Aunt Ruth's Turnpike
12.5 mi · ▲ 987 ft · 4 hr 40 min
Aunt Ruth's Turnpike is a 12.5-mile out-and-back in Nehantic State Forest near Crowley Corner, CT. It climbs 987 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 68/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Aunt Ruth's Turnpike
12.5 mi · ▲ 987 ft · 4 hr 40 min
Elevation 163–446 ft
Out & Back · Nehantic State Forest
Trailhead: 41.43164, -72.28616
Weather Sep 20: Rain, high 64°F / low 57° · precip 87% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:35 AM · sunset 6:52 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 1 miTurn right, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 1.2 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
- 1 miBear left onto Aunt Ruth's Turnpike, heading NE.
- 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
- 1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading W.
- 1.2 miTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
- 450 ftBear right, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 100 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~22 min). Leave by 6:10 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:22 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Other ways to reach this destination
- 4.9 mi · out & back · via Aunt Ruth's Turnpike
- 6.2 mi · out & back · via Aunt Ruth's Turnpike
- 6.7 mi · out & back · via Aunt Ruth's Turnpike
- 6.9 mi · out & back · via Aunt Ruth's Turnpike
- 9.2 mi · out & back · via Aunt Ruth's Turnpike
- 9.3 mi · out & back · via Aunt Ruth's Turnpike
- 11.2 mi · out & back · via Aunt Ruth's Turnpike
- 12.6 mi · out & back · via Aunt Ruth's Turnpike
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