AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Portland Reservoir, Reeves Lookout State Wildlife Area, Meshomasic State Forest, Portland, CT - 3.jpg
H. Morrow Long · CC BY 3.0
Meshomasic State Forest

Great Hill Pond–Portland Reservoir Loop, 7 lakes

9.7 mi · ▲ 1,323 ft · 3 hr 54 min

Great Hill Pond–Portland Reservoir Loop, 7 lakes is a 9.7-mile loop in Meshomasic State Forest near Cobalt, CT. The route passes State Park Pond, Cranberry Bog, Portland Reservoir and Great Hill Pond. It climbs 1,323 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 73/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi253 – 807 ft · steepest grade: 18%10.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Shenipsit Trail 41.57741, -72.55071
Nearest town Cobalt, CT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Great Hill Pond–Portland Reservoir Loop, 7 lakes

9.7 mi · ▲ 1,323 ft · 3 hr 54 min

Elevation 252–806 ft

Loop · Meshomasic State Forest

Trailhead: Shenipsit Trail · 41.57741, -72.55071

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:36 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass State Park Pond.
  3. 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
  4. 0.4 miBear right onto Shenipsit Trail, heading N.
  5. 0.6 miTurn right, heading NE.
  6. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  7. 0.4 miBear left onto Woodchoppers Road, heading NW.
  8. 100 ftBear right, heading NW.
  9. 0.8 miTurn left onto Cox Road, heading NW.
  10. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  11. 0.5 miSharp left, heading N.
  12. 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
  13. 350 ftPass Cranberry Bog.
  14. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  15. 400 ftTurn right, heading W.
  16. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  17. 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
  18. 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
  19. 250 ftPass Portland Reservoir.
  20. 450 ftBear right, heading NE.
  21. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  22. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  23. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  24. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  25. 0.5 miBear right onto Mulford Road, heading E.
  26. 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  27. 350 ftBear left, heading SW.
  28. 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
  29. 0.8 miTurn left onto Woodchoppers Road, heading S.
  30. 0.3 miBear right, heading SW.
  31. 150 ftBear right, heading S.
  32. 1.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  33. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  34. 0.8 miPass Great Hill Pond.
  35. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  36. 0.5 miBear left, heading S.
  37. 150 ftContinue straight onto Shenipsit Trail, heading SW.
  38. 0.2 miThe loop closes 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/meshomasic-state-forest-viewpoint-cranberry-bog-out-back-3-lakes-14-km-d784

Trail surface

44% dirt18% gravel1% grass37% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:36 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Shenipsit Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Cobalt, Connecticut