AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Buckingham Reservoir Watershed

Strombery Pond & Bestor Pond

6.3 mi · ▲ 813 ft · 2 hr 30 min

Strombery Pond & Bestor Pond is a 6.3-mile out-and-back in Buckingham Reservoir Watershed near Gilead, CT. The route passes Strombery Pond before reaching Bestor Pond at the turnaround, 3.2 miles in. It climbs 813 ft. It scores 21/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi486 – 860 ft7.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.69753, -72.45587
Nearest town Gilead, CT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Strombery Pond & Bestor Pond

6.3 mi · ▲ 813 ft · 2 hr 30 min

Elevation 486–860 ft

Out & Back · Buckingham Reservoir Watershed

Trailhead: 41.69753, -72.45587

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:37 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 350 ftBear left, heading NW.
  3. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  4. 450 ftBear left, heading N.
  5. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  6. 50 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  7. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
  8. 0.6 miTurn left, heading N.
  9. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  10. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  11. 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
  12. 100 ftSharp left, heading W.
  13. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  14. 150 ftBear right, heading NW.
  15. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  16. 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
  17. 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
  18. 300 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  19. 250 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  20. 150 ftBear right, heading NW.
  21. 350 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  22. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  23. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  24. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  25. 300 ftBear left, heading SW.
  26. 0.2 miBear right, heading W.
  27. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  28. 150 ftBear right, heading W.
  29. 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  30. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  31. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  32. 450 ftTurn left, heading W.
  33. 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
  34. 0.3 miPass Strombery Pond.
  35. 350 ftSharp left, heading W.
  36. 0.1 miPass Bestor Pond.
  37. 350 ftReach Strombery Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  38. 0.2 miSharp right, heading S.
  39. 0.4 miBear right, heading SE.
  40. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  41. 450 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  42. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  43. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  44. 350 ftBear left, heading NW.
  45. 150 ftBear right, heading NW.
  46. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  47. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  48. 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  49. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  50. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  51. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  52. 350 ftBear left, heading NW.
  53. 150 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  54. 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
  55. 350 ftSharp left, heading E.
  56. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  57. 350 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  58. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  59. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  60. 50 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  61. 100 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  62. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  63. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  64. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
  65. 0.6 miTurn left, heading E.
  66. 0.3 miSharp right, heading SE.
  67. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  68. 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
  69. 400 ftBear left, heading S.
  70. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  71. 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/strombery-pond-strombery-pond-out-back-9-km-7617

Trail surface

34% dirt66% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:37 AMSunset 6:51 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.2 mi in (~91 min). Leave by 5:00 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:31 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 this trailhead

Hikes near Gilead, Connecticut