West Thompson Lake Campground
Campground
Campground · 1.0 mi from the trail
Connecticut · Hiking · Near Danielson
Ravenelle Ponds Loop
Photo: jjbers, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 1.5 mi
- loop
- 22 ft
- climb
- 345 ft
- high point
- Loop
- route
- Apr–Oct
- best months
Ravenelle Ponds Loop is an easy 1.5-mile hike in Connecticut, about a mile from the community of Grosvenor Dale. The trail is short and gentle, with a total elevation gain of about 22 feet, and it is rated easy. The route is mostly flat, with the steepest stretch coming at about 0.65 miles in, where the grade reaches 8 percent. Bikes are allowed, so it works well for a walk or a ride. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the best bets. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at West Thompson Lake show May highs around 69°F and September highs around 73°F, with July the warmest month at about 82°F. Several other trails sit close by. The Shoreline Trail is just 0.1 mile away, the Quinebaug River Trail is 0.3 mile off, and the Lost Trail is 0.7 mile away. West Thompson Lake Campground is about a mile from the loop.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after 
If it rainsMarcbela (Marc N. Belanger), Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsClara Barton Homestead
Museum
Museum · 13 mi from DanielsonHomestead in Oxford, Massachusetts
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), Public domain (commons)
More in DanielsonBest time to go · Apr–Oct
Best time to visit Ravenelle Ponds Loop
Best months: April–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
35° / 15°
11 wet · 4 snow
Feb
38° / 16°
10 wet · 3 snow
Mar
46° / 24°
11 wet · 2 snow
Apr
58° / 34°
11 wet
May
69° / 45°
12 wet
Jun
76° / 54°
11 wet
Jul
82° / 60°
11 wet
Aug
80° / 58°
10 wet
Sep
73° / 51°
9 wet
Oct
61° / 38°
10 wet
Nov
50° / 30°
10 wet · 1 snow
Dec
40° / 22°
11 wet · 2 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at W Thompson Lake, CT, 1.5 mi away at 360 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Shoreline Trail
Next door
A scenic 4.32-mile point-to-point coastal hike in Connecticut.
Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Quinebaug River Trail
Next door
Scenic 5-mile riverside point-to-point hike along the Quinebaug River.
HIKE
Southern New England Trunkline Trail
~13 min drive
21.68-mile out-and-back trail in Massachusetts with 1,572 ft elevation gain
Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Lost Trail
~1 min drive
A short point-to-point woodland walk through Connecticut forest.
HIKE
Center Trail
~11 min drive
6.52-mile out-and-back hike in Rhode Island with 616 ft elevation gain.
Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Loop Trail
~1 min drive
0.37-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 40 ft gain
HIKE
George Washington Orange Trail
~12 min drive
5.06-mile out-and-back trail in Rhode Island with 563 ft elevation gain.
Photo: jjbers, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Woodland Walk Trail
~2 min drive
Easy woodland point-to-point trail perfect for a quick nature walk.
Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Outer Loop Trail
~2 min drive
1.17-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 206 ft gain.
Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Viewpoint Trail
~2 min drive
0.57-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 65 ft gain
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
