Great Hill Pond–Portland Reservoir Loop, 7 lakes is a 9.7-mile loop in Meshomasic State Forest near Cobalt, CT. The route passes State Park Pond, Cranberry Bog, Portland Reservoir and Great Hill Pond. It climbs 1,323 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 73/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
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Directions
Great Hill Pond–Portland Reservoir Loop, 7 lakes
9.7 mi · ▲ 1,323 ft · 3 hr 54 min
Elevation 252–806 ft
Loop · Meshomasic State Forest
Trailhead: Shenipsit Trail · 41.57741, -72.55071
Weather Aug 3: Heavy showers, high 76°F / low 68° · precip 99% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 5:47 AM · sunset 8:07 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 50 ftPass State Park Pond.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Shenipsit Trail, heading N.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Woodchoppers Road, heading NW.
- 100 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 0.8 miTurn left onto Cox Road, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.5 miSharp left, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
- 350 ftPass Cranberry Bog.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 400 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
- 250 ftPass Portland Reservoir.
- 450 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Mulford Road, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
- 350 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.8 miTurn left onto Woodchoppers Road, heading S.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading SW.
- 150 ftBear right, heading S.
- 1.1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.8 miPass Great Hill Pond.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading S.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Shenipsit Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miThe loop closes 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
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Shenipsit Trail Trailhead
- State Forest Quarry #1 & State Park Pond via Shenipsit Trail 2.9 mi · ▲ 404 ft
- Nathan Hall Quarry & State Park Pond via Shenipsit Trail 3.1 mi · ▲ 404 ft
- Jobs Pond–State Park Pond, 3 lakes 7.3 mi · ▲ 520 ft
- Gulf Hill–Great Hill Pond Loop, 8 lakes 9.4 mi · ▲ 1,254 ft
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