AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Cockaponset State Forest

Messerschmidt Pond & Horse Pond

4.1 mi · ▲ 278 ft · 1 hr 30 min

Messerschmidt Pond & Horse Pond is a 4.1-mile out-and-back in Cockaponset State Forest near Lake View, CT. The route passes Horse Pond before reaching Messerschmidt Pond at the turnaround, 2.1 miles in. It climbs 278 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 32/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi135 – 312 ft4.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.32726, -72.51026
Nearest town Lake View, CT
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Directions

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Messerschmidt Pond & Horse Pond

4.1 mi · ▲ 278 ft · 1 hr 30 min

Elevation 136–311 ft

Out & Back · Cockaponset State Forest

Trailhead: 41.32726, -72.51026

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:36 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
  3. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  4. 400 ftTurn right, heading N.
  5. 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  7. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  8. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  9. 0.2 miSharp right, heading NW.
  10. 0.3 miPass Horse Pond.
  11. 150 ftBear left, heading SE.
  12. 0.1 miReach Messerschmidt Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
  14. 0.4 miSharp left, heading W.
  15. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  16. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  17. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  19. 0.5 miTurn left, heading SW.
  20. 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  21. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  22. 0.3 miArrive 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/messerschmidt-pond-horse-pond-out-back-3-lakes-7-km

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:36 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~21 min). Leave by 6:12 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:25 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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Hikes near Lake View, Connecticut