AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Railroad Brook along Hop River State Park Trail, Bolton Notch CT.jpg
John Phelan · CC BY 4.0
John S. Risley Memorial Park

Bolton Notch Pond & Risley Reservoir

3.2 mi · ▲ 578 ft · 1 hr 21 min

Bolton Notch Pond & Risley Reservoir is a 3.2-mile out-and-back in John S. Risley Memorial Park near Vernon, CT. The route passes Risley Reservoir before reaching Bolton Notch Pond at the turnaround, 1.5 miles in. It climbs 578 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 10/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi449 – 843 ft · steepest grade: 22%3.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.80221, -72.47045
Nearest town Vernon, CT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Bolton Notch Pond & Risley Reservoir

3.2 mi · ▲ 578 ft · 1 hr 21 min

Elevation 450–843 ft

Out & Back · John S. Risley Memorial Park

Trailhead: 41.80221, -72.47045

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:36 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass Risley Reservoir.
  3. 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  4. 0.6 miTurn left, heading E.
  5. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  7. 200 ftBear left, heading SE.
  8. 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  9. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  10. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  11. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  12. 400 ftTurn right, heading S.
  13. 0.2 miPass Bolton Notch Pond.
  14. 150 ftBear right, heading S.
  15. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  16. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  17. 450 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  18. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  19. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  20. 0.3 miSharp left, heading N.
  21. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  22. 200 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  23. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  24. 0.3 miSharp right, heading SW.
  25. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  26. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  27. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  28. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  29. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  30. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
  31. 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/bolton-notch-pond-risley-reservoir-out-back-4-lakes-5-km

Trail surface

91% dirt9% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:36 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Vernon, Connecticut