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
Getting there
Directions
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 Aug 4: Heavy rain, high 76°F / low 69° · precip 88% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 5:43 AM · sunset 8:05 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Air Line State Park Trail, heading E.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Southern New England Trunkline Trail, heading NE.
- 1 miTurn left onto Saddle Trail, heading N.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Hay Ride Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Saddle Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Pain in the Pullman, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Grand Trunk Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Streeter Trail, heading NW.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
- 450 ftTurn left onto Schmidt Trail, heading NE.
- 1 miTurn left onto Midstate Trail, heading NW.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
- 1.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 1 miReach Grassy Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
- 1.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Schmidt Trail, heading SE.
- 1 miTurn right, heading S.
- 450 ftBear left onto Streeter Trail, heading SE.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Grand Trunk Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Pain in the Pullman, heading W.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Saddle Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miSharp right onto Hay Ride Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Saddle Trail, heading SW.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Southern New England Trunkline Trail, heading SW.
- 1 miContinue straight onto Air Line State Park Trail, heading SW.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.0 mi in (~106 min). Leave by 5:59 PM for the 8:05 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:58 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Town of Thompson Trailhead
- Benson Mountain Trail–Starr Road, 3 sights 3.6 mi · ▲ 312 ft
- Hay Ride Trail–Saddle Trail, 3 sights 4.5 mi · ▲ 253 ft
- Douglas State Forest Beach via Midstate Trail 4.8 mi · ▲ 279 ft
- Wallum Lake–Tri-State Marker Loop Trail, 3 sights 4.8 mi · ▲ 404 ft
- Wallum Lake–Douglas State Forest Beach, 3 beaches 5.4 mi · ▲ 225 ft
- Kingsbury Pond–Border Trail, 3 sights 5.8 mi · ▲ 571 ft
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