Gulf Hill–Great Hill Pond Loop, 8 lakes
9.4 mi · ▲ 1,254 ft · 3 hr 46 min
Gulf Hill–Great Hill Pond Loop, 8 lakes is a 9.4-mile loop in Meshomasic State Forest near Cobalt, CT. The route passes State Park Pond, Gulf Hill, Kelseys Pond and 2 more. It climbs 1,254 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade. It scores 74/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Gulf Hill–Great Hill Pond Loop, 8 lakes
9.4 mi · ▲ 1,254 ft · 3 hr 46 min
Elevation 282–806 ft
Loop · Meshomasic State Forest
Trailhead: Shenipsit Trail · 41.57741, -72.55071
Weather Aug 4: Heavy showers, high 76°F / low 68° · precip 99% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 5:47 AM · sunset 8:07 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 50 ftPass State Park Pond.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Shenipsit Trail, heading N.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Woodchoppers Road, heading NW.
- 100 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miPass Gulf Hill.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Cox Road, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 300 ftPass Kelseys Pond.
- 150 ftReach Gulf Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miPass Portland Reservoir.
- 200 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Mulford Road, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
- 350 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.7 miBear left, heading E.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
- 1.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.9 miPass Great Hill Pond.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading E.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Shenipsit Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 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 surface
Weather
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Shenipsit Trail Trailhead
- State Forest Quarry #1 & State Park Pond via Shenipsit Trail 2.9 mi · ▲ 404 ft
- Nathan Hall Quarry & State Park Pond via Shenipsit Trail 3.1 mi · ▲ 404 ft
- Jobs Pond–State Park Pond, 3 lakes 7.3 mi · ▲ 520 ft
- Great Hill Pond–Portland Reservoir Loop, 7 lakes 9.7 mi · ▲ 1,323 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Cobalt, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Cobalt, Connecticut