AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary

Union Hill–Great Heron Pond, 6 sights

3.4 mi · ▲ 256 ft · 1 hr 16 min

Union Hill–Great Heron Pond, 6 sights is a 3.4-mile out-and-back in Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary near Oakland Heights, MA. The route passes Great Heron Pond before reaching Union Hill at the turnaround, 1.7 miles in. It climbs 256 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi505 – 679 ft · steepest grade: 17%3.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Smiley Face Trail 42.22359, -71.77827
Nearest town Oakland Heights, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Union Hill–Great Heron Pond, 6 sights

3.4 mi · ▲ 256 ft · 1 hr 16 min

Elevation 504–679 ft

Out & Back · Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary

Trailhead: Smiley Face Trail · 42.22359, -71.77827

Weather Sep 20: Drizzle, high 59°F / low 50° · precip 63% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 6:50 PM

  1. Start on Smiley Face Trail, heading N.
  2. 0.2 miBear right onto Sprague Trail Extension, heading NE.
  3. 0.3 miTurn left onto Power Line Trail, heading N.
  4. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Cardinal Trail, heading NW.
  5. 50 ftPass Great Heron Pond.
  6. 0.2 miBear left onto Sagatabscot Ridge Trail, heading N.
  7. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  9. 0.3 miReach Union Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 0.5 miBear right onto Cardinal Trail, heading S.
  11. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Power Line Trail, heading SE.
  12. 0.5 miTurn right onto Sprague Trail Extension, heading SE.
  13. 0.3 miBear left onto Smiley Face Trail, heading SW.
  14. 0.2 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/union-hill-great-heron-pond-out-back-3-lakes-via-smiley-face-trail

Trail surface

80% dirt20% unspecified

Weather

DrizzleTemperature 59°F50°
Precip63%Wind4 mphUV1Humidity96%
Rained 1″ 7 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
60°45° 2 AM: 2% rain3 AM: 7% rain5 AM: 7% rain7 AM: 8% rain8 AM: 5% rain9 AM: 9% rain10 AM: 6% rain11 AM: 30% rain12 PM: 49% rain1 PM: 55% rain2 PM: 54% rain3 PM: 58% rain4 PM: 41% rain5 PM: 45% rain6 PM: 63% rain7 PM: 41% rain8 PM: 32% rain9 PM: 33% rain10 PM: 45% rain11 PM: 58% rain
Sunrise 6:33 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:50 PM
Mon 65°54° 52%
Tue 59°44°
Wed 61°44°
Thu 62°42°
Fri 62°48° 32%
Sat 58°49° 39%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~9 min). Leave by 6:21 PM for the 6:50 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:13 PM — 5 min before dark.

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