Messerschmidt Pond–Tower Hill Lake, 3 lakes
6.7 mi · ▲ 342 ft · 2 hr 24 min
Messerschmidt Pond–Tower Hill Lake, 3 lakes is a 6.7-mile out-and-back in Cockaponset State Forest near Lake View, CT. The route passes Tower Hill Lake, Horse Pond and Messerschmidt Pond. It climbs 342 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 17/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Messerschmidt Pond–Tower Hill Lake, 3 lakes
6.7 mi · ▲ 342 ft · 2 hr 24 min
Elevation 179–407 ft
Out & Back · Cockaponset State Forest
Trailhead: Spuce Ledge Road · 41.35929, -72.50603
Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 78°F / low 64° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 5:48 AM · sunset 8:06 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Spuce Ledge Road, heading N.
- 50 ftPass Tower Hill Lake.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
- 150 ftBear right, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading S.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.3 miPass Horse Pond.
- 250 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miReach Messerschmidt Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left, heading W.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.7 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 2.6 mi in (~67 min). Leave by 6:39 PM for the 8:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:32 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Spuce Ledge Road Trailhead
- Tower Hill Lake & Butter Jones Road via Spuce Ledge Road 3.6 mi · ▲ 82 ft
- Tower Hill Lake–Parmelee Road, 3 sights 5.7 mi · ▲ 370 ft
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