Salmon River State Forest

Old Willimantic Turnpike Loop

3.6 mi · ▲ 306 ft · 1 hr 21 min

Old Willimantic Turnpike Loop is a 3.6-mile loop in Salmon River State Forest near Gilead, CT. It climbs 306 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade. It scores 28/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi282 – 522 ft · steepest grade: 17%3.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.65819, -72.42805
Nearest town Gilead, CT

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Old Willimantic Turnpike Loop

3.6 mi · ▲ 306 ft · 1 hr 21 min

Elevation 281–520 ft

Loop · Salmon River State Forest

Trailhead: 41.65819, -72.42805

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:36 AM · sunset 6:52 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  3. 100 ftTurn left onto Old Willimantic Turnpike, heading SW.
  4. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  5. 0.7 miTurn left, heading SW.
  6. 100 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  7. 200 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  8. 250 ftSharp left, heading W.
  9. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  10. 1.2 miSharp left, heading SE.
  11. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  12. 500 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  13. 0.9 miTurn right, heading W.
  14. 50 ftThe loop closes back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Weather

Sunrise 6:36 AMSunset 6:52 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~4 min). Leave by 6:29 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:11 PM — 9 min before dark. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

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