Great Cedars Conservation Area
Chalkers Millpond & Crystal Lake via Old Back Highway
2.1 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 43 min
Chalkers Millpond & Crystal Lake via Old Back Highway is a 2.1-mile out-and-back in Great Cedars Conservation Area near Saybrook Manor, CT. The route passes Crystal Lake before reaching Chalkers Millpond at the turnaround, 1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Chalkers Millpond & Crystal Lake via Old Back Highway
2.1 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 43 min
Elevation 19–76 ft
Out & Back · Great Cedars Conservation Area
Trailhead: 41.29904, -72.41554
Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 78°F / low 63° · precip 0% · wind 1 mph · sunrise 5:48 AM · sunset 8:05 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 50 ftPass Crystal Lake.
- 250 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 150 ftBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Old Back Highway, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 500 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miSharp right, heading N.
- 250 ftReach Chalkers Millpond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 250 ftSharp left, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 100 ftBear left, 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 0.5 mi in (~13 min). Leave by 7:31 PM for the 8:05 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:33 PM — 3 min before dark.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Lake Rockview–Chalkers Millpond, 3 lakes 1.9 mi · ▲ 115 ft
- Ingham Ponds–Lower Ingham Pond, 3 lakes 6 mi · ▲ 370 ft
- Prospect Hill–Lower Ingham Pond, 3 lakes 6.2 mi · ▲ 489 ft
- Jacobs Peak–Chalkers Millpond, 4 lakes 7.1 mi · ▲ 591 ft
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