AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Cockaponset State Forest

Glacial Erratic–Cockaponset State Forest Viewpoint, 9 sights

10.2 mi · ▲ 971 ft · 3 hr 53 min

Glacial Erratic–Cockaponset State Forest Viewpoint, 9 sights is a 10.2-mile out-and-back in Cockaponset State Forest near Durham Center, CT. The route passes Cockaponset State Forest Viewpoint before reaching Glacial Erratic at the turnaround, 4.9 miles in. It climbs 971 ft. It scores 38/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi335 – 610 ft12.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.46583, -72.64475
Nearest town Durham Center, CT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Glacial Erratic–Cockaponset State Forest Viewpoint, 9 sights

10.2 mi · ▲ 971 ft · 3 hr 53 min

Elevation 333–611 ft

Out & Back · Cockaponset State Forest

Trailhead: 41.46583, -72.64475

Weather Sep 21: Light drizzle, high 67°F / low 54° · precip 19% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:38 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.3 miSharp left, heading SW.
  3. 0.3 miPass Cockaponset State Forest Viewpoint.
  4. 450 ftBear left, heading E.
  5. 1.4 miBear right, heading SW.
  6. 500 ftTurn left, heading S.
  7. 1 miTurn left onto New England Trail, heading W.
  8. 1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  9. 250 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading SW.
  10. 0.1 miContinue straight onto The Darkside, heading S.
  11. 50 ftTurn right onto Summit Belt, heading S.
  12. 200 ftContinue straight onto Dirt Churh, heading SE.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading SE.
  14. 250 ftContinue straight onto Thunderdome, heading SE.
  15. 50 ftContinue straight onto Dirt Church, heading SE.
  16. 150 ftBear left onto Thunderdome, heading SE.
  17. 50 ftBear right onto Dirt Church, heading SE.
  18. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading SE.
  19. 150 ftTurn left onto Dirt Church, heading SE.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading SE.
  21. 300 ftBear left, heading SE.
  22. 150 ftTurn right onto Rockland Loop, heading SW.
  23. 50 ftBear left onto Rishy, heading W.
  24. 50 ftContinue straight onto Rockland Loop, heading W.
  25. 50 ftBear left onto Rishy, heading W.
  26. 50 ftContinue straight onto Rockland Loop, heading W.
  27. 100 ftTurn left onto Eratica, heading W.
  28. 50 ftBear right onto Dead Hill Road, heading W.
  29. 50 ftBear right onto Eratica, heading W.
  30. 0.1 miTurn left onto Old Crooked Hill Road, heading SW.
  31. 250 ftContinue straight onto Eratica, heading SW.
  32. 50 ftBear left onto Old Crooked Hill Road, heading SW.
  33. 200 ftBear right, heading S.
  34. 150 ftBear right onto Eratica, heading S.
  35. 350 ftPass Glacial Erratic.
  36. 50 ftTurn right onto Old Crooked Hill Road, heading SW.
  37. 50 ftContinue straight onto Eratica, heading SW.
  38. 50 ftContinue straight onto Old Crooked Hill Road, heading SW.
  39. 50 ftBear right onto Bee Line, heading SW.
  40. 350 ftContinue straight onto Dave Houston Trail, heading W.
  41. 0.1 miBear right onto Bee Line, heading S.
  42. 450 ftBear left onto Dave Houston Trail, heading SW.
  43. 150 ftReach Glacial Erratic, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  44. 200 ftBear right onto Bee Line, heading S.
  45. 450 ftBear left onto Dave Houston Trail, heading S.
  46. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Bee Line, heading S.
  47. 350 ftBear left onto Old Crooked Hill Road, heading SW.
  48. 50 ftContinue straight onto Eratica, heading SW.
  49. 50 ftContinue straight onto Old Crooked Hill Road, heading SW.
  50. 50 ftTurn left onto Eratica, heading SW.
  51. 400 ftBear left, heading SW.
  52. 150 ftBear left onto Old Crooked Hill Road, heading SW.
  53. 250 ftBear right onto Eratica, heading W.
  54. 50 ftContinue straight onto Old Crooked Hill Road, heading W.
  55. 250 ftTurn right onto Eratica, heading NW.
  56. 0.1 miBear left onto Dead Hill Road, heading W.
  57. 50 ftBear left onto Eratica, heading W.
  58. 50 ftTurn right onto Rockland Loop, heading W.
  59. 50 ftContinue straight onto Rishy, heading SW.
  60. 50 ftBear right onto Rockland Loop, heading SW.
  61. 50 ftContinue straight onto Rishy, heading SW.
  62. 50 ftBear right onto Rockland Loop, heading SW.
  63. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  64. 150 ftBear right onto Summit Belt, heading SE.
  65. 350 ftContinue straight onto Dirt Church, heading SW.
  66. 50 ftTurn right onto Summit Belt, heading SW.
  67. 150 ftContinue straight onto Dirt Church, heading SW.
  68. 50 ftBear left onto Thunderdome, heading SW.
  69. 50 ftBear right onto Dirt Church, heading SW.
  70. 100 ftContinue straight onto Thunderdome, heading W.
  71. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading W.
  72. 200 ftContinue straight onto Dirt Churh, heading SW.
  73. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading SW.
  74. 150 ftTurn left onto The Darkside, heading SE.
  75. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading SE.
  76. 0.1 miTurn right onto New England Trail, heading NW.
  77. 1 miTurn right, heading N.
  78. 1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  79. 500 ftBear left, heading N.
  80. 1.4 miBear right, heading NE.
  81. 0.4 miSharp right, heading W.
  82. 250 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/glacial-erratic-cockaponset-state-forest-viewpoint-out-back-8-sights

Trail surface

20% dirt80% unspecified

Weather

Light drizzleTemperature 67°F54°
Precip19%Wind5 mphUV5Humidity73%
Rained 0.4″ yesterday · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperatureRain chance
70°50° 12 AM: 19% rain1 AM: 17% rain2 AM: 8% rain3 AM: 3% rain4 AM: 6% rain5 AM: 6% rain6 AM: 1% rain
Sunrise 6:38 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:51 PM
Tue 63°50°
Wed 63°46°
Thu 65°42°
Fri 69°46° 42%
Sat 70°53° 42%
Sun 72°51° 31%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~4 min). Leave by 6:28 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:10 PM — 9 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Durham Center, Connecticut