AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Paul Danese · CC BY-SA 4.0
Buckingham Reservoir Watershed

Buckingham Reservoir Watershed Viewpoint–Buckingham Reservoir, 5 lakes

7.6 mi · ▲ 1,055 ft · 3 hr 4 min

Buckingham Reservoir Watershed Viewpoint–Buckingham Reservoir, 5 lakes is a 7.6-mile out-and-back in Buckingham Reservoir Watershed near Bolton, CT. The route passes Gay City Pond, Gay City State Park Beach and Buckingham Reservoir before reaching Buckingham Reservoir Watershed Viewpoint at the turnaround, 3.8 miles in. It climbs 1,055 ft. It scores 54/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi456 – 860 ft9.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.72272, -72.44539
Nearest town Bolton, CT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Buckingham Reservoir Watershed Viewpoint–Buckingham Reservoir, 5 lakes

7.6 mi · ▲ 1,055 ft · 3 hr 4 min

Elevation 456–860 ft

Out & Back · Buckingham Reservoir Watershed

Trailhead: 41.72272, -72.44539

Weather Sep 20: Light rain, high 61°F / low 54° · precip 81% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:36 AM · sunset 6:52 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Gay City Pond.
  3. 50 ftPass Gay City State Park Beach.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  5. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  6. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  7. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  8. 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
  9. 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  10. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  11. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  12. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  13. 1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  14. 50 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  15. 100 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  16. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  17. 100 ftBear right, heading NW.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  19. 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
  20. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  21. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  22. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  23. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  24. 0.5 miTurn left, heading NW.
  25. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  26. 250 ftBear right, heading NW.
  27. 50 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  28. 50 ftTurn left onto Mountain Road, heading NW.
  29. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  30. 350 ftPass Buckingham Reservoir.
  31. 300 ftBear right, heading SW.
  32. 150 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  33. 500 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  34. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  35. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  36. 0.1 miSharp left, heading SW.
  37. 250 ftBear left, heading W.
  38. 150 ftBear left, heading W.
  39. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  40. 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
  41. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  42. 250 ftBear left, heading W.
  43. 50 ftReach Buckingham Reservoir Watershed Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  44. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  45. 250 ftBear left, heading SW.
  46. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  47. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  48. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  49. 150 ftBear right, heading S.
  50. 250 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  51. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  52. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  53. 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
  54. 0.1 miSharp left, heading SW.
  55. 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
  56. 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
  57. 50 ftSharp left, heading E.
  58. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  59. 250 ftBear right, heading NE.
  60. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  61. 0.5 miBear left, heading E.
  62. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  63. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  64. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  65. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  66. 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  67. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  68. 100 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  69. 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
  70. 100 ftSharp left, heading SE.
  71. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  72. 1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  73. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  74. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  75. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  76. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  77. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  78. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  79. 150 ftBear left, heading E.
  80. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  81. 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-gay-city-pond-out-back-5-lakes-12-km-42fe

Trail surface

17% dirt83% unspecified

Weather

Light rainTemperature 61°F54°
Precip81%Wind4 mphUV1Humidity98%
Rained 2.4″ 7 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
65°50° 12 AM: 1% rain1 AM: 14% rain2 AM: 6% rain3 AM: 1% rain4 AM: 9% rain5 AM: 5% rain6 AM: 2% rain7 AM: 8% rain8 AM: 2% rain9 AM: 7% rain10 AM: 35% rain11 AM: 61% rain12 PM: 59% rain1 PM: 81% rain2 PM: 54% rain3 PM: 49% rain4 PM: 55% rain5 PM: 42% rain6 PM: 45% rain7 PM: 29% rain8 PM: 30% rain9 PM: 20% rain10 PM: 28% rain11 PM: 33% rain
Sunrise 6:36 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:52 PM
Mon 65°55° 26%
Tue 60°48° 20%
Wed 63°46°
Thu 65°44°
Fri 62°51° 34%
Sat 59°51° 34%

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Bolton, Connecticut