Box Mountain Forest Viewpoint–Risley Reservoir, 3 beaches is a 5.7-mile out-and-back in Box Mountain Forest near Vernon Center, CT. The route passes Valley Falls Park Beach and Box Mountain Forest Viewpoint before reaching Risley Reservoir at the turnaround, 2.8 miles in. It climbs 820 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 39/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi351 – 784 ft · steepest grade: 21%7.0 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 41.82383, -72.44420
Nearest town Vernon Center, CT
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Box Mountain Forest Viewpoint–Risley Reservoir, 3 beaches
5.7 mi · ▲ 820 ft · 2 hr 19 min
Elevation 350–784 ft
Out & Back · Box Mountain Forest
Trailhead: 41.82383, -72.44420
Weather Aug 4: Heavy showers, high 77°F / low 67° · precip 100% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 5:46 AM · sunset 8:07 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 50 ftPass Valley Falls Park Beach.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Hop River Linear Park, heading NW.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 450 ftPass Box Mountain Forest Viewpoint.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading W.
- 100 ftPass Risley Reservoir.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 100 ftBear left, heading W.
- 50 ftReach Box Mountain Forest Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 150 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.6 miSharp right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 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
76% dirt18% gravel1% paved5% unspecified
Weather
Heavy showersTemperature 77°F67°
Precip100%Wind8 mphUV4Humidity74%
Rained 2.6″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
80°65°
Sunrise 5:46 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:07 PM
Tue
78°65°
Wed
82°64°
Thu
87°67°
47%
Fri
93°70°
45%
Sat
91°70°
41%
Sun
94°69°
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Hop River Linear Park Viewpoint & Valley Falls Park Beach 1.3 mi · ▲ 203 ft
- Rambling Ridge Open Space Viewpoint & Valley Falls Park Beach via Hop River Linear Park 3 mi · ▲ 477 ft
- Box Mountain Forest Viewpoint & Valley Falls Park Beach via Hop River Linear Park 3.9 mi · ▲ 480 ft
- Case Mountain–Bolton Notch Pond, 5 lakes 10.7 mi · ▲ 966 ft
- Birch Mountain–Bolton Notch Pond, 5 lakes 11.2 mi · ▲ 1,078 ft
- Bolton Notch Pond–Bolton Notch State Park Viewpoint, 5 lakes 14.9 mi · ▲ 1,350 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Vernon Center, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Vernon Center, Connecticut