AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Nehantic State Forest

Norwich Pond via Balanced Rock Trail

3.8 mi · ▲ 468 ft · 1 hr 30 min

Norwich Pond via Balanced Rock Trail is a 3.8-mile out-and-back in Nehantic State Forest near Sterling City, CT. The route reaches Norwich Pond at the turnaround, 1.9 miles in. It climbs 468 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade. It scores 70/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi85 – 262 ft · steepest grade: 19%4.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.38363, -72.32846
Nearest town Sterling City, CT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Norwich Pond via Balanced Rock Trail

3.8 mi · ▲ 468 ft · 1 hr 30 min

Elevation 86–261 ft

Out & Back · Nehantic State Forest

Trailhead: 41.38363, -72.32846

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  3. 150 ftBear left, heading S.
  4. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  5. 0.3 miTurn right onto Balanced Rock Trail, heading E.
  6. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  7. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NE.
  8. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  9. 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  10. 0.2 miTurn left onto Keeny Road, heading SE.
  11. 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
  12. 250 ftBear right, heading NE.
  13. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  14. 0.1 miReach Norwich Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
  16. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  17. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  19. 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
  20. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  21. 0.5 miTurn right onto Balanced Rock Trail, heading SW.
  22. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  23. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  24. 0.2 miBear right, heading SW.
  25. 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  26. 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-6-km-6fd1

Trail surface

24% gravel76% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 79°F63°
Precip0%Wind6 mphUV7Humidity79%
Rained 2.6″ yesterday (3.7″ 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°62°
Thu 87°71°
Fri 92°71° 19%
Sat 90°71° 24%
Sun 91°71° 16%
Mon 96°73°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~10 min). Leave by 7:34 PM for the 8:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:30 PM — 5 min before dark.

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Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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Hikes near Sterling City, Connecticut