Nehantic State Forest

Aunt Ruth's Turnpike

12.6 mi · ▲ 1,014 ft · 4 hr 42 min

Aunt Ruth's Turnpike is a 12.6-mile out-and-back in Nehantic State Forest near North Lyme, CT. It climbs 1,014 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 68/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi164 – 446 ft13.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.42922, -72.28584
Nearest town North Lyme, CT

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Aunt Ruth's Turnpike

12.6 mi · ▲ 1,014 ft · 4 hr 42 min

Elevation 163–446 ft

Out & Back · Nehantic State Forest

Trailhead: 41.42922, -72.28584

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 6:37 AM · sunset 6:48 PM

Toilets at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  4. 200 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  5. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  6. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  7. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  8. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  9. 100 ftTurn right, heading E.
  10. 0.6 miTurn right, heading N.
  11. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  12. 0.4 miBear left, heading SE.
  13. 450 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  14. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  15. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  16. 1 miTurn right, heading S.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  18. 1.2 miSharp left, heading SW.
  19. 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
  20. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  21. 1 miBear left onto Aunt Ruth's Turnpike, heading NE.
  22. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  23. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  24. 1 miTurn left, heading W.
  25. 0.3 miBear left, heading W.
  26. 0.3 miSharp right, heading W.
  27. 1.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  28. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  29. 1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  30. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  31. 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
  32. 450 ftBear right, heading N.
  33. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  34. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  35. 0.6 miTurn left, heading NW.
  36. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  37. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  38. 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
  39. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  40. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  41. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  42. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  43. 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

73% dirt13% gravel14% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:37 AMSunset 6:48 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~22 min). Leave by 6:06 PM for the 6:48 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:20 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination