AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Rice Nature Preserve

Sunrise Peak Conservation Area–Switchback Viewpoint, 6 sights

4 mi · ▲ 871 ft · 1 hr 46 min

Sunrise Peak Conservation Area–Switchback Viewpoint, 6 sights is a 4-mile out-and-back in Rice Nature Preserve near Wilbraham, MA. The route passes Sunrise Peak Conservation Area and Switchback Viewpoint. It climbs 871 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 25/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi381 – 919 ft · steepest grade: 17%4.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Hollow Road 42.10943, -72.40400
Nearest town Wilbraham, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sunrise Peak Conservation Area–Switchback Viewpoint, 6 sights

4 mi · ▲ 871 ft · 1 hr 46 min

Elevation 381–917 ft

Out & Back · Rice Nature Preserve

Trailhead: Hollow Road · 42.10943, -72.40400

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 78°F / low 63° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 5:46 AM · sunset 8:07 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Hollow Road, heading S.
  2. 0.6 miSharp right onto Sunrise, heading NW.
  3. 50 ftPass Sunrise Peak Conservation Area.
  4. 0.3 miPass Switchback Viewpoint.
  5. 0.3 miBear right onto Rachael Phelps, heading W.
  6. 0.4 miTurn right onto Highmoor, heading SW.
  7. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  8. 0.1 miReach Sunrise Peak Conservation Area, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 0.5 miTurn left onto Rachael Phelps, heading SW.
  10. 0.4 miBear left onto Sunrise, heading SE.
  11. 0.6 miSharp left onto Hollow Road, heading NE.
  12. 0.6 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/sunrise-peak-conservation-area-sunrise-peak-conservation-area-out-back-7-sights

Trail surface

83% dirt17% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 78°F63°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity83%
Rained 1.6″ yesterday (3.7″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
80°60°
Sunrise 5:46 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:07 PM
Wed 78°64°
Thu 90°67° 52%
Fri 93°70° 40%
Sat 91°69° 37%
Sun 93°65° 16%
Mon 93°70° 20%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~34 min). Leave by 7:13 PM for the 8:07 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:47 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

Hikes near Wilbraham, Massachusetts