AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Herman Covey Wildlife Management Area

Swift River Reservoir–Central Massachusetts Branch, 3 sights

13.6 mi · ▲ 919 ft · 5 hr

Swift River Reservoir–Central Massachusetts Branch, 3 sights is a 13.6-mile out-and-back in Herman Covey Wildlife Management Area near South Quabbin Villa, MA. The route reaches Swift River Reservoir at the turnaround, 6.6 miles in. It climbs 919 ft. It scores 17/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi364 – 771 ft14.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.26941, -72.35905
Nearest town South Quabbin Villa, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Swift River Reservoir–Central Massachusetts Branch, 3 sights

13.6 mi · ▲ 919 ft · 5 hr

Elevation 365–771 ft

Out & Back · Herman Covey Wildlife Management Area

Trailhead: 42.26941, -72.35905

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 78°F / low 60° · precip 0% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 5:46 AM · sunset 8:07 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 1.8 miBear right, heading W.
  3. 1.3 miTurn right onto Crankie Caddie, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  5. 0.1 miTurn left onto Out of Bounds, heading W.
  6. 0.3 miBear left onto Massachusetts Central Rail Trail, heading S.
  7. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  8. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  9. 1.4 miSharp left, heading N.
  10. 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  11. 1.1 miPass Swift River Reservoir.
  12. 200 ftSharp right, heading S.
  13. 0.2 miReach Swift River Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  14. 0.2 miSharp left, heading N.
  15. 1.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  16. 0.4 miSharp right onto Central Massachusetts Branch, heading SW.
  17. 1.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
  18. 50 ftTurn right onto Massachusetts Central Rail Trail, heading NW.
  19. 0.1 miBear right onto Out of Bounds, heading N.
  20. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  21. 0.1 miBear right onto Crankie Caddie, heading N.
  22. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  23. 1.3 miBear left, heading E.
  24. 1.7 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/swift-river-reservoir-out-back-22-km-5185

Trail surface

1% dirt99% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 78°F60°
Precip0%Wind3 mphUV7Humidity94%
Rained 3.1″ yesterday (5.7″ 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 79°62°
Thu 87°67° 50%
Fri 93°70° 39%
Sat 90°69° 41%
Sun 93°65° 15%
Mon 92°69° 19%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~9 min). Leave by 7:38 PM for the 8:07 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:30 PM — 8 min before dark.

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