more stats
1,952 ft
Distance
49 ft
Climb
-10 ft
Descent
00:05:36
Avg time
37 ft
Altitude change
120 ft
Altitude min
170 ft
Altitude max
120 ft
Altitude start
157 ft
Altitude end
1.9%
Grade
-4%
Grade max
13.8%
Grade min
856 ft
Distance climb
456 ft
Distance down
564 ft
Distance flat
00:05:36
Avg time

First Flight Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Harold Parker State Forest
    Andover, Massachusetts
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    95 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 90 in Trail Running
    • 90 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #106512 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #42623 in Trail Running
    • #15626 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
    Popular In Reverse
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Land Owner
    Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation

This trail is the best way to start a ride at Harold Parker if you park at the Brackett Pond. The trail mostly consists of short but steep climbs and descents, and can get pretty technical at times.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 9 rides
  • 8 miles average
6 Months
  • 142 rides
  • 7 miles avg distance
All
  • 1,303 rides
  • Last: Sep 12, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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First Flight Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Apr 15, 2023 @ 5:29am
Apr 15, 2023
Jul 10, 2022 @ 10:33am
Jul 10, 2022
 Be aware of pine needles they can be as slippery as sand in some places.
Nov 18, 2021 @ 10:03am
Nov 18, 2021
 some leaves, but otherwise in great shape
Oct 17, 2021 @ 7:33am
Oct 17, 2021
Mar 21, 2021 @ 8:17am
Mar 21, 2021
more »
Status:
on Apr 15, 2023
Ideal
no votes yet
Your vote: 0

view (4,023)
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      Directions to first-flight trailhead (42.612080, -71.113550)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      1 more »
      mtb
      228 |
      Feb 15, 2021 @ 10:48am
      Feb 15, 2021

      Videos

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      Routes with this trail

      57
      HP/Ward 30 Miler
      ★ 5.0 • 31 miles • 1,916 ft • 41 • Loop •
      Thirty mile route beginning at the Jenkins lot an touring most all of Harold Parker and Ward Reservation.
      57
      HP/Ward 30 miler
      ★ 5.0 • 30 miles • 1,916 ft • 41 •
      30 mile ride through most trails in Harold Parker and Ward Reservation.
      81
      JSK North Shore 100K
      ★ 4.0 • 64 miles • 2,927 ft • 85 • Out & Back •
      100km ride on the ipswich mtb system

      Reviews / Comments

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      Nearby Trails

      Harold Parker State Forest

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is First Flight located?
      First Flight is located in Harold Parker State Forest, Andover, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Harold Parker State Forest trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 42.61208, -71.11355.
      ▼ How hard is First Flight?
      First Flight is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 1.9%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for First Flight?
      First Flight has 49 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 10 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 120 ft to 170 ft.
      ▼ Is First Flight a point to point trail?
      First Flight is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is First Flight?
      First Flight is 1,952 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on First Flight?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on First Flight. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride First Flight?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride First Flight are:
      • October (122 activities)
      • August (71 activities)
      • July (65 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      ▼ How do I access First Flight? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to First Flight are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride First Flight?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 4 minutes to ride First Flight. The trail is 1,952 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is First Flight?
      First Flight is a very popular trail. There have been 3,744 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 4,023 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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