5 Great Hiking Spots in Greater Hartford
The perfect quarantine relief
Looking to spend more time outdoors these days? Connecticut is chock-full of great hiking options. Below are five of my favorite spots in Greater Hartford along with how to get there and trails to check out before you go!
You may notice that I left out state parks from this list, and this was deliberate. Unfortunately, many of them are currently closed or are restricting access as a result of COVID-19. But, keep an eye out for a part 2 of this post with more great spots as parks re-open, including places like Talcott Mountain State Park, later this spring!
1. GIUFFRIDA PARK, MERIDEN
GPS Address: 800 Westfield Road, Meriden
Length: 1.7 to 4.6 miles; depending on the trail
Trails: 3 options — view on AllTrails
My favorite: Chauncey Peak (2.2 miles)
Difficulty: Moderate
Dog friendly?: Yes (on leash)
Why I Love It: The Chauncey Peak Trail at Giuffrida Park is easily my favorite hike in central CT. It is part of the 50-mile Mattabesett Trail system that starts in Guilford and goes up through the Farmington River with dozens of beautiful spots along the way.
Chancey Peak offers incredible views without taking up your entire day. If you take the trail backwards (which in my opinion, is the best way to experience it), you’ll be at the peak within 20 minutes and met with a gorgeous view of Crescent Lake* and the surrounding landscape. In total, the trail takes about an hour and a half, but pack some food and spend some extra time at the top with lunch or a picnic at sunset (as shown above) — you won’t regret it!
*Crescent Lake is a reserve water supply; therefore, swimming, fishing, rock climbing and boating are prohibited. However, there is a large grass area right next to it that is great for tossing a frisbee, running around with your dog or having a picnic.
2. RAGGED MOUNTAIN, BERLIN
Address: 437 West Ln, Berlin (Kensington)*
Length: 2.2 to 10.5 miles; depending on the trail
Trails: 12 options — view on AllTrails
My favorite: Blue and Red Blazed Loop (5.5 miles)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Dog friendly?: Yes (on leash)
Why I Love It: If you’re looking for a relatively flat trails with great views, give Ragged Mountain a try. After a beautiful mile and a half walk through the woods on the Blue and Red Blazed Loop, you are met with a rock formation with a picturesque view of Wassel Reservoir. For a shorter hike (3-3.5 miles), turn around once you’ve reached this overlook.
*Head’s up: If you’re heading to Ragged Mountain, don’t be confused when you’re driving through a neighborhood; the trailhead is tucked in the back and the GPS address will bring you right to the entrance. Park anywhere you can along the road!
3. FARMINGTON RIVER, VARIOUS TOWNS
The Farmington River has two major trail systems: the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail (aka: Rail to Trail) and the Farmington River Trail. The FCHT is a paved path that stretches 80 miles from New Haven up through MA. The FRT is an 16.5 mile arc that runs through Unionville, Collinsville, Burlington, and Canton and links up to the FCHT at points in Farmington, Avon and Simsbury. You can hop on and off anywhere you like!
GPS Address: There are dozens of areas to park throughout 10+ towns
My Favorite Starting Points: 1008 New Britain Ave, Farmington and Collinsville Center
Length: Up to 80 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Dog friendly?: Yes (on leash)
Why I Love It: While it is not actual hike, these trails are beautiful walking and biking paths that are the perfect way to spend 30 minutes, an entire afternoon or everything in between. The single paved path of the FCRT will bring you up to Massachusetts, which is what many bike riders will do.
For the view of the river as pictured, park at 1008 New Britain Ave. Walk to the intersection and take a left onto Red Oak Hill Road. The trail entrance will be on the left. From the sign, the river is ~1 mile away. Right before you reach the bridge, you can go down into a wooded path and walk along the river, which will eventually lead you to Tunxis Mead Park.
4: HUBBARD PARK, MERIDEN
*Photo taken from AllTrails app; mine were MIA :)
GPS Address: 999 W Main St, Meriden
Length: 3.3 - 6.5 miles; depending on the trail
Trails: 6 options — view here on AllTrails
My favorite: Metacomet, East Peak, West Peak and Castle Craig Loop (6.1 miles)
Difficulty: Moderate; rocky areas and steep inclines
Dog friendly?: Yes (on leash)
Why I Love It: Hubbard Park has a little bit of something for everyone — playgrounds, green space, small waterfalls and awesome hiking trails. Most trails will lead you to the iconic Castle Craig; sitting atop one of the highest peaks on the Eastern seaboard. The stone observation tower was built by local masons in 1900 and donated to the people of Meriden by Walter Hubbard, President of the Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing Company. It’s a cool little piece of history to see with gorgeous views surrounding it!
5. MOUNT HIGBY, MIDDLEFIELD
GPS Address: No exact address; click here for coordinates. From the junction of Routes 66 & 147, take Route 66 west for ~0.5 miles. The trailhead is located just east of the intersection of Route 66 & I-91.
Length: Up to 8.9 miles*
Trails: 1 option — view here on AllTrails
Difficulty: Moderate; steep overlooks
Dog friendly?: Yes (on leash)
Why I Love It: Don’t let the fact that there is no exact address for this hike deter you from doing it. It’s not very crowded for that very reason and is worth a little bit of scrambling. The view at the pinnacle extends almost 360 degrees from Mount Tom in Massachusetts to Long Island Sound at New Haven. It is also one of the few hikes in the area where you are walking alongside a rocky ledge for a good majority of the hike; great for those looking for some adventure!
I hope you take this time in quarantine to slow down, get out and explore! If you’ve done any of these hikes, please feel free to share your experience with me or in the comments below!
