Massachusetts · Hiking

Goddard Trail

Goddard TrailPhoto: clembore, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.1 mi
round trip
360 ft
climb
325 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr, Jul–Oct
best months

Goddard Trail is a short, easy hike on Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge in Massachusetts, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The trail is about 1.1 miles long and rises roughly 94 feet from its starting point, making it a low-effort outing for anyone exploring the refuge. The route is an out-and-back, with the high point at about 325 feet. The steepest stretch comes near the middle of the trail, where the grade reaches about 16 percent. The total round-trip distance is about 2.3 miles. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the best bets. 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. Mirror Lake Trail (primary) is under a mile away, and Bill Ashe Trail and Turnpike Trail are each within about a mile and a half. Climbers can find Harrrvard Yarrrd about 1.5 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Apr, Jul–Oct

    Best time to visit Goddard 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, 7.6 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

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

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

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~9 min drive

0.46-mile out-and-back out-and-back in Massachusetts with 117 ft of elevation gain.