Massachusetts · Hiking

Bill Ashe Trail

Bill Ashe TrailPhoto: clembore, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
0.9 mi
round trip
203 ft
climb
330 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr, Jul–Oct
best months

Bill Ashe Trail is a short, easy hike in Massachusetts, about a mile from Shaker Village. The trail is an out-and-back, roughly 1.8 miles long, with a total climb of about 200 feet. The steepest part comes early, around 0.25 miles from the start, where the grade reaches about 8 percent. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Fitchburg show May highs around 70°F and September highs around 74°F, with July the warmest month at about 83°F. Several other trails sit close by. Goddard Trail is about 1.2 miles away and Mirror Lake Trail (primary) about 1.3 miles. Turnpike Trail is about 1.8 miles off. For climbing, Harrrvard Yarrrd is about 2.7 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Apr, Jul–Oct

    Best time to visit Bill Ashe Trail

    Best months: April and July–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      34° / 16°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      37° / 17°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      45° / 25°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      58° / 35°

      12 wet

    5. May

      70° / 46°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      78° / 56°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      83° / 61°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      82° / 60°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      74° / 51°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      62° / 40°

      12 wet

    11. Nov

      50° / 30°

      11 wet

    12. Dec

      40° / 22°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Fitchburg Muni Ap, MA, 6.5 mi away at 348 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Goddard TrailPhoto: clembore, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Goddard Trail

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Monoosnoc Ridge Trail

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Mirror Lake Trail (primary)Photo: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mirror Lake Trail (primary)

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Loop Trail

~8 min drive

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Loop TrailPhoto: dee & tula monstah, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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~8 min drive

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