Lower Guilford Lake–Upper Guilford Lake, 3 lakes
3.3 mi · ▲ 381 ft · 1 hr 17 min
Lower Guilford Lake–Upper Guilford Lake, 3 lakes is a 3.3-mile out-and-back in Timberlands near Nut Plains, CT. The route passes Upper Guilford Lake before reaching Lower Guilford Lake at the turnaround, 1.7 miles in. It climbs 381 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade. It scores 40/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Lower Guilford Lake–Upper Guilford Lake, 3 lakes
3.3 mi · ▲ 381 ft · 1 hr 17 min
Elevation 43–188 ft
Out & Back · Timberlands
Trailhead: Purple Trail · 41.34722, -72.67404
Weather Sep 20: Rain, high 65°F / low 59° · precip 83% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:37 AM · sunset 6:53 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Purple Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto White Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Red Cross Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Red Trail, heading W.
- 300 ftTurn left onto New England Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miPass Upper Guilford Lake.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Yellow Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Yellow Cross Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto White Trail, heading S.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Red/White Circle Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Blue Cross Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Blue/White Circle Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miReach Lower Guilford Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Blue Cross Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Red/White Circle Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto White Trail, heading NE.
- 300 ftContinue straight onto Yellow Cross Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Yellow Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto New England Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Red Trail, heading NE.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Red Cross Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto White Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Purple Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~20 min). Leave by 6:13 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:26 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Purple Trail Trailhead
- New England Trail–Purple Trail, 3 sights 15.6 mi · ▲ 1,102 ft
- Gracie–New England Trail, 3 sights 13.7 mi · ▲ 912 ft
- Bridle Loop–Lone Pine Trail, 4 sights 15.3 mi · ▲ 1,143 ft
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