AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Rockland Preserve

Coginchaug Cave–Bridle Loop, 8 sights

8.8 mi · ▲ 1,280 ft · 3 hr 34 min

Coginchaug Cave–Bridle Loop, 8 sights is an 8.8-mile out-and-back in Rockland Preserve near Rockland, CT. The route reaches Coginchaug Cave at the turnaround, 4.4 miles in. It climbs 1,280 ft. It scores 28/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi240 – 591 ft10.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Lone Pine Trail 41.41953, -72.68927
Nearest town Rockland, CT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Coginchaug Cave–Bridle Loop, 8 sights

8.8 mi · ▲ 1,280 ft · 3 hr 34 min

Elevation 240–590 ft

Out & Back · Rockland Preserve

Trailhead: Lone Pine Trail · 41.41953, -72.68927

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Lone Pine Trail, heading E.
  2. 0.4 miBear right onto Bridle Loop, heading E.
  3. 100 ftSharp right onto Lone Pine Trail, heading E.
  4. 0.4 miTurn right onto Crooked Hill Road, heading NE.
  5. 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  6. 450 ftTurn right onto Bee Line, heading E.
  7. 50 ftTurn right onto Crooked Hill Road, heading E.
  8. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Dead Hill Road, heading E.
  9. 50 ftBear left onto Eratica, heading E.
  10. 50 ftTurn right onto Rockland Loop, heading E.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Rishy, heading E.
  12. 50 ftBear right onto Rockland Loop, heading E.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Rishy, heading E.
  14. 50 ftBear right onto Rockland Loop, heading E.
  15. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  16. 150 ftBear right onto Summit Belt, heading E.
  17. 300 ftContinue straight onto Dirt Church, heading E.
  18. 50 ftTurn right onto Summit Belt, heading E.
  19. 150 ftContinue straight onto Dirt Church, heading NE.
  20. 50 ftBear left onto Thunderdome, heading NE.
  21. 50 ftBear right onto Dirt Church, heading N.
  22. 150 ftContinue straight onto Thunderdome, heading NE.
  23. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading NE.
  24. 250 ftContinue straight onto Dirt Churh, heading NE.
  25. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading NE.
  26. 200 ftTurn left onto The Darkside, heading E.
  27. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading E.
  28. 0.2 miTurn right onto New England Trail, heading N.
  29. 1 miTurn right, heading W.
  30. 1 miSharp left, heading NE.
  31. 0.6 miReach Coginchaug Cave, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  32. 0.6 miSharp right, heading N.
  33. 1.9 miTurn left, heading S.
  34. 250 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading SE.
  35. 0.1 miContinue straight onto The Darkside, heading SW.
  36. 50 ftTurn right onto Summit Belt, heading SW.
  37. 150 ftContinue straight onto Dirt Churh, heading SW.
  38. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading SW.
  39. 200 ftContinue straight onto Thunderdome, heading SE.
  40. 50 ftContinue straight onto Dirt Church, heading SE.
  41. 100 ftBear left onto Thunderdome, heading SE.
  42. 50 ftBear right onto Dirt Church, heading SE.
  43. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading S.
  44. 150 ftTurn left onto Dirt Church, heading SE.
  45. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading S.
  46. 350 ftBear left, heading E.
  47. 100 ftTurn right onto Rockland Loop, heading S.
  48. 50 ftBear left onto Rishy, heading SE.
  49. 50 ftContinue straight onto Rockland Loop, heading E.
  50. 50 ftBear left onto Rishy, heading E.
  51. 50 ftContinue straight onto Rockland Loop, heading E.
  52. 50 ftTurn left onto Eratica, heading E.
  53. 50 ftBear right onto Dead Hill Road, heading E.
  54. 50 ftContinue straight onto Crooked Hill Road, heading E.
  55. 0.2 miTurn left onto Bee Line, heading SW.
  56. 50 ftTurn left onto Crooked Hill Road, heading SW.
  57. 450 ftTurn right, heading S.
  58. 0.4 miTurn left onto Lone Pine Trail, heading W.
  59. 0.4 miSharp left onto Bridle Loop, heading W.
  60. 150 ftBear left onto Lone Pine Trail, heading W.
  61. 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-12-km-8f1c

Trail surface

30% dirt1% boardwalk69% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:37 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.6 mi in (~103 min). Leave by 4:50 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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