AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Nehantic State Forest

Aunt Ruth's Turnpike

12.9 mi · ▲ 1,098 ft · 4 hr 51 min

Aunt Ruth's Turnpike is a 12.9-mile out-and-back in Nehantic State Forest near North Lyme, CT. It climbs 1,098 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 68/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi164 – 446 ft · steepest grade: 16%14.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.42504, -72.28622
Nearest town North Lyme, CT
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Aunt Ruth's Turnpike

12.9 mi · ▲ 1,098 ft · 4 hr 51 min

Elevation 163–446 ft

Out & Back · Nehantic State Forest

Trailhead: 41.42504, -72.28622

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 79°F / low 63° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 5:48 AM · sunset 8:04 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  4. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  5. 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
  6. 0.1 miSharp right, heading N.
  7. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  8. 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
  9. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  10. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  11. 100 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  12. 0.6 miTurn right, heading E.
  13. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  14. 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
  15. 450 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  16. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  18. 1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  19. 100 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  20. 1.2 miSharp left, heading S.
  21. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  22. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  23. 1 miBear left onto Aunt Ruth's Turnpike, heading NE.
  24. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  25. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  26. 1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  27. 0.3 miBear left, heading W.
  28. 0.3 miSharp right, heading W.
  29. 1.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  30. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  31. 1 miTurn right, heading W.
  32. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  33. 0.5 miTurn left, heading NE.
  34. 450 ftBear right, heading N.
  35. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  36. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  37. 0.6 miTurn left, heading NW.
  38. 100 ftBear right, heading NW.
  39. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  40. 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
  41. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  42. 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
  43. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  44. 150 ftBear left, heading S.
  45. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  46. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  47. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/aunt-ruths-turnpike-out-back-21-km-1540

Trail surface

71% dirt10% gravel19% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 79°F63°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV7Humidity81%
Rained 3.3″ yesterday (5.2″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
80°60°
Sunrise 5:48 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:04 PM
Wed 77°63°
Thu 90°71°
Fri 92°71° 22%
Sat 91°70° 28%
Sun 92°68° 16%
Mon 95°71°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.2 mi in (~116 min). Leave by 5:49 PM for the 8:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:10 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near North Lyme, Connecticut