Buck Hill Pond–Douglas State Forest Beach, 4 sights
7.2 mi · ▲ 280 ft · 2 hr 32 min
Buck Hill Pond–Douglas State Forest Beach, 4 sights is a 7.2-mile out-and-back in Douglas State Forest near East Thompson, CT. The route passes Buck Hill Pond before reaching Douglas State Forest Beach at the turnaround, 3.5 miles in. It climbs 280 ft. It scores 53/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Buck Hill Pond–Douglas State Forest Beach, 4 sights
7.2 mi · ▲ 280 ft · 2 hr 32 min
Elevation 572–737 ft
Out & Back · Douglas State Forest
Trailhead: Benson Mountain Trail · 41.98540, -71.78931
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 6:50 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Benson Mountain Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Wood Road, heading N.
- 0.2 miPass Buck Hill Pond.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Benson Mountain Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Buck Hill Yellow Dot, heading N.
- 1.4 miContinue straight onto Midstate Trail, heading N.
- 1.7 miPass Douglas State Forest Beach.
- 100 ftBear right, heading E.
- 0.1 miReach Buck Hill Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
- 1.7 miContinue straight onto Buck Hill Yellow Dot, heading S.
- 1.4 miContinue straight onto Benson Mountain Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Wood Road, heading S.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Benson Mountain Trail, heading SW.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.7 mi in (~68 min). Leave by 5:22 PM for the 6:50 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:15 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Benson Mountain Trail Trailhead
- Dudley Pond–Border Trail, 3 sights 12.8 mi · ▲ 499 ft
- Crystal Lake–Bad Luck Pond Trail, 8 sights 13 mi · ▲ 681 ft
- Wallum Pond Hill–Border Trail, 3 sights 9.8 mi · ▲ 471 ft
- Chamberlain Pond–Border Trail, 6 sights 12.5 mi · ▲ 710 ft
- Douglas State Forest Beach–Border Trail, 3 sights 9 mi · ▲ 403 ft
- Wallum Lake–Buck Hill Pond, 3 lakes 3.2 mi · ▲ 167 ft
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