AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

The Preserve

The Preserve Viewpoint & Crystal Lake

4.9 mi · ▲ 464 ft · 1 hr 52 min

The Preserve Viewpoint & Crystal Lake is a 4.9-mile out-and-back in The Preserve near Centerbrook, CT. The route passes The Preserve Viewpoint and Crystal Lake. It climbs 464 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 24/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi20 – 207 ft6.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: connector 41.33304, -72.41606
Nearest town Centerbrook, CT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

The Preserve Viewpoint & Crystal Lake

4.9 mi · ▲ 464 ft · 1 hr 52 min

Elevation 19–208 ft

Out & Back · The Preserve

Trailhead: connector · 41.33304, -72.41606

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 79°F / low 64° · precip 0% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 5:48 AM · sunset 8:05 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
  3. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  4. 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  7. 250 ftSharp right, heading S.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  9. 250 ftBear left, heading SE.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  11. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  12. 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
  13. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  14. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  15. 0.2 miPass The Preserve Viewpoint.
  16. 0.4 miBear left, heading S.
  17. 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
  18. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  19. 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
  20. 350 ftBear right, heading E.
  21. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  22. 100 ftBear left, heading S.
  23. 200 ftPass Crystal Lake.
  24. 350 ftTurn left, heading S.
  25. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  26. 300 ftBear right, heading S.
  27. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  28. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  29. 450 ftBear right, heading SE.
  30. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  31. 50 ftReach The Preserve Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  32. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  33. 200 ftBear left, heading S.
  34. 450 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  35. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  36. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  37. 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  38. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  39. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  40. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  41. 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
  42. 350 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  43. 0.4 miBear left, heading NW.
  44. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  45. 450 ftBear right, heading N.
  46. 0.6 miTurn right, heading NE.
  47. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
  48. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  49. 350 ftBear right, heading SE.
  50. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  51. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  52. 250 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  53. 50 ftSharp left, heading SE.
  54. 200 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  55. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  56. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  57. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  58. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  59. 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/lake-rockview-lake-rockview-out-back-4-lakes-10-km-5442

Trail surface

99% dirt1% boardwalk

Weather

OvercastTemperature 79°F64°
Precip0%Wind2 mphUV7Humidity83%
Rained 2″ yesterday (3.5″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
80°60°
Sunrise 5:48 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:05 PM
Wed 78°63°
Thu 83°72°
Fri 85°72° 16%
Sat 84°71° 22%
Sun 86°70° 17%
Mon 91°73°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~29 min). Leave by 7:15 PM for the 8:05 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:44 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 connector Trailhead

Hikes near Centerbrook, Connecticut