AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Meshomasic State Forest

Ricciardi Open Space Viewpoint–Meshomasic State Forest Viewpoint, 5 sights

16 mi · ▲ 1,707 ft · 6 hr 11 min

Ricciardi Open Space Viewpoint–Meshomasic State Forest Viewpoint, 5 sights is a 16-mile out-and-back in Meshomasic State Forest near Buckingham, CT. The route passes Meshomasic State Forest Viewpoint and Ricciardi Open Space Viewpoint before reaching Hulseman Pond at the turnaround, 7.9 miles in. It climbs 1,707 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade. It scores 54/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi417 – 899 ft · steepest grade: 22%18.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.70149, -72.50216
Nearest town Buckingham, CT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Ricciardi Open Space Viewpoint–Meshomasic State Forest Viewpoint, 5 sights

16 mi · ▲ 1,707 ft · 6 hr 11 min

Elevation 415–900 ft

Out & Back · Meshomasic State Forest

Trailhead: 41.70149, -72.50216

Weather Aug 4: Rain showers, high 77°F / low 68° · precip 100% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 5:47 AM · sunset 8:07 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  3. 250 ftSharp left, heading E.
  4. 0.2 miPass Meshomasic State Forest Viewpoint.
  5. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  6. 400 ftTurn left, heading E.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  8. 0.3 miTurn left onto Yellow Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.5 miBear right, heading SE.
  10. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  11. 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
  12. 0.7 miTurn right, heading S.
  13. 0.5 miBear right, heading S.
  14. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  15. 350 ftTurn left, heading S.
  16. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  17. 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
  18. 200 ftBear right, heading E.
  19. 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
  20. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  21. 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
  22. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  23. 0.2 miBear right, heading W.
  24. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  25. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  26. 0.1 miPass Ricciardi Open Space Viewpoint.
  27. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  28. 0.1 miBear right, heading SE.
  29. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  30. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  31. 50 ftContinue straight onto Portland Reservoir Road, heading S.
  32. 0.9 miTurn left onto Midwood Farm Road, heading SW.
  33. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SW.
  34. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  35. 0.6 miBear left, heading S.
  36. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  37. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
  38. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  39. 350 ftPass Hulseman Pond.
  40. 0.3 miReach Ricciardi Open Space Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  41. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  42. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  43. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  44. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  45. 0.7 miTurn right, heading N.
  46. 0.5 miTurn right onto Portland Reservoir Road, heading NE.
  47. 0.9 miTurn left, heading N.
  48. 0.5 miTurn left, heading NE.
  49. 0.3 miBear left, heading NE.
  50. 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
  51. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  52. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  53. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  54. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  55. 200 ftBear right, heading N.
  56. 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
  57. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  58. 0.1 miContinue straight onto The Tubes, heading N.
  59. 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  60. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  61. 200 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  62. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  63. 350 ftTurn right, heading E.
  64. 0.3 miBear left, heading N.
  65. 0.5 miTurn left, heading NE.
  66. 0.7 miBear right, heading NE.
  67. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  68. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  69. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Yellow Trail, heading E.
  70. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  71. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  72. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  73. 350 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  74. 0.2 miSharp right, heading N.
  75. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  76. 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/kongscut-mountain-the-cascade-out-back

Trail surface

34% dirt1% paved65% unspecified

Weather

Rain showersTemperature 77°F68°
Precip100%Wind8 mphUV5Humidity75%
Rained 1.5″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
80°65° 12 AM: 7% rain1 AM: 30% rain2 AM: 23% rain3 AM: 42% rain4 AM: 57% rain5 AM: 88% rain6 AM: 61% rain7 AM: 100% rain8 AM: 97% rain9 AM: 89% rain10 AM: 79% rain11 AM: 75% rain12 PM: 62% rain1 PM: 73% rain2 PM: 66% rain3 PM: 51% rain4 PM: 45% rain5 PM: 49% rain6 PM: 44% rain7 PM: 9% rain
Sunrise 5:47 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:07 PM
Tue 80°65°
Wed 79°65°
Thu 87°68° 33%
Fri 93°71° 34%
Sat 92°70° 42%
Sun 93°69° 21%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.5 mi in (~46 min). Leave by 7:01 PM for the 8:07 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:02 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 this trailhead

Hikes near Buckingham, Connecticut