Stearns Pond–Sudden Pond, 3 lakes
5.2 mi · ▲ 198 ft · 1 hr 50 min
Stearns Pond–Sudden Pond, 3 lakes is a 5.2-mile out-and-back in Harold Parker State Forest near Boxford Station, MA. The route passes Stearns Pond before reaching Sudden Pond at the turnaround, 2.6 miles in. It is mostly level, with 198 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 45/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Stearns Pond–Sudden Pond, 3 lakes
5.2 mi · ▲ 198 ft · 1 hr 50 min
Elevation 100–172 ft
Out & Back · Harold Parker State Forest
Trailhead: Bay Circuit Trail · 42.62463, -71.10032
Weather Aug 4: Heavy rain, high 77°F / low 68° · precip 87% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 5:39 AM · sunset 8:04 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Bay Circuit Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Harold Parker Road, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Acorn Trail, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 250 ftPass Stearns Pond.
- 250 ftBear left, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Stearns Pond Road (and Blue Loop), heading E.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 500 ftSharp right, heading NE.
- 250 ftPass Sudden Pond.
- 300 ftReach Stearns Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading E.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 100 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 300 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Acorn Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Harold Parker Road, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 100 ftBear left, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Bay Circuit Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Healthy Heart Trail (BCT), heading W.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Bay Circuit Trail, heading W.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 200 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 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 surface
Weather
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Bay Circuit Trail Trailhead
- Brackett Pond–Delano Pond Loop, 7 sights 2.3 mi · ▲ 81 ft
- Stearns Pond & Bay Circuit Trail via Harold Parker Road 4.8 mi · ▲ 197 ft
- Sudden Pond & Bay Circuit Trail via Harold Parker Road 4.8 mi · ▲ 197 ft
- Field Pond–Brackett Pond, 8 lakes 5.1 mi · ▲ 139 ft
- Salem Pond–Bay Circuit Trail, 4 sights 5.3 mi · ▲ 197 ft
- Berry Pond–Bay Circuit Trail, 5 sights 5.5 mi · ▲ 170 ft
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