Cockaponset State Forest

Lower Guilford Lake–Upper Guilford Lake, 4 sights

13.5 mi · ▲ 1,026 ft · 5 hr 1 min

Lower Guilford Lake–Upper Guilford Lake, 4 sights is a 13.5-mile out-and-back in Cockaponset State Forest near Rockland, CT. The route passes Upper Guilford Lake before reaching Lower Guilford Lake at the turnaround, 6.8 miles in. It climbs 1,026 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 39/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi43 – 397 ft14.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Goat Hill Road 41.39641, -72.65239
Nearest town Rockland, CT

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lower Guilford Lake–Upper Guilford Lake, 4 sights

13.5 mi · ▲ 1,026 ft · 5 hr 1 min

Elevation 43–398 ft

Out & Back · Cockaponset State Forest

Trailhead: Goat Hill Road · 41.39641, -72.65239

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:38 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Goat Hill Road, heading SW.
  2. 1.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  3. 1.1 miSharp right onto Race Hill Road, heading S.
  4. 1 miTurn left onto Hart Road, heading NW.
  5. 0.2 miBear right onto New England Trail, heading S.
  6. 2.4 miTurn right, heading S.
  7. 0.2 miPass Upper Guilford Lake.
  8. 50 ftBear left onto Yellow Cross Trail, heading S.
  9. 350 ftTurn right onto Yellow Trail, heading S.
  10. 0.1 miTurn left onto Yellow Cross Trail, heading S.
  11. 0.1 miContinue straight onto White Trail, heading SW.
  12. 300 ftTurn right onto Red/White Circle Trail, heading SE.
  13. 0.2 miBear right onto Blue Cross Trail, heading S.
  14. 0.1 miTurn left onto Blue/White Circle Trail, heading SW.
  15. 0.2 miReach Lower Guilford Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 0.2 miTurn right onto Blue Cross Trail, heading S.
  17. 0.1 miBear left onto Red/White Circle Trail, heading N.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left onto White Trail, heading N.
  19. 300 ftContinue straight onto Yellow Cross Trail, heading NE.
  20. 0.1 miTurn right onto Yellow Trail, heading N.
  21. 0.1 miTurn left onto Yellow Cross Trail, heading N.
  22. 350 ftBear right, heading N.
  23. 0.2 miTurn left onto New England Trail, heading NE.
  24. 2.4 miBear left onto Hart Road, heading N.
  25. 0.2 miTurn right onto Race Hill Road, heading E.
  26. 1 miSharp left onto Goat Hill Road, heading E.
  27. 1.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  28. 1 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

63% dirt37% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:38 AMSunset 6:51 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.3 mi in (~36 min). Leave by 5:56 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:40 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Goat Hill Road Trailhead