Nehantic State Forest

Brown Hill via Balanced Rock Trail

2.1 mi · ▲ 224 ft · 49 min

Brown Hill via Balanced Rock Trail is a 2.1-mile out-and-back in Nehantic State Forest near Sterling City, CT. The route reaches Brown Hill at the turnaround, 1.1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 224 ft of elevation gain. It scores 58/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi180 – 354 ft · steepest grade: 15%2.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.38349, -72.32922
Nearest town Sterling City, CT

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Brown Hill via Balanced Rock Trail

2.1 mi · ▲ 224 ft · 49 min

Elevation 181–353 ft

Out & Back · Nehantic State Forest

Trailhead: 41.38349, -72.32922

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 79°F / low 63° · precip 0% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 5:48 AM · sunset 8:04 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  3. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  4. 0.3 miTurn left onto Balanced Rock Trail, heading E.
  5. 350 ftBear right, heading N.
  6. 0.5 miReach Brown Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  7. 0.6 miTurn right, heading SW.
  8. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  9. 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
  10. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Weather

OvercastTemperature 79°F63°
Precip0%Wind6 mphUV7Humidity79%
Rained 2.6″ yesterday (3.7″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
80°60°
Sunrise 5:48 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:04 PM
Wed 77°62°
Thu 87°71°
Fri 92°71° 19%
Sat 90°71° 24%
Sun 91°71° 16%
Mon 96°73°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~21 min). Leave by 7:24 PM for the 8:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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