Nehantic State Forest

Aunt Ruth's Turnpike

13.1 mi · ▲ 1,099 ft · 4 hr 55 min

Aunt Ruth's Turnpike is a 13.1-mile out-and-back in Nehantic State Forest near North Lyme, CT. It climbs 1,099 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 68/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi164 – 446 ft14.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.42393, -72.28750
Nearest town North Lyme, CT

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Aunt Ruth's Turnpike

13.1 mi · ▲ 1,099 ft · 4 hr 55 min

Elevation 163–446 ft

Out & Back · Nehantic State Forest

Trailhead: 41.42393, -72.28750

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:35 AM · sunset 6:52 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  3. 450 ftBear right, heading NE.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  5. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  6. 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
  7. 0.1 miSharp right, heading N.
  8. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  9. 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
  10. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  11. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  12. 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  13. 0.6 miTurn right, heading SE.
  14. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  15. 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
  16. 450 ftTurn right, heading E.
  17. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  19. 1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  20. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  21. 1.2 miSharp left, heading SW.
  22. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  23. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  24. 1 miBear left onto Aunt Ruth's Turnpike, heading SE.
  25. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  26. 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
  27. 1 miTurn left, heading N.
  28. 0.3 miBear left, heading SW.
  29. 0.3 miSharp right, heading SW.
  30. 1.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  31. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  32. 1 miTurn right, heading W.
  33. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  34. 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
  35. 450 ftBear right, heading N.
  36. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  37. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  38. 0.6 miTurn left, heading NW.
  39. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  40. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  41. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  42. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  43. 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  44. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  45. 150 ftBear left, heading S.
  46. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  47. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  48. 450 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  49. 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

70% dirt10% gravel20% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:35 AMSunset 6:52 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~31 min). Leave by 6:01 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:32 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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