AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Cockaponset State Forest

Stannard Pond–Beyond Thunderdome, 5 sights

5.9 mi · ▲ 713 ft · 2 hr 19 min

Stannard Pond–Beyond Thunderdome, 5 sights is a 5.9-mile out-and-back in Cockaponset State Forest near Durham Center, CT. The route reaches Stannard Pond at the turnaround, 3 miles in. It climbs 713 ft. It scores 19/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi335 – 581 ft7.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.45779, -72.65125
Nearest town Durham Center, CT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Stannard Pond–Beyond Thunderdome, 5 sights

5.9 mi · ▲ 713 ft · 2 hr 19 min

Elevation 333–580 ft

Out & Back · Cockaponset State Forest

Trailhead: 41.45779, -72.65125

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:37 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 450 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  3. 0.2 miBear right, heading SW.
  4. 500 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  5. 1 miTurn left onto New England Trail, heading N.
  6. 1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  7. 250 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading S.
  8. 0.1 miContinue straight onto The Darkside, heading SE.
  9. 50 ftTurn right onto Summit Belt, heading SE.
  10. 200 ftContinue straight onto Dirt Churh, heading S.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading S.
  12. 350 ftContinue straight onto Thunderdome, heading SE.
  13. 50 ftBear left onto Beyond Thunderdome, heading SE.
  14. 50 ftTurn right onto Summit Belt, heading SE.
  15. 350 ftContinue straight onto Thunderdome, heading S.
  16. 50 ftBear right onto Summit Belt, heading SE.
  17. 50 ftTurn right onto Thunderdome, heading SE.
  18. 50 ftBear left onto Summit Belt, heading SE.
  19. 150 ftContinue straight onto Thunderdome, heading E.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading E.
  21. 50 ftContinue straight onto Thunderdome, heading E.
  22. 200 ftTurn left onto Rishy, heading E.
  23. 100 ftBear left onto Summit Belt, heading E.
  24. 50 ftBear right onto Rishy, heading E.
  25. 100 ftBear left onto Eastern Loop, heading SE.
  26. 150 ftContinue straight onto Rockland Loop, heading S.
  27. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  28. 0.2 miReach Stannard Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  29. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Eastern Loop, heading S.
  30. 150 ftBear right onto Rishy, heading SE.
  31. 100 ftBear left onto Summit Belt, heading S.
  32. 50 ftBear right onto Rishy, heading SW.
  33. 100 ftTurn right onto Thunderdome, heading SW.
  34. 200 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading SW.
  35. 50 ftContinue straight onto Thunderdome, heading SW.
  36. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading SW.
  37. 150 ftBear right onto Thunderdome, heading S.
  38. 50 ftTurn left onto Summit Belt, heading S.
  39. 50 ftBear left onto Thunderdome, heading S.
  40. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading S.
  41. 400 ftTurn left onto Beyond Thunderdome, heading NE.
  42. 50 ftBear right onto Thunderdome, heading NE.
  43. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading NE.
  44. 350 ftContinue straight onto Dirt Churh, heading NW.
  45. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading NW.
  46. 200 ftTurn left onto The Darkside, heading NW.
  47. 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading NW.
  48. 0.2 miTurn right onto New England Trail, heading N.
  49. 1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  50. 1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  51. 500 ftBear left, heading NE.
  52. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  53. 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/stannard-pond-stannard-pond-out-back-3-lakes-11-km-5c1f

Trail surface

33% dirt67% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:37 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.5 mi in (~13 min). Leave by 6:21 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:22 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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Hikes near Durham Center, Connecticut