2 miTurn right onto Heronry Trail, heading SE.
  20. 450 ftPass Heronry Viewpoint.
  21. 0.2 miPass Upper Long Pond.
  22. 50 ftReach Shelter Ledge, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  23. 0.3 miTurn left onto Ovenbird Trail, heading N.
  24. 0.2 miTurn right onto Chestnut Oak Loop Trail, heading NW.
  25. 100 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  26. 350 ftBear right, heading W.
  27. 450 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  28. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  29. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  30. 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
  31. 1.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  32. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  33. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  34. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  35. 0.4 miTurn left, heading E.
  36. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  37. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  38. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  39. 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
  40. 0.3 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/shelter-ledge-lost-lake-out-back-3-rocks-12-km-56a3

Trail surface

71% dirt29% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 83°F61°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity75%
Rained 1.1″ yesterday (2.1″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
85°60°
Sunrise 5:42 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:04 PM
Wed 84°63°
Thu 87°69° 30%
Fri 95°71° 32%
Sat 93°68° 32%
Sun 94°67°
Mon 92°72°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.1 mi in (~81 min). Leave by 6:23 PM for the 8:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:38 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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