AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Nehantic State Forest

Norwich Pond & Balanced Rock Trail

5.1 mi · ▲ 629 ft · 2 hr 1 min

Norwich Pond & Balanced Rock Trail is a 5.1-mile out-and-back in Nehantic State Forest near Laysville, CT. The route reaches Norwich Pond. It climbs 629 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade. It scores 72/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi82 – 282 ft · steepest grade: 16%5.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.38543, -72.29122
Nearest town Laysville, CT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Norwich Pond & Balanced Rock Trail

5.1 mi · ▲ 629 ft · 2 hr 1 min

Elevation 82–281 ft

Out & Back · Nehantic State Forest

Trailhead: 41.38543, -72.29122

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 79°F / low 63° · precip 0% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 5:48 AM · sunset 8:04 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 150 ftBear right, heading SW.
  3. 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
  4. 150 ftBear right, heading W.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  7. 0.2 miPass Norwich Pond.
  8. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  9. 0.4 miBear left, heading NW.
  10. 250 ftBear left onto Keeny Road, heading W.
  11. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  12. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  13. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  14. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
  15. 0.5 miTurn right onto Balanced Rock Trail, heading W.
  16. 0.2 miBear right, heading W.
  17. 0.2 miReach Norwich Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  19. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  20. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NE.
  21. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  22. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  23. 0.2 miTurn left onto Keeny Road, heading SE.
  24. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  25. 250 ftBear right, heading NE.
  26. 0.4 miSharp right, heading E.
  27. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  28. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  29. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  30. 150 ftBear left, heading E.
  31. 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
  32. 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/norwich-pond-norwich-pond-out-back-3-lakes

Trail surface

13% gravel87% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 79°F63°
Precip0%Wind6 mphUV7Humidity80%
Rained 4.2″ yesterday (5.5″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
80°60°
Sunrise 5:48 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:04 PM
Wed 77°63°
Thu 87°70°
Fri 92°71° 18%
Sat 90°71° 24%
Sun 91°70° 16%
Mon 96°73°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.3 mi in (~65 min). Leave by 6:40 PM for the 8:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:24 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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Other ways to reach this destination

Hikes near Laysville, Connecticut