AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Buckingham Reservoir Watershed

Bolton Notch Pond–Risley Reservoir, 4 lakes

13.6 mi · ▲ 1,455 ft · 5 hr 16 min

Bolton Notch Pond–Risley Reservoir, 4 lakes is a 13.6-mile out-and-back in Buckingham Reservoir Watershed near Highland Park, CT. The route passes Red Gates Pond, Upper Case Pond and Bolton Notch Pond before reaching Risley Reservoir at the turnaround, 6.7 miles in. It climbs 1,455 ft. It scores 14/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi289 – 781 ft16.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.75026, -72.51153
Nearest town Highland Park, CT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Bolton Notch Pond–Risley Reservoir, 4 lakes

13.6 mi · ▲ 1,455 ft · 5 hr 16 min

Elevation 289–781 ft

Out & Back · Buckingham Reservoir Watershed

Trailhead: 41.75026, -72.51153

Weather Aug 5: Overcast, high 80°F / low 64° · precip 4% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 5:49 AM · sunset 8:05 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 0.1 miPass Red Gates Pond.
  3. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  4. 0.4 miBear left, heading E.
  5. 150 ftBear left, heading E.
  6. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
  7. 0.5 miTurn right, heading E.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  9. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  10. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  11. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  12. 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
  13. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  14. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  15. 350 ftBear right, heading N.
  16. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  17. 350 ftTurn left, heading N.
  18. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  19. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  20. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  21. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  22. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  23. 500 ftSharp left onto Carriage Path, heading N.
  24. 0.1 miPass Upper Case Pond.
  25. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  26. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  27. 50 ftBear right onto Charter Oak Greenway, heading NE.
  28. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  29. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  30. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  31. 1.6 miPass Bolton Notch Pond.
  32. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  33. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  34. 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  35. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  36. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NW.
  37. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  38. 200 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  39. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  40. 0.3 miSharp right, heading N.
  41. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  42. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  43. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  44. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  45. 50 ftPass Risley Reservoir.
  46. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  47. 0.3 miReach Bolton Notch Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  48. 0.4 miTurn right, heading W.
  49. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  50. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  51. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  52. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  53. 50 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  54. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  55. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  56. 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
  57. 50 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  58. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  59. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  60. 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  61. 2.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  62. 0.3 miSharp right, heading SE.
  63. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  64. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  65. 0.1 miBear left onto Carriage Path, heading SW.
  66. 0.4 miSharp right, heading SW.
  67. 500 ftBear left, heading SW.
  68. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  69. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  70. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  71. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  72. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  73. 350 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  74. 200 ftBear left, heading SW.
  75. 350 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  76. 450 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  77. 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  78. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  79. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  80. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  81. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  82. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  83. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  84. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  85. 150 ftBear right, heading S.
  86. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
  87. 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-7-lakes-21-km

Trail surface

57% dirt20% paved6% gravel17% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 80°F64°
Precip4%Wind2 mphUV7Humidity76%
Rained 1.8″ 2 days ago (3.2″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
80°60°
Sunrise 5:49 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:05 PM
Thu 83°69° 45%
Fri 95°68° 57%
Sat 91°68° 41%
Sun 92°68° 16%
Mon 95°67° 19%
Tue 88°69° 35%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.7 mi in (~125 min). Leave by 5:40 PM for the 8:05 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

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