Breakneck Pond–Bigelow Pond, 6 lakes is an 11.8-mile out-and-back in Nipmuck State Forest near Union, CT. The route passes Bigelow Pond, Breakneck Pond and Reservoir No. 5 before reaching Hatchet Pond at the turnaround, 5.8 miles in. It climbs 717 ft. It scores 57/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi673 – 883 ft12.1 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Bigelow Brook Road 41.99219, -72.12944
Nearest town Union, CT
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Breakneck Pond–Bigelow Pond, 6 lakes
11.8 mi · ▲ 717 ft · 4 hr 18 min
Elevation 671–884 ft
Out & Back · Nipmuck State Forest
Trailhead: Bigelow Brook Road · 41.99219, -72.12944
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 6:51 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 50 ftPass Bigelow Pond.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 1.5 miTurn left onto Breakneck Hill Road, heading N.
- 50 ftPass Breakneck Pond.
- 150 ftSharp right, heading SE.
- 1.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Snow Sled Road, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 450 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 1.2 miPass Reservoir No. 5.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Breakneck Road, heading E.
- 1.1 miPass Hatchet Pond.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 400 ftReach Breakneck Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 400 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 1.1 miTurn left, heading N.
- 1.2 miBear left, heading SW.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Snow Sled Road, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 1.3 miSharp left onto Breakneck Hill Road, heading SW.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 1.5 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 450 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
57% dirt43% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:34 AMSunset 6:51 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.8 mi in (~103 min). Leave by 4:48 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:47 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Bigelow Brook Road Trailhead
- Cat Rocks–Breakneck Pond, 4 lakes 6.3 mi · ▲ 300 ft
- Breakneck Pond–Bigelow Pond, 3 lakes 5 mi · ▲ 202 ft
- Bigelow Pond & Morse Reservoir via Lower Breakneck Hill Road 5.5 mi · ▲ 638 ft
- Lower Breakneck Hill Road 2.4 mi · ▲ 233 ft
- Lost Pond & Morse Reservoir 7.4 mi · ▲ 831 ft
- Mashapaug Pond & Bigelow Pond via Bigelow Brook Road 3 mi · ▲ 271 ft
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