Mattabesett is the Indian name for Middletown. From the eastern trailhead, the trail begins traveling in a southerly direction, gradually becoming more westerly, and finally, assumes a northerly direction, crossing through Guilford, Durham, Madison, Haddam, Middletown, North Branford, Wallingford, Middlefield, Meriden, and Berlin.
The eastern sections of the Mattabesett Trail contain high ledges and bald knobs with vistas of the Connecticut River. A picturesque terrain of tumbled ledges, frequent brooks, shallow bogs, vernal pools, mountain laurel, and hardwood forest add to the trail’s beauty. The western sections offer some of the finest ridge walking and cliff views in the state as the trail traverses the southern end of the traprock ridges that extend north into Massachusetts. Some of the notable features hikers will encounter include the Chinese Wall in Middletown, Pisgah Mountain in Durham, Bluff Head in Guilford, Beseck Mountain in Middlefield, Mount Higby in Middletown, and Chauncey Peak and Lamentation Mountain in Meriden.
State forests and parks, land trust preserves, municipal parks, and important conserved land are all linked by the trail. The Reservoir, Bear Hill, and Seven Falls sections at the eastern end include 5 miles of loop trails. The trail intersects other major trail systems and offers additional loop opportunities in Millers Pond State Park and Mica Ledges in Durham, the Rockland Preserve in Madison, Braemore Preserve in Guilford, and Giuffrida Park in Meriden.
The Mattabesett 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: Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), Durham Conservation Commission, Guilford Land Conservation Trust, Middlesex Land Trust, National Park Service.
There are a number of access points to the Mattabesett Trail; click on any to get specific directions.
Eastern trailhead: From Rt.9, take exit 22 (continue on Eastern Dr if coming from the south) and turn northeast onto Silver St for about 0.7 miles, then turn east onto River Road. 6 parking spaces along River Road in Middletown, approximately 2 miles east from Riverfront Park/ Silver St intersection. Trailhead is across from the NRG Energy Plant entrance.
Western trailhead - north end: From Berlin Turnpike/ Rt.5, turn east onto Spruce Brook Road. Small gravel parking lot (4 spaces) next to the driveway of 370 Spruce Brook Road - PLEASE DO NOT OBSTRUCT PRIVATE DRIVEWAY! Trail starts off Spruce Brook Road southwards, between #370 Spruce Brook Rd and Somerset Dr intersection.
Western trailhead - Giuffrida Park:
Continue on Bee St for about 1.7 miles, then continue straight on Westfield Rd, and the entrance to Giuffrida Park is on your left. 15-20 unmarked parking spaces at Dr. Francis Giuffrida Park, 800 Westfield Rd, Meriden. Trail access northwards via Lamentation Mountain to Spruce Brook Rd/ northern trailhead, or eastwards to Chauncey Peak and the main Mattabesett Trail.
Success! A new password has been emailed to you.
