AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Hop River State Park Trail entering Bolton CT.jpg
John Phelan · CC BY 4.0
Box Mountain Forest

Box Mountain Forest Viewpoint–Risley Reservoir, 3 beaches

5.7 mi · ▲ 820 ft · 2 hr 19 min

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
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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 Sep 20: sunrise 6:36 AM · sunset 6:52 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftPass Valley Falls Park Beach.
  3. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  4. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  5. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  6. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  7. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  8. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  9. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  10. 250 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  11. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  12. 350 ftTurn left, heading W.
  13. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  14. 50 ftSharp left onto Hop River Linear Park, heading NW.
  15. 0.6 miTurn right, heading S.
  16. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  17. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  18. 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
  19. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  20. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  21. 450 ftPass Box Mountain Forest Viewpoint.
  22. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  23. 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  24. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  25. 0.3 miSharp right, heading SW.
  26. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  27. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
  28. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  29. 100 ftPass Risley Reservoir.
  30. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  31. 100 ftBear left, heading W.
  32. 50 ftReach Box Mountain Forest Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  33. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  34. 100 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  35. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  36. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  37. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  38. 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
  39. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  40. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  41. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  42. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  43. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  44. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  45. 0.4 miBear right, heading SE.
  46. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  47. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  48. 0.6 miSharp right, heading N.
  49. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  50. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  51. 350 ftTurn left, heading N.
  52. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  53. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  54. 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
  55. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  56. 50 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  57. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  58. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  59. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  60. 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/box-mountain-forest-viewpoint-risley-reservoir-out-back-3-lakes-8-km-bad2

Trail surface

76% dirt18% gravel1% paved5% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:36 AMSunset 6:52 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 Center, Connecticut