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

0 mi180 – 217 ft10.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.42064, -71.45712
Nearest town Maynard, MA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 350 ftBear right, heading S.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  4. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
  5. 0.1 miTurn left onto Taylor Way, heading SW.
  6. 0.2 miSharp right onto Otter Alley, heading SE.
  7. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  8. 0.1 miPass Puffer Pond.
  9. 50 ftContinue straight onto Harry's Way, heading S.
  10. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Pine Garden Trail, heading SW.
  11. 0.3 miBear left onto Tri-Town Trail, heading SW.
  12. 0.5 miBear right, heading S.
  13. 0.5 miTurn right onto Fisher Trail, heading SW.
  14. 0.6 miTurn right onto Mass Central Rail Trail -- Wayside, heading S.
  15. 0.7 miTurn right, heading NE.
  16. 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  18. 300 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  19. 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
  20. 0.2 miPass White Pond.
  21. 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  22. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  23. 300 ftReach White Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  24. 300 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  25. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  26. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  27. 350 ftTurn left, heading W.
  28. 300 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  29. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  30. 0.7 miTurn left, heading SE.
  31. 50 ftContinue straight onto Fisher Trail, heading SE.
  32. 1 miBear left, heading NE.
  33. 350 ftContinue straight onto Tri-Town Trail, heading NE.
  34. 0.5 miBear right onto Pine Garden Trail, heading N.
  35. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Harry's Way, heading N.
  36. 0.5 miTurn right onto Otter Alley, heading NE.
  37. 0.3 miSharp left onto Taylor Way, heading NE.
  38. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  39. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  40. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
  41. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  42. 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

38% dirt19% paved43% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:42 AMSunset 8:03 PM

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.

More sunset hikes nearby

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