AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Bruce Freeman Rail Trail bridge over the Assabet River June 2025.jpg
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Old Rifle Range

Tarbell Springs Conservation–Diamond Crossing, 3 sights

3 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 1 hr 2 min

Tarbell Springs Conservation–Diamond Crossing, 3 sights is a 3-mile out-and-back in Old Rifle Range near West Concord, MA. The route passes Tarbell Springs Conservation before reaching Diamond Crossing at the turnaround, 1.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain. It scores 2/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi118 – 157 ft3.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.44702, -71.40038
Nearest town West Concord, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Tarbell Springs Conservation–Diamond Crossing, 3 sights

3 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 1 hr 2 min

Elevation 118–156 ft

Out & Back · Old Rifle Range

Trailhead: 42.44702, -71.40038

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:03 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 50 ftPass Tarbell Springs Conservation.
  3. 250 ftTurn left onto Connecting Trail (blue), heading SE.
  4. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Secondary Trail (red), heading S.
  5. 150 ftTurn left onto Target Trail (yellow), heading E.
  6. 0.4 miTurn left onto Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, heading NE.
  7. 0.7 miBear right, heading W.
  8. 0.2 miPass Diamond Crossing.
  9. 250 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  10. 250 ftReach Tarbell Springs Conservation, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  12. 200 ftTurn right, heading N.
  13. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  14. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  15. 0.7 miTurn right, heading S.
  16. 0.4 miTurn right onto Secondary Trail (red), heading W.
  17. 150 ftContinue straight onto Connecting Trail (blue), heading W.
  18. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  19. 50 ftArrive 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/tarbell-springs-conservation-out-back-4-km-17cc

Trail surface

56% paved41% dirt3% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:42 AMSunset 8:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~25 min). Leave by 7:18 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:43 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Other ways to reach this destination

Hikes near West Concord, Massachusetts