Soapstone Mountain–Shenipsit State Forest Viewpoint, 5 sights is a 3.8-mile out-and-back in Shenipsit State Forest near Crystal Lake, CT. The route passes Soapstone Mountain and Shenipsit State Forest Viewpoint. It climbs 722 ft, with sections as steep as 36% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 71/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi705 – 1,070 ft · steepest grade: 36%4.2 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Soap Stone Road 41.96069, -72.40930
Nearest town Crystal Lake, CT
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Soapstone Mountain–Shenipsit State Forest Viewpoint, 5 sights
3.8 mi · ▲ 722 ft · 1 hr 38 min
Elevation 705–1,068 ft
Out & Back · Shenipsit State Forest
Trailhead: Soap Stone Road · 41.96069, -72.40930
Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 77°F / low 61° · precip 0% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 5:47 AM · sunset 8:06 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftPass Soapstone Mountain.
- 150 ftPass Shenipsit State Forest Viewpoint.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Webster Road, heading SW.
- 250 ftBear left, heading W.
- 0.2 miReach Soapstone Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading SE.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Sykes Road, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Parker Road, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
- 200 ftBear left onto Soapstone Mountain Road, heading NE.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
88% dirt12% paved
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 0.3 mi in (~7 min). Leave by 7:40 PM for the 8:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:31 PM — 6 min before dark.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
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