AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Rockland Preserve

Coginchaug Cave–Beyond Thunderdome, 4 sights

6.4 mi · ▲ 959 ft · 2 hr 37 min

Coginchaug Cave–Beyond Thunderdome, 4 sights is a 6.4-mile out-and-back in Rockland Preserve near Rockland, CT. The route reaches Coginchaug Cave at the turnaround, 3.2 miles in. It climbs 959 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 20/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi315 – 591 ft · steepest grade: 18%7.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Rockland Loop 41.42442, -72.65197
Nearest town Rockland, CT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Coginchaug Cave–Beyond Thunderdome, 4 sights

6.4 mi · ▲ 959 ft · 2 hr 37 min

Elevation 314–590 ft

Out & Back · Rockland Preserve

Trailhead: Rockland Loop · 41.42442, -72.65197

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:37 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Rockland Loop, heading NW.
  2. 0.3 miTurn left onto Summit Belt, heading NW.
  3. 250 ftTurn right onto Thunderdome, heading N.
  4. 50 ftBear right onto Summit Belt, heading N.
  5. 50 ftBear left onto Thunderdome, heading N.
  6. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading N.
  7. 400 ftTurn left onto Beyond Thunderdome, heading SW.
  8. 50 ftBear right onto Thunderdome, heading SW.
  9. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading SW.
  10. 350 ftContinue straight onto Dirt Churh, heading N.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading N.
  12. 150 ftTurn left onto The Darkside, heading NW.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading NW.
  14. 0.1 miTurn right onto New England Trail, heading NW.
  15. 1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  16. 1 miSharp left, heading N.
  17. 0.6 miReach Coginchaug Cave, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 0.6 miSharp right, heading SW.
  19. 2 miTurn left, heading E.
  20. 250 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading S.
  21. 0.1 miContinue straight onto The Darkside, heading S.
  22. 50 ftTurn right onto Summit Belt, heading S.
  23. 200 ftContinue straight onto Dirt Churh, heading SW.
  24. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading SW.
  25. 350 ftContinue straight onto Thunderdome, heading SE.
  26. 50 ftBear left onto Beyond Thunderdome, heading SE.
  27. 50 ftTurn right onto Summit Belt, heading S.
  28. 350 ftContinue straight onto Thunderdome, heading SW.
  29. 50 ftBear right onto Summit Belt, heading SW.
  30. 50 ftBear left onto Thunderdome, heading SW.
  31. 50 ftTurn left onto Summit Belt, heading SW.
  32. 200 ftTurn right onto Rockland Loop, heading S.
  33. 0.1 miArrive 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/coginchaug-cave-out-back-10-km-5fb1

Trail surface

29% dirt71% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:37 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.3 mi in (~70 min). Leave by 5:24 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:11 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Rockland Loop Trailhead

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