AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Cockaponset State Forest

Pyramid Rock–Glacial Erratic, 6 sights

15.4 mi · ▲ 1,013 ft · 5 hr 38 min

Pyramid Rock–Glacial Erratic, 6 sights is a 15.4-mile out-and-back in Cockaponset State Forest near Nut Plains, CT. The route passes Glacial Erratic and Whitney Pond before reaching Pyramid Rock at the turnaround, 7.7 miles in. It climbs 1,013 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 39/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi174 – 558 ft · steepest grade: 18%17.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: New England Trail 41.35328, -72.68495
Nearest town Nut Plains, CT
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Directions

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Pyramid Rock–Glacial Erratic, 6 sights

15.4 mi · ▲ 1,013 ft · 5 hr 38 min

Elevation 174–557 ft

Out & Back · Cockaponset State Forest

Trailhead: New England Trail · 41.35328, -72.68495

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:38 AM · sunset 6:52 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on New England Trail, heading N.
  2. 1.8 miBear left onto Hart Road, heading NE.
  3. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Race Hill Road, heading N.
  4. 0.2 miTurn right onto New England Trail, heading SW.
  5. 0.7 miSharp left, heading NE.
  6. 250 ftBear left, heading NE.
  7. 0.2 miTurn right onto Goat Lot Road, heading N.
  8. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  9. 0.6 miBear left onto New England Trail, heading NE.
  10. 50 ftTurn right onto Rockland Road, heading N.
  11. 0.2 miContinue straight onto New England Trail, heading W.
  12. 1.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  13. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Gracie, heading N.
  14. 250 ftBear right, heading N.
  15. 150 ftTurn left onto Bee Line, heading N.
  16. 100 ftBear left onto Dave Houston Trail, heading N.
  17. 50 ftPass Glacial Erratic.
  18. 500 ftContinue straight onto Bee Line, heading NE.
  19. 50 ftTurn left onto Dave Houston Trail, heading NE.
  20. 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
  21. 350 ftContinue straight onto New England Trail, heading N.
  22. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  23. 0.2 miTurn left onto Whitney Road, heading N.
  24. 0.4 miPass Whitney Pond.
  25. 0.3 miBear left onto Northern Exposure, heading N.
  26. 50 ftContinue straight onto Cream Pot Road, heading NW.
  27. 50 ftBear left onto Northern Exposure, heading W.
  28. 50 ftContinue straight onto Cream Pot Road, heading W.
  29. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  30. 150 ftBear left onto New England Trail, heading W.
  31. 350 ftReach Pyramid Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  32. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  33. 350 ftBear right, heading NW.
  34. 150 ftTurn right onto Cream Pot Road, heading NW.
  35. 150 ftContinue straight onto Northern Exposure, heading NW.
  36. 50 ftBear right onto Cream Pot Road, heading NW.
  37. 50 ftContinue straight onto Northern Exposure, heading NW.
  38. 100 ftBear right onto Whitney Road, heading NW.
  39. 0.7 miTurn right, heading NW.
  40. 0.2 miBear left onto New England Trail, heading SE.
  41. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  42. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Dave Houston Trail, heading S.
  43. 250 ftTurn right onto Bee Line, heading S.
  44. 50 ftContinue straight onto Dave Houston Trail, heading S.
  45. 0.1 miBear right onto Bee Line, heading SE.
  46. 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  47. 150 ftBear left onto Gracie, heading SE.
  48. 250 ftContinue straight onto New England Trail, heading S.
  49. 0.8 miTurn right, heading S.
  50. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  51. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Rockland Road, heading SW.
  52. 0.2 miTurn left onto New England Trail, heading SW.
  53. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  54. 0.6 miTurn right onto Goat Lot Road, heading S.
  55. 0.2 miTurn left onto New England Trail, heading S.
  56. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  57. 250 ftSharp left, heading S.
  58. 0.7 miTurn left onto Race Hill Road, heading S.
  59. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Hart Road, heading S.
  60. 0.1 miBear right onto New England Trail, heading S.
  61. 1.6 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/whitney-pond-whitney-pond-out-back-26-km

Trail surface

81% dirt19% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:38 AMSunset 6:52 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 7.0 mi in (~191 min). Leave by 3:20 PM for the 6:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:08 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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