Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge
White Pond–Puffer Pond, 5 sights
9.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 3 hr 8 min
White Pond–Puffer Pond, 5 sights is a 9.4-mile out-and-back in Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge near Maynard, MA. The route passes Puffer Pond and White Pond. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 9/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
White Pond–Puffer Pond, 5 sights
9.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 3 hr 8 min
Elevation 180–216 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.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Taylor Way, heading SW.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Otter Alley, heading SE.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miPass Puffer Pond.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Harry's Way, heading S.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Pine Garden Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Tri-Town Trail, heading SW.
- 0.5 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Fisher Trail, heading SW.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside, heading S.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.2 miPass White Pond.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 300 ftReach White Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 300 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.7 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Fisher Trail, heading SE.
- 1 miBear left, heading NE.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Tri-Town Trail, heading NE.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Pine Garden Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Harry's Way, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Otter Alley, heading NE.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Taylor Way, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 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 1.9 mi in (~46 min). Leave by 6:57 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:05 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
- Thanksgiving Pond–Patrol Road, 5 sights 9.2 mi · ▲ 341 ft
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