AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Hill-Stead Museum Grounds

Porcupine Hole–Farmington Reservoir, 4 lakes

4.9 mi · ▲ 548 ft · 1 hr 54 min

Porcupine Hole–Farmington Reservoir, 4 lakes is a 4.9-mile out-and-back in Hill-Stead Museum Grounds near Farmington, CT. The route passes Riddles Pond and Farmington Reservoir before reaching Porcupine Hole at the turnaround, 2.5 miles in. It climbs 548 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi285 – 748 ft · steepest grade: 17%5.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Pond Loop 41.72246, -72.81882
Nearest town Farmington, CT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Porcupine Hole–Farmington Reservoir, 4 lakes

4.9 mi · ▲ 548 ft · 1 hr 54 min

Elevation 286–749 ft

Out & Back · Hill-Stead Museum Grounds

Trailhead: Pond Loop · 41.72246, -72.81882

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:49 AM · sunset 8:07 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Pond Loop, heading NW.
  2. 50 ftPass Riddles Pond.
  3. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  5. 200 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  6. 0.1 miBear right onto Bittersweet Loop, heading SE.
  7. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Woodland Trail, heading SE.
  8. 150 ftBear left, heading SE.
  9. 400 ftBear right, heading S.
  10. 350 ftSharp right, heading E.
  11. 0.8 miPass Farmington Reservoir.
  12. 1.3 miReach Porcupine Hole, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 2.1 miSharp left, heading NE.
  14. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  15. 200 ftContinue straight onto Bittersweet Loop, heading NE.
  16. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  17. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  18. 200 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  19. 50 ftTurn right onto Pond Loop, heading SW.
  20. 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/metacomet-pond-metacomet-pond-out-back-5-lakes-10-km

Trail surface

50% dirt1% boardwalk49% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:49 AMSunset 8:07 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~31 min). Leave by 7:16 PM for the 8:07 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:51 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 Pond Loop Trailhead

Hikes near Farmington, Connecticut