AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Buckingham Reservoir Watershed

Buckingham Reservoir Watershed Viewpoint–Buckingham Reservoir, 3 lakes

11 mi · ▲ 1,145 ft · 4 hr 14 min

Buckingham Reservoir Watershed Viewpoint–Buckingham Reservoir, 3 lakes is an 11-mile out-and-back in Buckingham Reservoir Watershed near Manchester, CT. The route passes Upper Case Pond and Buckingham Reservoir before reaching Buckingham Reservoir Watershed Viewpoint at the turnaround, 5.5 miles in. It climbs 1,145 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade. It scores 33/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi200 – 774 ft · steepest grade: 19%14.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Charter Oak Greenway 41.76455, -72.52016
Nearest town Manchester, CT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Buckingham Reservoir Watershed Viewpoint–Buckingham Reservoir, 3 lakes

11 mi · ▲ 1,145 ft · 4 hr 14 min

Elevation 201–776 ft

Out & Back · Buckingham Reservoir Watershed

Trailhead: Charter Oak Greenway · 41.76455, -72.52016

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:36 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Charter Oak Greenway, heading SE.
  2. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  3. 400 ftBear left, heading E.
  4. 0.8 miTurn left, heading E.
  5. 0.9 miPass Upper Case Pond.
  6. 500 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  7. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  8. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  9. 0.1 miBear left onto Carriage Path, heading E.
  10. 0.4 miSharp right, heading S.
  11. 500 ftBear left, heading S.
  12. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  13. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  14. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  15. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  16. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  17. 350 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  18. 200 ftBear left, heading S.
  19. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  20. 450 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  21. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  22. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  23. 200 ftSharp left, heading S.
  24. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  25. 0.4 miBear right, heading S.
  26. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  27. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  28. 250 ftContinue straight onto Coop Road, heading S.
  29. 150 ftSharp left, heading S.
  30. 100 ftBear right, heading S.
  31. 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
  32. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  33. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  34. 150 ftSharp left, heading S.
  35. 0.1 miPass Buckingham Reservoir.
  36. 0.2 miTurn right onto Mountain Road, heading S.
  37. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  38. 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
  39. 150 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  40. 0.1 miSharp left, heading S.
  41. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  42. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  43. 0.1 miSharp left, heading SW.
  44. 250 ftBear left, heading SW.
  45. 150 ftBear left, heading S.
  46. 0.1 miPass Buckingham Reservoir Watershed Viewpoint.
  47. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  48. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  49. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  50. 250 ftBear left, heading SW.
  51. 50 ftReach Buckingham Reservoir Watershed Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  52. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  53. 250 ftBear left, heading SW.
  54. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  55. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  56. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  57. 150 ftBear right, heading N.
  58. 300 ftSharp right, heading W.
  59. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  60. 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  61. 50 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  62. 500 ftSharp left, heading W.
  63. 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
  64. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  65. 0.3 miSharp right, heading W.
  66. 150 ftSharp left, heading W.
  67. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  68. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  69. 200 ftBear left, heading W.
  70. 100 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  71. 150 ftContinue straight onto Coop Road, heading W.
  72. 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  73. 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
  74. 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
  75. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  76. 50 ftSharp right, heading N.
  77. 250 ftBear left, heading N.
  78. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  79. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  80. 450 ftBear left, heading SE.
  81. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  82. 200 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  83. 350 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  84. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  85. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  86. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  87. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  88. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  89. 500 ftSharp left onto Carriage Path, heading SE.
  90. 0.4 miBear right, heading NE.
  91. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  92. 100 ftBear right onto Charter Oak Greenway, heading N.
  93. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  94. 1.8 miBear left, heading NW.
  95. 400 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  96. 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/buckingham-reservoir-shoddy-mill-pond-out-back-3-lakes-12-km

Trail surface

34% paved20% dirt7% gravel1% boardwalk38% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:36 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.0 mi in (~1 min). Leave by 6:32 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:09 PM — 12 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Charter Oak Greenway Trailhead

Hikes near Manchester, Connecticut