Our family has been hiking up to Tipling Rock at the Nobscot Scout Reservation in Framingham/Sudbury for years. At an elevation of 426 feet, it’s easy enough for an energetic 4-year old to hike it in under an hour round-trip, long enough to count as an adult’s exercise for the day, yet high enough to offer views of three states, the Boston skyline including the John Hancock Tower, Mt. Monadnock, the Blue Hills, and beautiful fall foliage if you go now. The following pictures and captions will help you along. The white-blazed trail, which will lead you up to Tipling Rock, isn’t always as apparent as a hiker might like, plus there are many trails that branch off from it, which can become confusing. So follow along with me, and you won’t get lost and end up in a neighborhood, having to depend on the kindness of a stranger to drive you and your exhausted young ones, who cannot take one more step, back to the parking lot. That once happened to a family I — ahem — know.
Nobscot’s address is 1 Nobscot Rd, Sudbury, MA 01776, and the parking area is obvious.
Keep left and go over the wooden bridge.
After you go over the second wooden bridge, continue to stay to the left.
Keep to the right at the Legion Trail sign. Continue to follow the white blazes.
Go over the wooden bridge.
At the water pump go left. Building #30 will be on your right.
At 5 Corners, continue straight.
At the brown cabin with the green windows, stay to the right.
The big rock on the left is a nice place to take a break and let the kids climb.
At the fork, continue to the right.
Pass the stone chimney on your right. Keep following the path straight.
At the fork, bear left.
At the next fork, bear right.
Continue to bear right.
Cross over the wide path and continue straight.
Keep going straight. Scramble up the rocks.
At the top, you can see Boston straight ahead.
Surviving the return trip
Going back, I generally take the same way. In case you were too busy bribing a straggler with trail mix to really notice your surroundings…
Scramble down the rocks.
Bear right.
Cross the wide path and go up the hill.
At the fork, bear right and go up the hill.
At the fork, bear left.
Keep straight.
Pass the stone chimney on your left.
Keep straight at the fork. Do not follow the Bay Circuit trail marker that directs you to the left.
Pass the big rock on your right.
When you see the Nixon trail sign, stay straight.
Go toward Building #30. Take a right at the water pump.
Follow the sign that points toward the Legion trail.
Walk over the two wooden bridges.
Cross the next wooden bridge. Composting toilets are on the right, and most likely open for business.
Pass the water pump on your left.
Keep going straight.
Cross the wooden bridge.
At the stone wall, bear right toward the trees with the red/white/blue blazes.
Cross over the wooden bridge.
Cross the dirt road. You will see the Hendersen Lodge.
You’re back!
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