AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Harold Parker State Forest

Stearns Pond & Bay Circuit Trail via Harold Parker Road

4.8 mi · ▲ 197 ft · 1 hr 42 min

Stearns Pond & Bay Circuit Trail via Harold Parker Road is a 4.8-mile out-and-back in Harold Parker State Forest near Boxford Station, MA. The route reaches Stearns Pond. It is mostly level, with 197 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 47/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi112 – 167 ft6.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Bay Circuit Trail 42.62463, -71.10032
Nearest town Boxford Station, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Stearns Pond & Bay Circuit Trail via Harold Parker Road

4.8 mi · ▲ 197 ft · 1 hr 42 min

Elevation 112–168 ft

Out & Back · Harold Parker State Forest

Trailhead: Bay Circuit Trail · 42.62463, -71.10032

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 6:47 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Bay Circuit Trail, heading SW.
  2. 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
  3. 0.4 miBear left, heading SE.
  4. 0.3 miBear right, heading SE.
  5. 0.3 miSharp right, heading NE.
  6. 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
  7. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  8. 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  9. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  10. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  11. 0.1 miBear left onto Harold Parker Road, heading NE.
  12. 0.3 miTurn right onto Acorn Trail, heading SE.
  13. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  14. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  15. 250 ftPass Stearns Pond.
  16. 250 ftBear left, heading E.
  17. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  19. 150 ftBear right onto Beach Road (and Blue Loop), heading E.
  20. 100 ftTurn left, heading E.
  21. 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
  22. 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  23. 200 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  24. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  25. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  26. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  27. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  28. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  29. 150 ftReach Stearns Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  30. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  31. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  32. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  33. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  34. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  35. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  36. 200 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  37. 250 ftSharp left, heading N.
  38. 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
  39. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  40. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  41. 250 ftBear right onto Stearns Pond Road (and Blue Loop), heading NW.
  42. 450 ftTurn right onto Acorn Trail, heading N.
  43. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  44. 150 ftTurn left onto Harold Parker Road, heading N.
  45. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  46. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  47. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  48. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  49. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  50. 100 ftBear left, heading SE.
  51. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  52. 0.2 miSharp left onto Bay Circuit Trail, heading NW.
  53. 50 ftTurn right onto Healthy Heart Trail (BCT), heading N.
  54. 0.2 miSharp right onto Bay Circuit Trail, heading SW.
  55. 500 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  56. 200 ftBear right, heading SW.
  57. 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
  58. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  59. 0.4 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/stearns-pond-bay-circuit-trail-out-back

Trail surface

64% dirt7% gravel2% other2% paved25% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 6:47 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Bay Circuit Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Boxford Station, Massachusetts