AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Looking across frozen Carter Pond toward cabin shelter, Rock House Reservation.jpg
Peter Cooper Jr · CC0
Rock House Reservation

The Rock House–Balance Rock, 6 sights

1.1 mi · ▲ 112 ft · 25 min

The Rock House–Balance Rock, 6 sights is a 1.1-mile out-and-back in Rock House Reservation near Gilbertville, MA. The route passes Carter Pond and Balance Rock before reaching The Rock House at the turnaround, 0.4 miles in. It is mostly level, with 112 ft of elevation gain. It scores 11/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi807 – 925 ft1.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: The Trustees of Reservations 42.27289, -72.19093
Nearest town Gilbertville, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

The Rock House–Balance Rock, 6 sights

1.1 mi · ▲ 112 ft · 25 min

Elevation 808–924 ft

Out & Back · Rock House Reservation

Trailhead: The Trustees of Reservations · 42.27289, -72.19093

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 76°F / low 60° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 5:45 AM · sunset 8:06 PM

Dogs allowed · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Fire Road, heading SW.
  2. 0.2 miBear right onto Outer Loop, heading W.
  3. 50 ftPass Carter Pond.
  4. 50 ftBear left onto Fire Road, heading W.
  5. 200 ftTurn left onto Pond Trail, heading S.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  7. 50 ftPass Balance Rock.
  8. 200 ftBear left onto Fire Road, heading S.
  9. 300 ftTurn left onto Pond Trail, heading SW.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  11. 150 ftReach The Rock House, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 0.2 miTurn right onto Outer Loop, heading SW.
  13. 0.3 miBear right onto Fullam Trail, heading NW.
  14. 0.2 miBear right onto Fire Road, heading NE.
  15. 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/the-rock-house-loop

Weather

OvercastTemperature 76°F60°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity83%
Rained 1.5″ yesterday (5″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
80°60°
Sunrise 5:45 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:06 PM
Wed 77°62°
Thu 86°66° 48%
Fri 92°69° 39%
Sat 89°68° 44%
Sun 91°64°
Mon 90°68° 18%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~7 min). Leave by 7:39 PM for the 8:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:29 PM — 9 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Gilbertville, Massachusetts