AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Cockaponset State Forest

Messerschmidt Pond & Horse Pond

3.8 mi · ▲ 171 ft · 1 hr 21 min

Messerschmidt Pond & Horse Pond is a 3.8-mile out-and-back in Cockaponset State Forest near Lake View, CT. The route passes Horse Pond and Messerschmidt Pond. It is mostly level, with 171 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 19/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi177 – 312 ft4.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.33185, -72.49807
Nearest town Lake View, CT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Messerschmidt Pond & Horse Pond

3.8 mi · ▲ 171 ft · 1 hr 21 min

Elevation 179–312 ft

Out & Back · Cockaponset State Forest

Trailhead: 41.33185, -72.49807

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 78°F / low 64° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 5:48 AM · sunset 8:06 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 350 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  3. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  4. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  5. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NW.
  6. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  7. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  8. 0.2 miSharp right, heading N.
  9. 0.3 miPass Horse Pond.
  10. 150 ftBear left, heading E.
  11. 0.1 miReach Messerschmidt Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  13. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  14. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  15. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  16. 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
  17. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  18. 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  19. 400 ftTurn right, heading S.
  20. 0.4 miSharp left, heading SE.
  21. 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
  22. 450 ftBear right, heading E.
  23. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  24. 50 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/horse-pond-horse-pond-loop-6-km

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

OvercastTemperature 78°F64°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV7Humidity79%
Rained 1.6″ yesterday (3.8″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
80°60°
Sunrise 5:48 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:06 PM
Wed 77°64°
Thu 88°70°
Fri 93°72° 19%
Sat 91°70° 25%
Sun 91°70° 18%
Mon 96°73°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.6 mi in (~15 min). Leave by 7:31 PM for the 8:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:35 PM — 2 min before dark.

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