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Mass Audubon's Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary
4.2 ★★★★☆ 58 Google reviews · Running trail in Groton, Massachusetts · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Mass Audubon's Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Trails wind past caves, rock formations and boulders, as well as swamps.
What runners say about Mass Audubon's Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary
“Still, this is a beautiful trail network, especially the Heronry loop overlooking the wetland habitat for beavers and Great Blues Herons.”
“I went a little out of my way to come here to walk because my favorite Mass Audobon properties in Western Mass are so well marked and maintained.”
day17 (08AUG2024) sanctuary33: rocky hill trail winds past and over several ledge outcrops, boulders covered with rock tripe (lichen) and rock polypody (fern). heronry trail along a big wetland...no heron nests that i could see. the shelter ledge on the heronry trail has a small, dry cave.
Rocky Hill has a surprising amount of trails. The trails are well maintained and clearly marked. A variety of scenery makes the area interesting and pleasant.
I went hiking here yesterday (July 7, 2018) for the first time. It is a nice wildlife sanctuary with well marked trails. Trails lead you to Rocky Hill, the shores of Lower Long Pond, swampland where great blue herons nest and the Chestnut Oak Loop.
Beautiful conservation area in Groton with ponds and a lake. Well marked trails. You enter from a residential area but once in the woods you forget its there. It is a nice bird sanctuary. No dogs or bikes allowed for this reason. Low profile vehicles will scrape the asphalt getting into the lot. Lot holds about 6 cars.
Trail conditions & character
“day17 (08AUG2024) sanctuary33: rocky hill trail winds past and over several ledge outcrops, boulders covered with rock tripe (lichen) and rock polypody (fern).”
“day17 (08AUG2024) sanctuary33: rocky hill trail winds past and over several ledge outcrops, boulders covered with rock tripe (lichen) and rock polypody (fern).”
“Still, this is a beautiful trail network, especially the Heronry loop overlooking the wetland habitat for beavers and Great Blues Herons.”
“Still, this is a beautiful trail network, especially the Heronry loop overlooking the wetland habitat for beavers and Great Blues Herons.”
“There is a small parking lot but beware of the entrance from the road, the driveway is steeply paved and lower clearance vehicles could scrape the bottom of their vehicles.”
“Because it is a wildlife sanctuary no dogs are allowed”
“I went a little out of my way to come here to walk because my favorite Mass Audobon properties in Western Mass are so well marked and maintained.”
“There is a small parking lot but beware of the entrance from the road, the driveway is steeply paved and lower clearance vehicles could scrape the bottom of their vehicles.”
Plan your run at Mass Audubon's Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitemassaudubon.org
- Phone+1 978-464-2712
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7 am–7 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am–7 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am–7 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am–7 pm |
| Friday | 7 am–7 pm |
| Saturday | 7 am–7 pm |
| Sunday | 7 am–7 pm |
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