Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge
Thanksgiving Pond–Patrol Road, 5 sights
9.2 mi · ▲ 341 ft · 3 hr 14 min
Thanksgiving Pond–Patrol Road, 5 sights is a 9.2-mile out-and-back in Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge near Maynard, MA. The route reaches Thanksgiving Pond at the turnaround, 4.5 miles in. It climbs 341 ft. It scores 23/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Thanksgiving Pond–Patrol Road, 5 sights
9.2 mi · ▲ 341 ft · 3 hr 14 min
Elevation 177–298 ft
Out & Back · Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge
Trailhead: 42.42064, -71.45712
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:42 AM · sunset 8:03 PM
Transit-accessible: stop 590 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 350 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 400 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Taylor Way, heading N.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Patrol Road, heading W.
- 1.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto Track Road, heading NW.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Track Road/Assabet River Rail Trail Easement, heading NW.
- 1.5 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftReach Thanksgiving Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 1.5 miContinue straight onto Track Road, heading W.
- 350 ftSharp left, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Patrol Road, heading SE.
- 1.1 miContinue straight onto Taylor Way, heading NE.
- 0.7 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 400 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~29 min). Leave by 7:15 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: stop 590 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Cuttings Pond–Rice Tavern Foundation, 4 lakes 2.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Rice Tavern Foundation–Voss Pond, 4 sights 2.8 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Puffer Pond & Otter Alley Loop via Taylor Way 3.1 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Harry's Way–Otter Alley Loop, 4 sights 3.3 mi · ▲ 29 ft
- White Pond–Puffer Pond, 5 sights 9.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft
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