Aunt Ruth's Turnpike
12.9 mi · ▲ 1,099 ft · 4 hr 51 min
Aunt Ruth's Turnpike is a 12.9-mile out-and-back in Nehantic State Forest near North Lyme, CT. It climbs 1,099 ft, with sections as steep as 15% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 68/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Aunt Ruth's Turnpike
12.9 mi · ▲ 1,099 ft · 4 hr 51 min
Elevation 163–446 ft
Out & Back · Nehantic State Forest
Trailhead: 41.42632, -72.28756
Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 79°F / low 63° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 5:48 AM · sunset 8:04 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 450 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 1 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 1.2 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
- 1 miBear left onto Aunt Ruth's Turnpike, heading E.
- 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
- 1 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 1.2 miTurn right, heading N.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
- 450 ftBear right, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 100 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
- 150 ftBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
- 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 4.2 mi in (~116 min). Leave by 5:49 PM for the 8:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:10 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Beech Hill 1.2 mi · ▲ 82 ft
- Young Preserve Viewpoint 2.2 mi · ▲ 226 ft
- Nehantic State Forest Viewpoint 4.2 mi · ▲ 515 ft
- Nehantic State Forest Viewpoint Loop 4.5 mi · ▲ 481 ft
- Nehantic State Forest Viewpoint 5.4 mi · ▲ 629 ft
- Aunt Ruth's Turnpike 12.9 mi · ▲ 1,098 ft
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