AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Douglas State Forest

Grassy Pond–Hay Ride Trail, 5 sights

16.1 mi · ▲ 812 ft · 5 hr 46 min

Grassy Pond–Hay Ride Trail, 5 sights is a 16.1-mile out-and-back in Douglas State Forest near East Thompson, CT. The route reaches Grassy Pond at the turnaround, 8 miles in. It climbs 812 ft. It scores 49/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi472 – 820 ft16.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Town of Thompson 42.00867, -71.80926
Nearest town East Thompson, CT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Grassy Pond–Hay Ride Trail, 5 sights

16.1 mi · ▲ 812 ft · 5 hr 46 min

Elevation 474–820 ft

Out & Back · Douglas State Forest

Trailhead: Town of Thompson · 42.00867, -71.80926

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 6:50 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Air Line State Park Trail, heading E.
  2. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Southern New England Trunkline Trail, heading NE.
  3. 1 miTurn left onto Saddle Trail, heading N.
  4. 0.6 miTurn right onto Hay Ride Trail, heading N.
  5. 50 ftSharp left onto Saddle Trail, heading N.
  6. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Pain in the Pullman, heading N.
  7. 250 ftTurn right onto Grand Trunk Trail, heading N.
  8. 0.4 miTurn left onto Streeter Trail, heading NW.
  9. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  10. 450 ftTurn left onto Schmidt Trail, heading NE.
  11. 1 miTurn left onto Midstate Trail, heading NW.
  12. 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
  13. 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  14. 1.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  15. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
  16. 0.5 miTurn left, heading NE.
  17. 1 miReach Grassy Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 1 miTurn right, heading E.
  19. 0.5 miTurn left, heading SE.
  20. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  21. 1.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  22. 0.7 miTurn right onto Schmidt Trail, heading SE.
  23. 1 miTurn right, heading S.
  24. 450 ftBear left onto Streeter Trail, heading SE.
  25. 0.3 miTurn right onto Grand Trunk Trail, heading S.
  26. 0.4 miTurn left onto Pain in the Pullman, heading W.
  27. 250 ftContinue straight onto Saddle Trail, heading W.
  28. 0.3 miSharp right onto Hay Ride Trail, heading SW.
  29. 50 ftTurn left onto Saddle Trail, heading SW.
  30. 0.6 miTurn right onto Southern New England Trunkline Trail, heading SW.
  31. 1 miContinue straight onto Air Line State Park Trail, heading SW.
  32. 0.5 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/grassy-pond-out-back-26-km-3c20

Trail surface

38% dirt62% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:33 AMSunset 6:50 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.7 mi in (~176 min). Leave by 3:34 PM for the 6:50 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:53 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Town of Thompson Trailhead

Hikes near East Thompson, Connecticut