AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Hop River State Park Trail entering Bolton CT.jpg
John Phelan · CC BY 4.0
Hop River State Park Trail

Risley Reservoir & Valley Falls Park Beach via Hop River Linear Park

7.3 mi · ▲ 1,284 ft · 3 hr 5 min

Risley Reservoir & Valley Falls Park Beach via Hop River Linear Park is a 7.3-mile out-and-back in Hop River State Park Trail near Vernon Center, CT. The route passes Valley Falls Park Beach before reaching Risley Reservoir at the turnaround, 3.4 miles in. It climbs 1,284 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade. It scores 30/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi325 – 843 ft · steepest grade: 19%8.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.82388, -72.46220
Nearest town Vernon Center, CT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Risley Reservoir & Valley Falls Park Beach via Hop River Linear Park

7.3 mi · ▲ 1,284 ft · 3 hr 5 min

Elevation 326–843 ft

Out & Back · Hop River State Park Trail

Trailhead: 41.82388, -72.46220

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 79°F / low 63° · precip 0% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 5:47 AM · sunset 8:06 PM

Dogs allowed on leash

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 200 ftBear right onto Hop River Linear Park, heading NE.
  3. 0.7 miTurn right, heading S.
  4. 50 ftPass Valley Falls Park Beach.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  9. 350 ftBear left, heading S.
  10. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  11. 0.7 miTurn right, heading S.
  12. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  13. 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
  14. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
  15. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  16. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  17. 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  18. 350 ftBear right, heading S.
  19. 200 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  20. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  21. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  22. 0.4 miPass Risley Reservoir.
  23. 0.2 miReach Risley Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  24. 0.6 miTurn left, heading NE.
  25. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  26. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  27. 250 ftBear left, heading SE.
  28. 350 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  29. 150 ftBear left, heading SE.
  30. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  31. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  32. 0.4 miBear right, heading SE.
  33. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  34. 100 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  35. 0.6 miSharp left, heading N.
  36. 150 ftBear right, heading N.
  37. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  38. 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
  39. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  40. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  41. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  42. 0.7 miBear left, heading NW.
  43. 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/risley-reservoir-valley-falls-park-beach-out-back-3-lakes

Trail surface

50% dirt35% gravel2% grass13% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 79°F63°
Precip0%Wind3 mphUV7Humidity75%
Rained 1.5″ yesterday (3.8″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
80°60°
Sunrise 5:47 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:06 PM
Wed 79°65°
Thu 88°68° 51%
Fri 94°71° 37%
Sat 91°71° 42%
Sun 94°69° 19%
Mon 92°70° 19%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~3 min). Leave by 7:43 PM for the 8:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:23 PM — 14 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Vernon Center, Connecticut