AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Great Brook Farm State Park

Thanksgiving Rocks–Russell Mill Pond, 5 sights

2.3 mi · ▲ 86 ft · 49 min

Thanksgiving Rocks–Russell Mill Pond, 5 sights is a 2.3-mile out-and-back in Great Brook Farm State Park near Rio Vista, MA. The route passes Russell Mill Pond before reaching Thanksgiving Rocks at the turnaround, 1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 86 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 17/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi128 – 197 ft2.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.55399, -71.32996
Nearest town Rio Vista, MA
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Thanksgiving Rocks–Russell Mill Pond, 5 sights

2.3 mi · ▲ 86 ft · 49 min

Elevation 129–198 ft

Out & Back · Great Brook Farm State Park

Trailhead: 42.55399, -71.32996

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:41 AM · sunset 8:03 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  3. 200 ftContinue straight onto Deer Run, heading W.
  4. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Woodchuck Trail, heading N.
  5. 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
  6. 500 ftBear right onto Brookside, heading N.
  7. 400 ftPass Russell Mill Pond.
  8. 50 ftTurn left onto Woodchuck Trail, heading W.
  9. 200 ftContinue straight onto East Farm Trail, heading W.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  11. 100 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  12. 50 ftBear left onto Blue Loop, heading NW.
  13. 0.2 miPass Thanksgiving Rocks.
  14. 150 ftContinue straight onto Purple Trail, heading NW.
  15. 0.2 miReach Thanksgiving Rocks, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Blue Loop, heading SE.
  17. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  19. 100 ftTurn left onto East Farm Trail, heading S.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto Woodchuck Trail, heading S.
  21. 200 ftTurn right onto Brookside, heading S.
  22. 450 ftBear left, heading E.
  23. 450 ftBear right onto Woodchuck Trail, heading S.
  24. 150 ftContinue straight onto Deer Run, heading SE.
  25. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  26. 0.1 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/thanksgiving-rocks-out-back-0189

Trail surface

64% dirt36% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:41 AMSunset 8:03 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~23 min). Leave by 7:20 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 Rio Vista, Massachusetts