AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

The Preserve

The Preserve Viewpoint–Lake Rockview, 5 lakes

6 mi · ▲ 548 ft · 2 hr 16 min

The Preserve Viewpoint–Lake Rockview, 5 lakes is a 6-mile out-and-back in The Preserve near Centerbrook, CT. The route passes The Preserve Viewpoint, Crystal Lake and Lake Rockview before reaching Chalkers Millpond at the turnaround, 3 miles in. It climbs 548 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 20/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi26 – 207 ft7.5 mi

Getting there

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

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

The Preserve Viewpoint–Lake Rockview, 5 lakes

6 mi · ▲ 548 ft · 2 hr 16 min

Elevation 26–208 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 SE.
  2. 500 ftTurn right, heading S.
  3. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  4. 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  7. 250 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  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 SW.
  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 SE.
  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. 450 ftTurn right onto Old Back Highway, heading SW.
  26. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
  27. 450 ftBear left, heading E.
  28. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  29. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  30. 250 ftPass Lake Rockview.
  31. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  32. 350 ftPass Chalkers Millpond.
  33. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  34. 400 ftReach The Preserve Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  35. 400 ftBear right, heading SE.
  36. 450 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  37. 350 ftTurn left, heading E.
  38. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  39. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  40. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  41. 450 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  42. 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
  43. 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
  44. 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  45. 350 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  46. 0.4 miBear left, heading NW.
  47. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  48. 450 ftBear right, heading N.
  49. 0.6 miTurn right, heading NE.
  50. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  51. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  52. 350 ftBear right, heading SE.
  53. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  54. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  55. 250 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  56. 50 ftSharp left, heading SE.
  57. 200 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  58. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  59. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  60. 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
  61. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  62. 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-9-km-9df5

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 2.5 mi in (~68 min). Leave by 6:37 PM for the 8:05 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:26 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