AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
View from Soapstone Mountain summit lookout tower in Connecticut's Shenipsit State Forest..JPG
Morrowlong · CC BY-SA 3.0
Shenipsit State Forest

Soapstone Mountain–Shenipsit State Forest Viewpoint, 4 sights

6 mi · ▲ 1,142 ft · 2 hr 34 min

Soapstone Mountain–Shenipsit State Forest Viewpoint, 4 sights is a 6-mile out-and-back in Shenipsit State Forest near Somers, CT. The route passes Shenipsit State Forest Viewpoint and Soapstone Mountain. It climbs 1,142 ft, with sections as steep as 34% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 46/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi696 – 1,047 ft · steepest grade: 34%6.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Parker Road 41.95414, -72.42907
Nearest town Somers, CT
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Soapstone Mountain–Shenipsit State Forest Viewpoint, 4 sights

6 mi · ▲ 1,142 ft · 2 hr 34 min

Elevation 696–1,047 ft

Out & Back · Shenipsit State Forest

Trailhead: Parker Road · 41.95414, -72.42907

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:47 AM · sunset 8:06 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Parker Road, heading SE.
  2. 150 ftSharp left, heading N.
  3. 0.4 miBear right, heading N.
  4. 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
  5. 200 ftTurn left onto Soapstone Mountain Road, heading N.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  7. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
  8. 50 ftPass Shenipsit State Forest Viewpoint.
  9. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  11. 50 ftPass Soapstone Mountain.
  12. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  13. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Soap Stone Road, heading NE.
  14. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  15. 0.4 miBear right, heading NE.
  16. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  17. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  18. 300 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  19. 500 ftBear left onto Sodom Road, heading NE.
  20. 500 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  21. 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
  22. 0.1 miTurn left onto Thomas Road, heading N.
  23. 0.4 miReach Soapstone Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  24. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
  25. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  26. 0.2 miTurn left onto Sodom Road, heading W.
  27. 500 ftBear right, heading W.
  28. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  29. 250 ftBear left, heading W.
  30. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  31. 150 ftBear left, heading S.
  32. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Soap Stone Road, heading SE.
  33. 0.3 miBear left, heading SW.
  34. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  35. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  36. 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
  37. 0.4 miTurn left onto Soapstone Mountain Road, heading W.
  38. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  39. 250 ftBear left, heading SW.
  40. 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
  41. 0.4 miSharp right onto Parker Road, heading W.
  42. 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/soapstone-mountain-shenipsit-state-forest-viewpoint-out-back-4-sights-10-km

Trail surface

70% dirt7% gravel2% paved21% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:47 AMSunset 8:06 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.0 mi in (~57 min). Leave by 6:49 PM for the 8:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:23 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Parker Road Trailhead

Hikes near Somers, Connecticut