Cockaponset State Forest

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

0 mi180 – 407 ft7.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Spuce Ledge Road 41.35929, -72.50603
Nearest town Lake View, CT

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

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

  1. Start on Spuce Ledge Road, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Tower Hill Lake.
  3. 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  4. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  5. 150 ftBear right, heading W.
  6. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  7. 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
  8. 0.6 miTurn left, heading SE.
  9. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  10. 0.1 miSharp left, heading S.
  11. 0.1 miSharp right, heading E.
  12. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  13. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  14. 200 ftTurn right, heading S.
  15. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  16. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  17. 0.3 miPass Horse Pond.
  18. 250 ftBear left, heading E.
  19. 0.1 miReach Messerschmidt Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  21. 0.3 miSharp right, heading S.
  22. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SW.
  23. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  24. 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
  25. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  26. 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
  27. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  28. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  29. 0.8 miTurn right, heading N.
  30. 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
  31. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  32. 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

100% dirt

Weather

OvercastTemperature 78°F64°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity78%
Rained 1.6″ yesterday (3.9″ 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 92°71° 21%
Sat 91°70° 26%
Sun 91°70° 18%
Mon 96°73°

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.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Spuce Ledge Road Trailhead