The Darkside
4.7 mi · ▲ 565 ft · 1 hr 51 min
The Darkside is a 4.7-mile out-and-back in Cockaponset State Forest near Durham Center, CT. It climbs 565 ft. It scores 20/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
The Darkside
4.7 mi · ▲ 565 ft · 1 hr 51 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
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading SW.
- 500 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 1 miTurn left onto New England Trail, heading N.
- 1 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading S.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto The Darkside, heading SE.
- 50 ftReach The Darkside, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Summit Belt, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto New England Trail, heading SE.
- 1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 500 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.5 mi in (~14 min). Leave by 6:19 PM for the 6:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:24 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Quonnipaug Lake–Glacial Erratic, 8 sights 12.4 mi · ▲ 1,250 ft
- Cockaponset State Forest Viewpoint & YMCA Pond 6.5 mi · ▲ 626 ft
- New England Trail 5.3 mi · ▲ 508 ft
- New England Trail 5.3 mi · ▲ 540 ft
- New England Trail 5.5 mi · ▲ 538 ft
- New England Trail 4.5 mi · ▲ 454 ft
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Hikes near Durham Center, Connecticut