AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Penwood State Park

Talcott Mountain State Park Viewpoint–Gale Pond, 3 lakes

8.5 mi · ▲ 1,555 ft · 3 hr 37 min

Talcott Mountain State Park Viewpoint–Gale Pond, 3 lakes is an 8.5-mile out-and-back in Penwood State Park near Simsbury, CT. The route passes Lake Louise and Gale Pond before reaching Talcott Mountain State Park Viewpoint at the turnaround, 4.2 miles in. It climbs 1,555 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade. It scores 30/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi187 – 909 ft · steepest grade: 19%9.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.86592, -72.79196
Nearest town Simsbury, CT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Talcott Mountain State Park Viewpoint–Gale Pond, 3 lakes

8.5 mi · ▲ 1,555 ft · 3 hr 37 min

Elevation 186–908 ft

Out & Back · Penwood State Park

Trailhead: 41.86592, -72.79196

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:49 AM · sunset 8:07 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 250 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  3. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SE.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  5. 0.1 miPass Lake Louise.
  6. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  7. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  8. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  9. 250 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  10. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  11. 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  12. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  13. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  14. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  15. 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
  16. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  17. 0.6 miPass Gale Pond.
  18. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  19. 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
  20. 0.5 miTurn left, heading NW.
  21. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  22. 0.6 miBear left, heading S.
  23. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  24. 0.6 miTurn right, heading NW.
  25. 200 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  26. 100 ftBear left, heading W.
  27. 350 ftReach Talcott Mountain State Park Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  28. 350 ftBear right, heading SW.
  29. 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
  30. 200 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  31. 0.6 miTurn left, heading SE.
  32. 0.3 miBear right, heading SE.
  33. 0.6 miTurn left, heading N.
  34. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  35. 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
  36. 100 ftTurn right, heading N.
  37. 0.7 miTurn right, heading NW.
  38. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  39. 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
  40. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  41. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  42. 50 ftSharp right, heading N.
  43. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  44. 0.3 miSharp left, heading N.
  45. 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  46. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  47. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  48. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  49. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  50. 0.4 miSharp left, heading N.
  51. 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/talcott-mountain-state-park-viewpoint-gale-pond-out-back-4-lakes-14-km-a0bf

Trail surface

48% dirt20% gravel16% paved11% grass5% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:49 AMSunset 8:07 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Simsbury, Connecticut