AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

The Preserve

The Preserve Viewpoint & Crystal Lake

5.6 mi · ▲ 468 ft · 2 hr 6 min

The Preserve Viewpoint & Crystal Lake is a 5.6-mile out-and-back in The Preserve near Centerbrook, CT. The route passes The Preserve Viewpoint and Crystal Lake. It climbs 468 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 21/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi20 – 207 ft7.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.33425, -72.41025
Nearest town Centerbrook, CT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

The Preserve Viewpoint & Crystal Lake

5.6 mi · ▲ 468 ft · 2 hr 6 min

Elevation 19–208 ft

Out & Back · The Preserve

Trailhead: 41.33425, -72.41025

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 79°F / low 62° · precip 0% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 5:48 AM · sunset 8:05 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 150 ftSharp right, heading W.
  3. 400 ftTurn right, heading W.
  4. 450 ftBear left, heading SW.
  5. 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  6. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  8. 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  9. 300 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  11. 200 ftSharp right, heading S.
  12. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  13. 250 ftBear left, heading SW.
  14. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  15. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  16. 350 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  17. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  18. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  19. 0.2 miPass The Preserve Viewpoint.
  20. 0.4 miBear left, heading S.
  21. 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
  22. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  23. 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
  24. 350 ftBear right, heading SE.
  25. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  26. 100 ftBear left, heading S.
  27. 50 ftPass Crystal Lake.
  28. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  29. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  30. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  31. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  32. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  33. 450 ftBear right, heading S.
  34. 200 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  35. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  36. 0.2 miReach The Preserve Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  37. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  38. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  39. 150 ftBear left, heading S.
  40. 450 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  41. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  42. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  43. 300 ftTurn left, heading W.
  44. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  45. 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
  46. 100 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  47. 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
  48. 350 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  49. 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
  50. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  51. 450 ftBear right, heading NW.
  52. 0.6 miTurn right, heading N.
  53. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  54. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  55. 350 ftBear right, heading N.
  56. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  57. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  58. 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
  59. 50 ftSharp left, heading E.
  60. 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  61. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  62. 300 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  63. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  64. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  65. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  66. 300 ftBear right, heading NE.
  67. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  68. 350 ftSharp left, heading N.
  69. 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/chalkers-millpond-chalkers-millpond-out-back-4-lakes-10-km-18db

Trail surface

93% dirt6% grass1% boardwalk

Weather

OvercastTemperature 79°F62°
Precip0%Wind3 mphUV7Humidity81%
Rained 2″ yesterday (2.8″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
80°60°
Sunrise 5:48 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:05 PM
Wed 78°62°
Thu 83°72°
Fri 86°72° 18%
Sat 84°71° 23%
Sun 86°70° 17%
Mon 91°73°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~33 min). Leave by 7:11 PM for the 8:05 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:49 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

Hikes near Centerbrook, Connecticut