Hikers will intersect well-known and iconic landmarks on the Metacomet including Castle Craig in Hubbard Park, Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington, and the Heublein Tower in Talcott Mountain State Park in Simsbury. Other notable points of interest include Will Warren’s Den and Pinnacle Rock in Farmington, Ragged Mountain in Berlin, the Tariffville Gorge in Tariffville, and Suffield Mountain in Suffield. Views from the northern part of the trail stretch west to the Barndoor Hills and north to Manituck Mountain.
Along this trail hikers will travel through sites beautifully forested with mature growth trees with views of glacial erratics, the traprock ridgeline, and trailside wildflowers. On the northern section of the trail, are unique Metacomet basalt eroding into chimney-like spires along the cliff edge. The trail is distinguished by its steep and challenging nature in places. Other sections of the trail are more moderate allowing for a rolling ridge walk. In West Hartford, along Reservoir #6, the trail follows a graveled path that is wide and flat for easy strolling.
A variety of loop hike opportunities are possible where the Metacomet intersects other significant trail systems. Most notably are the adjoining trail systems in Hubbard Park in Meriden, Timberlin Park in Berlin, Crescent Lake in Southington, Ragged Mountain Preserve in Berlin, the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) Reservoirs in West Hartford, Penwood State Park on the Simsbury/Bloomfield line and Sunrise Park in Suffield.
The section of the Metacomet north of Route 44 along the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) Reservoir 6 is accessible. Surface is stone dust. Parking lot (2 spots marked accessible) is at Route 44/MDC lot. This section is approximately 1.6 miles. The Metacomet turns north off this trail but the accessible path does continue around the MDC Reservoir for a longer loop.
The Metacomet Trail is part of the 235-mile New England National Scenic Trail (NET). The NET was designated as a national scenic trail in 2009 and connects from the Long Island Sound to the MA/NH border. The NET is comprised of the Menunkatuck, Mattabesett, Metacomet, and Metacomet-Monadnock Trails.
Partners: Berlin Land Trust, Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), Metropolitan District Commission, National Park Service, Simsbury Land Trust, Suffield Land Conservancy, Wintonbury Land Trust, Farmington Land Trust, Hill-Stead Museum, Windsor Locks Scout Foundation, East Granby Land Trust (Wintonbury, East Granby and West Hartford Land Trusts recently merged into the Traprock Ridge Land Conservancy)
There are many access points to the Metacomet, click on any of them to get detailed directions.
Southern trailhead: roadside parking along Spruce Brook Rd (off Berlin Turnpike/ Rt.5), where the Mattabesett and Metacomet Trail connect. Please take caution when crossing Berlin Turnpike. The Metacomet starts along Orchard Road and splits at the Kensington Rd intersection: you can either follow Kensington Rd north and take the Metacomet Loop towards Hatchery Brook and Bicentennial Park, or take the Metacomet Trail south towards Hubbard Park and Castle Craig. Loop and Trail meet again in Timberlin Park, Berlin.
Northern trailhead: gravel parking lot between 5 and 7 Rising Corner Rd in Southwick, MA.
Accessible parking: there are 2 marked parking spots at the gate to the MDC Reservoir #6, just north off Rt.44/ Albany Ave in West Hartford.
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