Soapstone Mountain–Shenipsit State Forest Viewpoint, 3 summits is a 9.3-mile out-and-back in Shenipsit State Forest near Crystal Lake, CT. The route passes Soapstone Mountain and Shenipsit State Forest Viewpoint before reaching Lake Bonair at the turnaround, 4.6 miles in. It climbs 957 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 58/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi637 – 1,047 ft · steepest grade: 25%10.2 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Sodom Road 41.96264, -72.40619
Nearest town Crystal Lake, CT
Directions
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Soapstone Mountain–Shenipsit State Forest Viewpoint, 3 summits
9.3 mi · ▲ 957 ft · 3 hr 35 min
Elevation 637–1,047 ft
Out & Back · Shenipsit State Forest
Trailhead: Sodom Road · 41.96264, -72.40619
Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 77°F / low 61° · precip 0% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 5:47 AM · sunset 8:06 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Sodom Road, heading SW.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftPass Soapstone Mountain.
- 100 ftPass Shenipsit State Forest Viewpoint.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading SW.
- 1.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miPass Lake Bonair.
- 150 ftReach Soapstone Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 200 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 250 ftBear right, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right onto Soap Stone Road, heading N.
- 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
78% dirt1% gravel1% paved20% unspecified
Weather
OvercastTemperature 77°F61°
Precip0%Wind2 mphUV7Humidity82%
Rained 2.7″ yesterday (4.5″ 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
78°65°
Thu
89°67°
57%
Fri
93°69°
40%
Sat
91°69°
40%
Sun
93°65°
17%
Mon
92°70°
20%
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.6 mi in (~22 min). Leave by 7:24 PM for the 8:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:35 PM — 2 min before dark.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Sodom Road Trailhead
- Sodom Road 2.5 mi · ▲ 220 ft
- Sodom Road Loop 2.5 mi · ▲ 196 ft
- Sodom Road 2.7 mi · ▲ 292 ft
- Sodom Road 2.7 mi · ▲ 293 ft
- Thomas Road via Sodom Road 3 mi · ▲ 379 ft
- Soapstone Mountain–Shenipsit State Forest Viewpoint, 3 summits 3.5 mi · ▲ 629 ft
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