The Metacomet Trail runs for 62.7 miles through Connecticut and makes up one of four trails ( Metacomet-Monadnock ,Mattabesset and Menunkatuck) combined to form the 215 mile New England Trail through CT and Mass. The trail follows the Metacomet Ridge through the centre of CT and is named after the Wampanoag Tribe leader Metacomet who was famous during King Philips War.

Hubbard Park – Castle Craig

The southern most part of the trail is near Meriden in CT and finishes near the start of the Mattabesset Trail. There is a steady, rocky steep climb up The Hanging Hills past the reservoir and meandering streams through Hubbard Park. After about 2 miles you are awarded with the most spectacular views out to your left as the Metacomet Trail runs along the sharp cliff of the ridge, you can see the Mereimeer Resevoir below you.

As you continue along the ridge you get little sections for more and more viewpoints and can be so distracted by the view that the Castle Craig itself creeps up on you without you noticing in the distance.

Castle Craig

Castle Craig Itself was part of the Hubbard estate gifted to the people of Meriden in 1900 from the owner, and at about 1000 ft up has impressive views overlooking the State. Its likely that it was a folly built for the owner and to me has a very Scottish feel which is reinforced by its name. Here is a 30 second video I did of the view from the castle.

the Supernatural Black Dog of the Hanging Hills which frequents the area but we did get a spectacular few hours in the Hubbard Park.

Parking – Small layby for a few cars on the Chamberlain Highway 71 – at the Trail head. Just north of Meriden but before Butler St. marked on the map below .

Distance and Elevation – 7.8 miles – 1500 ft

My Garmin Connect Account Entry with GPX files and data click here

Ragged Mountain

The next section to the north of Castle Craig is a section that includes Ragged Mountain. This 750ft high mountain has its own unique microclimate and has impressive views from many points. Both parts of the Metacomet trail that take you up/down the mountain are very steep and I would advise not tackling them in bad weather.

The Ragged Mountain section of the Metacomet was also part of the route I took when I followed in the footsteps of The Old Leatherman of Connecticut and in my most recent visit to the mountain I was amused to see signs of the temporary lean to I created for a few hours sleep there.

Just to the north of Ragged Mountain is a fantastic place to stop for refreshments. The Rogers Orchards Farm store has a wide range of produce and in the winter Shona and I stopped there for a hot cider and apple donut.

To the north of Ragged Mountain is a superb 4 mile stretch heading towards Plainville that has a few miles of impressive rock formations and two caves. One of the caves known as Mr Bills Cave is popular with climbers and well worth the short diversion off the main trail.

Rattlesnake Mountain

currently work in progress content coming soon.

Hartford Resevoir 6 Parking

Hublein Tower – Talcott Mountain and Penwood

The next section of the Metacomet takes you through the impressive Penwood State Park and the Talcott Mountain State Park. This is one of my favorite sections and has long meandering trail through the woods with impressive views as you move along the ridges.

Tariffville Parking

Peak Mountain to the Mass Border

The last section before the trail ends at the Mass border has roughly ten miles of undulating trail with some impressive views from the ridge. There is also a camping site about 6 miles from the border where I have found water stocked in a Bear Box.

Northern Trail head parking