AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Farmington Canal Heritage Trail W, Avon CT.jpg
John Phelan · CC BY 4.0
Shade Swamp Sanctuary

Third Natural Pond–Taplin Pond, 3 lakes

13.3 mi · ▲ 232 ft · 4 hr 33 min

Third Natural Pond–Taplin Pond, 3 lakes is a 13.3-mile out-and-back in Shade Swamp Sanctuary near Avon Park South, CT. The route passes Third Natural Pond and Third Natural Pond before reaching Taplin Pond at the turnaround, 6.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 232 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 11/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi161 – 279 ft14.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Farmington Canal Heritage Trail 41.80115, -72.83560
Nearest town Avon Park South, CT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Third Natural Pond–Taplin Pond, 3 lakes

13.3 mi · ▲ 232 ft · 4 hr 33 min

Elevation 161–281 ft

Out & Back · Shade Swamp Sanctuary

Trailhead: Farmington Canal Heritage Trail · 41.80115, -72.83560

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, heading S.
  2. 3.9 miPass Third Natural Pond.
  3. 0.2 miPass Third Natural Pond.
  4. 2 miTurn right, heading S.
  5. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  6. 450 ftBear right, heading S.
  7. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  8. 0.2 miPass Taplin Pond.
  9. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  10. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  11. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  12. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  13. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  14. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  15. 50 ftReach Third Natural Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  17. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  18. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  19. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  20. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  21. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  22. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  23. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  24. 450 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  25. 6 miArrive 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/taplin-pond-taplin-pond-out-back-4-lakes-21-km-2459

Trail surface

91% paved9% 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 Farmington Canal Heritage Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Avon Park South, Connecticut