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–Warners Pond, 4 sights

5.4 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 49 min

Tarbell Springs Conservation–Warners Pond, 4 sights is a 5.4-mile out-and-back in Old Rifle Range near East Acton, MA. The route passes Warners Pond and Diamond Crossing before reaching Tarbell Springs Conservation at the turnaround, 2.6 miles in. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi115 – 157 ft6.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.46496, -71.40547
Nearest town East Acton, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Tarbell Springs Conservation–Warners Pond, 4 sights

5.4 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 49 min

Elevation 115–156 ft

Out & Back · Old Rifle Range

Trailhead: 42.46496, -71.40547

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SE.
  3. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  4. 50 ftPass Warners Pond.
  5. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  6. 400 ftTurn right, heading E.
  7. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  10. 50 ftBear right onto Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, heading SE.
  11. 0.4 miBear left, heading SE.
  12. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  13. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  14. 50 ftPass Diamond Crossing.
  15. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  16. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  17. 0.7 miTurn right, heading S.
  18. 0.4 miTurn right onto Secondary Trail (red), heading W.
  19. 150 ftContinue straight onto Connecting Trail (blue), heading W.
  20. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  21. 250 ftReach Tarbell Springs Conservation, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  22. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Secondary Trail (red), heading NE.
  23. 150 ftTurn left onto Target Trail (yellow), heading NE.
  24. 0.4 miTurn left onto Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, heading E.
  25. 0.7 miBear right, heading N.
  26. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  27. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  28. 0.5 miBear left, heading N.
  29. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  30. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  31. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  32. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  33. 400 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  34. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
  35. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
  36. 0.3 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/tarbell-springs-conservation-warners-pond-out-back-4-sights-8-km-0aa5

Trail surface

49% paved27% dirt24% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:42 AMSunset 8:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.7 mi in (~42 min). Leave by 7:02 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:59 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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