AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Sankaty Head Light - Nantucket, MA - panoramio (1).jpg
matt.a · CC BY 3.0
Sesachacha Heathlands Wildlife Sanctuary

Sankaty Head & Stump Pond via Polpis Bike Path

8.4 mi · ▲ 135 ft · 2 hr 52 min

Sankaty Head & Stump Pond via Polpis Bike Path is an 8.4-mile out-and-back in Sesachacha Heathlands Wildlife Sanctuary near Polpis, MA. The route passes Stump Pond before reaching Sankaty Head at the turnaround, 4.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 135 ft of elevation gain. It scores 61/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi16 – 102 ft9.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Polpis Bike Path 41.29542, -70.01737
Nearest town Polpis, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sankaty Head & Stump Pond via Polpis Bike Path

8.4 mi · ▲ 135 ft · 2 hr 52 min

Elevation 15–102 ft

Out & Back · Sesachacha Heathlands Wildlife Sanctuary

Trailhead: Polpis Bike Path · 41.29542, -70.01737

Weather Aug 4: Fog, high 81°F / low 67° · precip 3% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 5:39 AM · sunset 7:55 PM

Transit-accessible: 253 Polpis Road stop 157 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 0.9 miTurn left, heading NE.
  3. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  4. 250 ftBear right, heading E.
  5. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  6. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  7. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  8. 0.3 miPass Stump Pond.
  9. 0.5 miBear right, heading E.
  10. 100 ftBear left, heading NE.
  11. 450 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  12. 400 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  13. 0.7 miTurn left, heading E.
  14. 0.3 miTurn right onto Polpis Bike Path, heading E.
  15. 0.5 miTurn left, heading SE.
  16. 0.3 miBear left, heading N.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  18. 250 ftBear right, heading N.
  19. 0.1 miSharp left, heading N.
  20. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  21. 500 ftReach Sankaty Head, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  22. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  23. 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
  24. 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
  25. 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
  26. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  27. 0.7 miTurn left, heading NW.
  28. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  29. 0.7 miTurn left, heading NW.
  30. 400 ftSharp right, heading N.
  31. 450 ftBear right, heading NW.
  32. 100 ftBear left, heading NW.
  33. 0.8 miBear right, heading W.
  34. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  35. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  36. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  37. 250 ftBear left, heading SE.
  38. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  39. 0.8 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/stump-pond-stump-pond-out-back-10-km-fba4

Trail surface

52% dirt22% grass12% paved2% sand12% unspecified

Weather

FogTemperature 81°F67°
Precip3%Wind9 mphUV7Humidity86%
Rained 0.1″ yesterday (0.3″ over the last week)
Hourly temperature
85°65°
Sunrise 5:39 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:55 PM
Wed 78°70° 24%
Thu 75°73°
Fri 74°73°
Sat 74°73° 16%
Sun 75°73° 16%
Mon 76°73° 16%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~17 min). Leave by 7:18 PM for the 7:55 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:27 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: 253 Polpis Road stop 157 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Polpis Bike Path Trailhead

Hikes near Polpis, Massachusetts