Bear Rock–Bear Rock Pond, 5 sights
8.5 mi · ▲ 962 ft · 3 hr 19 min
Bear Rock–Bear Rock Pond, 5 sights is an 8.5-mile out-and-back in Cockaponset State Forest near Rockland, CT. The route passes Bear Rock Pond before reaching Bear Rock at the turnaround, 4.2 miles in. It climbs 962 ft. It scores 29/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Bear Rock–Bear Rock Pond, 5 sights
8.5 mi · ▲ 962 ft · 3 hr 19 min
Elevation 314–596 ft
Out & Back · Cockaponset State Forest
Trailhead: Rockland Loop · 41.42442, -72.65197
Weather Aug 4: Heavy showers, high 79°F / low 69° · precip 93% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 5:49 AM · sunset 8:06 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Rockland Loop, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Summit Belt, heading NW.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Thunderdome, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right onto Summit Belt, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left onto Thunderdome, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading N.
- 400 ftTurn left onto Beyond Thunderdome, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Thunderdome, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading SW.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Dirt Churh, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn left onto The Darkside, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto New England Trail, heading NW.
- 1 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 1 miTurn right, heading N.
- 500 ftBear left, heading N.
- 1.4 miPass Bear Rock Pond.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Bear Rock Bypass, heading N.
- 150 ftReach Bear Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftSharp left, heading N.
- 1.6 miBear right, heading S.
- 500 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 1 miTurn left onto New England Trail, heading SW.
- 1 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading SE.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto The Darkside, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Summit Belt, heading SE.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Dirt Churh, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading SW.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Thunderdome, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left onto Beyond Thunderdome, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Summit Belt, heading S.
- 400 ftContinue straight onto Thunderdome, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right onto Summit Belt, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left onto Thunderdome, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Summit Belt, heading SE.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Rockland Loop, heading S.
- 0.1 miArrive 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 3.0 mi in (~87 min). Leave by 6:19 PM for the 8:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:42 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Rockland Loop Trailhead
- Beyond Thunderdome–Eastern Loop Loop, 6 sights 2.2 mi · ▲ 344 ft
- Stannard Pond–East Loop, 4 sights 2.4 mi · ▲ 394 ft
- Mount Pisgah–New England Viewpoint, 6 sights 3.4 mi · ▲ 601 ft
- Vista–Boundary Trail, 7 sights 3.8 mi · ▲ 628 ft
- Coginchaug Cave–Beyond Thunderdome, 4 sights 6.4 mi · ▲ 959 ft
- New England Viewpoint–Meyerhuber Pond, 9 sights 7.7 mi · ▲ 1,103 ft
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