Black Pond via Mattabesett Trail, Middlefield, CT
The Mattabesett Trail extends through the state of Connecticut. Along this trail, there are great views. Black Pond has an amazing view from Besek Mountain. Check out the blog for pics and helpful info!
The Mattabesett Trail extends over 50 miles throughout the state of Connecticut. The first half of this horseshoe like trail follows high trap rock ridges of the Metacomic Ridge, from Guilford south to Meriden. The second part extends extends north from Guilford to Middletown where it ends at the Connecticut River. There are multiple areas throughout the state to hop on the trails. You will find numerous picturesque views along the way. One of my favorites spots to check out is Black Pond in Middlefield. I came across this trail a few years ago and the views are spectacular.
For the directions, the trail starts on Baileyville Road (RT 147) that intersects Meriden Road (RT 66). I always gps the restaurant Guida’s across from the trail. I park there and cross the street or there is a little parking area off the side of the road, where you will find the Mattabesett Trail blue-blazed marker.
Once we saw the marker, we headed into the woods to begin the trail. The trail is well maintained and marked pretty well. Thus, just follow the blue markers on this one. Nothing too tricky on this trail. Due to the storms recently, we saw quite a bit of trees down throughout the hike. And there are areas of rock formations where snakes may be hiding. Be on the lookout, I almost stepped on one.
About three-quarters of a mile into the hike, we came out to an open field that led us under power lines. We could see Route 66 highway from here, as the trail runs parallel to the highway. We then passed a brick and stone chimney along the way.
From here, the trail will begin to ascend up the mountain.
Until I was researching the area, I wasn’t aware this was called Besek Mountain. And, there is a ski area next to it, Powder Ridge. Once you reach the cliffs, you see the stunning view of Black Pond and Mount Higby in the distance as well. You can continue the trail from here and follow the blue-blazed trail further past the ski area chair lifts and the true summit of Besek Mountain. And you can go all the way to Guilford. However, this is where we stopped and turned around. We had our fun taking pics and checking out the view.
The loop was roughly 2.8 miles. The hike was moderate difficulty. The terrain was easy in the beginning but had some up and down sections. The hardest part may be finding the trail. This is a great morning weekend type hike with a rewarding view. Be sure to add this to your list, especially if you are local.
The Review
Black Pond via Mattabesett, 2.8M (Middlefield, CT) - 4 out of 5
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
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Artists Bluff Trail, Franconia Notch State Park
Artists Bluff is one of my favorite trails in the White Mountains of New Hampshire located in Franconia Notch State Park. This trail checks off all boxes for a great hike. The views are spectacular. Check it out!
Trail Description: The Artists Bluff Trail is a short hike that offers some of the best views of Cannon Mountain and Franconia Notch.
Trail Info:
Where: Franconia Notch State Park, Franconia, NH Distance: 1.5 miles (1-1.5 hrs) Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Trail Type: Out and Back Features: Views, Valley, Lake, Forest
How to get there:
From I-93 (Franconia Notch Parkway) get off on Exit 34C toward the Cannon Mountain Ski Resort and head west on NH 18. Go up roughly a half mile where you see a large parking area on your right. Walking across the empty lot in front of you will lead to the signs for the Artists Bluff and Bald Mountain.
Hiking Tips
Shortly along the trail, there’s a fork in the path that not clear which direction to go. Stay to your right to follow the Artist Bluff Trail. The other option will take you on the Bald Mountain Trail and will take you longer to get to Artists Bluff.
Great fall hike with amazing foliage.
The Hike
If you are looking for a great trail with amazing views that is relatively quick in New Hampshire, the Artists Bluff Trail in Franconia Notch State Park is exactly that. My friend owns a house close by and about 10 of us drove up for the weekend. After having too many beverages the night before, we wanted something relatively short on this morning. And, we wanted to beat the rain that was inevitable. We have hiked Artists Bluff in the past but it is a great hike and it is very satisfying. The loop is only 1.5 miles but it is challenging with steep sections. And, the trail will lead you to amazing views of Cannon Mountain and Franconia Notch.
Upon arriving we saw the parking lot off Route 18 on your right across from the Cannon Peabody slopes. We walked across the empty lot in front of us that led us to the signs of the start of trail for Artists Bluff and Bald Mountain.
We followed the Red marked trails to get to the bluffs. The trail starts off pretty easy then you have some steep inclines and declines as you get closer to the bluffs.
About .25 miles or so into the hike we saw split in the path to hike up to the summit of Bald Mountain on our left. This will add .5 miles to the hike. As we wanted to beat the rain, we stayed the course toward Artists Bluffs.
The trail eventually broke into the open and I saw views of Cannon Mountain. There was a storm recently in the Northeast and there were actually quite a bit of trees knocked down. I came across volunteers doing some maintenance to the trail and trying to clean up. After passing the volunteers, I came up to the rock that points to the direction of the bluffs.
Artists Bluff stands at 2,368 feet high. The views at the top are amazing. You get a great outlook of the Franconia Notch. We hung out for about a half hour at the top reminiscing and questioning prior nights beverage consumption. And, then we decided to head back. The initial descend was pretty tough and rocky but the trail got easier as the path took us along Route 18 across from Echo Lake. And, this took us to where we originally started.
I would do this hike again and likely many more times. Each season of the year I am sure you get different views. Fall foliage would be the best. The trail is well marked and the forest is beautiful. Even though this is close to the highway, it is still far enough away and quiet as you hike. For a hike in the White Mountains, I would say this was an easy level hike. However, I could see this trail being moderate for others due to some the steeper sections. The hike will only take about an hour. But you will always add 20-30 minutes at the top taking in the views. The only thing that would have made this better is if I had some donuts with me!
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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River Highlands State Park, Cromwell, CT
This is the first hiking trail review on the Connecticut hiking challenge trails. Check out the blog to learn more about the challenge!
Trail Description: A view 150 feet up of the Connecticut River can be seen from the White Blazed Trail in the River Highlands State Park. In addition, there is water front with picnic tables to enjoy.
Trail Info:
Where: River Highlands State Park, Cromwell, CT Distance 1.5 miles (1 hr) Difficulty: Easy Trail Type: Loop Features: Views, River, Water
How to get there:
Directions in detail can be found here,https://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=434748&deepNav_GID=1650.
River Highlands State Park, Field Rd, Cromwell, CT 06416
Hiking Tips
Good beginner hike or weekday hike after work.
Super buggy area. Bring bug spray.
The Hike
Finding good hikes in Connecticut is becoming less a challenge. And, that is a good thing. Most people just dismiss how much is truly out there. Recently my friend told me there is a hiking challenge in CT. I can’t believe I haven’t come across this. Of course, I googled and found Sky’s the Limit Hiking Challenge by the CT Department of Electric & Environment Protection (DEEP). They list 14 lesser known trails to encourage more hiking in CT state parks. There are rules and info here. You can win some prizes too. I think it is a great idea. I haven’t heard of most of the trails. I smell some new blog material. I am definitely on-board and will be joining in on the fun.
With that said, here in my very first hike of the Sky’s the Limit challenge. A rare weekday hike but if it is 90 degrees in May in CT, you get outside. Nichole and I went to River Highlands State Park in Cromwell, CT. This was an easier and quick hike. The hike offers views of the Connecticut River from 150 feet above the water. I would use this link for the trail maps. Directions can be found on the CT DEEP link above.
The park consists of multiple color trails. You can go multiple different directions. The biggest loop will take you about 2 miles but you can connect to many different trails and adventure as much as you want. The trails are very well marked and the terrain is pretty level. Maybe one or 2 short, steep sections. We chose the white trail from the parking lot. This takes you directly to the high bluffs overlooking the Connecticut River.
More river views.
From there we took the yellow trail down to the camping site. Typically, you can go to the bottom and walk out to get more views of the river. However, due to all the rain we had recently, the water was really high. Trees and picnic tables were covered. It is probably best to do this hike in the summer. Luckily, I did this a few years ago when the water was low.
After trying to snap some good IG pics, we continued to follow the yellow trail out to the parking lot. There are quite a bit of small bridges to cross over. And, this particular area is swampy and gets very buggy. Tons of mosquitoes. I suggest Deep Woods spray for this hike.
We did do some adventuring off the trails mentioned but it shouldn’t be more than 1.5 miles if you use the white to yellow marked trails. Barely took us an hour. This is a very good beginner hike. You don’t need boots but it is a wetlands area so it can be very muddy. It’s a good, quick hike for those locally.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Castle Craig and East Slope Trail, Meriden, CT
Castle Craig is a popular destination in Meriden, CT. There are awesome views from the top. Hiking the East Slope Trail, check out my review!
Spring is finally here to stay. Another beautiful weekend for outdoors. This weekend’s hike was an oldie but goodie. I have hiked up to Castle Craig a few times in the past. The hiking trails are pretty good and there are excellent views at the top. Also, there is an actual castle/tower, which can be climbed via stairs to the top inside the tower. Castle Craig is located in Hubbard Park in Meriden, CT. The park itself is fairly nice, covered with gorgeous daffodils and a large pond with fountains. There are various trails that take you up to the Castle Craig tower. This particular blog will be on the East Peak using the white/red/blue trails. The trail map I used can be found here.
Upon arriving at Hubbard Park, we drove straight until we saw a small lot to our left where the trail head starts.
From here we followed the white blazed trail through the walking tunnel over I-691.
Shortly after, we reached the small foot bridge that passes over a creek.
Continuing on the white trail led us to the Beehive Spring landmark.
From here we continued straight on the red blazed trail for a short distance until we saw the first blue blazed trail. This part of the hike got pretty steep.
The end of the steep ascend took us to the paved road. You have options here. Use the paved road up to the peak or continue along the blue trail to see overlooks of the town and cross the parking lot. We just went up the road.
At the end of the road, we reached our destination of the East Peak. Castle Craig tower sits atop the East Peak at 976 feet. The skies were absolutely clear and the views were spectacular. We reached the top to only find a few people but within minutes the peak began to fill out, which is typical.
After making more donut eating boomerang videos, climbing the stairs to the top of the tower, and taking as many pics as possible, we made our descend down the East Peak following the white trail. The downhill is steep at first but then becomes flat. I will say, I was disappointed to find a ton of broken glass at this section of the hike. This is a good hike. And, many families include young children and dogs frequently travel the trails. Take care of the trails! Who would smash bottles?!???! Not cool.
Eventually, the white trail led us down carriage road to the Halfway House.
We passed this landmark and continued to follow the white trail to Merimere Reservoir. Again, the skies were clear and got another great view. We continued alongside of the reservoir until we reached the pave road. We took a right walking down the paved road and took another right on the next road, Notch Road. Passing under 691, this lead us back to where we parked.
Hubbard Park is a great area. The park is generally very populated. On nice days, the hiking trails can be crowded. We had pretty good timing on our hike but did get overwhelmed once we reached the peak. I would suggest doing this during the week, after work if possible. If not, this is still worth the hike when crowded. The Castle Craig tower is unique and the views are fulfilling. I would rate this hike moderate for the average hiker. If you are not use to steep uphill, you may need some breaks. Like most Connecticut hikes, gym shoes are probably ok but hiking boots are best. This hike took my group about just over 2 hours and was 3.5 miles based on the way we took. I have done this hike 4x so far. Definitely recommend for a good Connecticut hike.
Hiking Trail Review
Castle Craig and East Slope,~3.5m (Meriden, CT): 3.5 out of 5
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Hancock Brook Trail, Waterbury, CT
Spring weather is finally upon us. As summer approaches, I look forward to finding new hiking trails. I came across Hancock Brook on Instagram and the hike surprised me. And, no it's not closed. Read up on my advice to make sure you complete this trail!
It has been a long, very long winter in the Northeast. The weather finally felt like spring and that means it was time to find some new trails to hike. I came across the Hancock Brook Trail in Waterbury, CT on Instagram from some fellow CT hikers I follow. I never heard of it and the views looked cool. However, my research displayed this trail was closed including sites like Alltrails. After seeing recent posts and finding one actual site with directions on this trail, I felt comfortable enough to give it a go. And, I can confirm the trail is NOT closed. People are giving up too easily. Yes, there is a rotted bridge but the trail can be accessed elsewhere. For directions, plug into your GPS: Sheffield St., Waterbury, CT, 060704. Drive all the way down until you hit the quarry and there is a small parking lot to your right.
The Hancock Brook Trail is a blue-blaze trail along the edge of the Mattatuck State Forest. This hike is a 2.8 mile loop. The terrain does get quite rocky, which includes steep uphill and downhill portions and some climbing. The trail was covered in leaves on this day and was quite slippery because of that. I would consider this a moderately difficult hike for the average hiker.
Onto to the infamous bridge I kept reading about. Ignore the bridge.
From the parking area, you will start walking up the side of the quarry and look for the first Blue marker. Upon entering the woods, the trail splits and the trail to the right with one blue marker will take you along Hancock Brook. The first half mile or so will give views of the stream and its rapids. The trail is fairly narrow and gets unpleasant as you reach the inclines where the bushes have grown into the trail.
You will reach a spot in the trail where you hear lots of trucks and work on the quarry. There will be a sign to stay on the blazed trail on a tree with the Blue marker.
Continue this direction and go straight. This is a tricky part of the trail. The markings are not great until you reach the peak. You will want to veer right but that will take you the wrong way. There is a like a raised branch signaling not to go this way. If not, you will reach a small pond and you will see a very sketchy trailer. Do not go there. That is not part of the trail. You will be too close for comfort. Turn around. I just envisioned all the crazy TV shows I saw with a crazy dude coming out of a trailer and chasing me.
If you went the right way, you will reach the pond and see the trailer across far enough away. You need to make an abrupt left into the woods to start the incline. Once you do not see blue markings, stop and just turn around. We walked by it as well. I took pictures for guidance. The blue marker was covered by trees.
The trail will get tougher at this stage as you enter a pine forest. There is a mini pond with a bunch of trees down as you get closer to the ascend uphill. Keep an eye out for the blue markings. They are a little too far apart in this area. Once you pass this pond, the steep uphill will begin and there will be some switchbacks.
This tough stretch will be worth it as you will reach a beautiful lookout spot for views. The rock formation is called Lion Head and is the peak at 660 feet. This is a great spot to stop and soak in nature. Have a snack and fuel up on water. Maybe eat a donut.
The climb down was tough at first but got pretty easy as we kept going. And, the trail markings were way better. The spots where they were too far apart, I suggest going the way that made sense and you will find them. You will pass a few more lookout points to enjoy more views along the way.
At the end of trail, there will be a steep downhill section before you reach the quarry where you started. And, somehow we completely missed the waterfall coming in, or the water started to come down from melting while we hiked. Before we left, we took a closer look at what is called Hancock Cascades. This was to the left at the end of the final descend.
This was a surprisingly good hike. This took us about 2 hours and that is with stopping for 20 minutes. I don’t think I would have found it without Instagram. The hike was fun and didn’t take too much time. I would just be careful of the markers. There were times where it was lacking and you really had to keep an eye out. And, stay away from the Breaking Bad looking trailer!
Trail Review:
Hancock Brook Trail, Waterbury, CT (2.8m): 3 out of 5
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Mine Hill Preserve Trail, Roxbury, CT
More fun fall hikes in CT! The fall colors are really showing now. I decided to hike a new trail this time. I chose Mine Hill Reserve Trail in Roxbury, CT. The trail was unique and offered cool historic features. Check it out for great leaf peeper pics.
Trail Description: The Mine Hill Preserve trail is part of the Roxbury Land Trust as a national historical landmark. Venturing on this trail will take you through scenic woodlands, rocky terrain, mine tunnels, bat caves, and old furnace structures from the 19th century.
Trail Info:
Where: Roxbury, CT
Distance 3.6 miles (2 hrs)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Trail Type: Loop
Features: Water, Bat Caves, Quarry, Bridge, Mine Tunnels, Old Furnaces
How to get there:
6 Mine Hill Road, Roxbury, CT 06783
The GPS lost signal as I got on Mine Hill Road, but just follow the signs on the gravel road to the parking lot.
Hiking Tips
Download a map of the trail, http://www.roxburylandtrust.org/MapMineHill.pdf.
Veer left to start with the more difficult section toward the Donkey Trail. The latter part of the trail is more like a brisk nature walk on flat ground.
The Hike
This past weekend’s hike was recommended by a friend. Nichole and I took a ride out to Roxbury, CT to the Mine Hill Preserve Trail. This trail offers some unique features where you will see various mines and old furnace stoves from the 19th century. This is definitely off the beaten path. There is a very small parking lot where the trail heads start. There are only two trails here. There is a 3.6m loop (blue trail- Mine Hill Preserve) and an additional 2m loop can be added (red trail – Carter Reserve). Due to time constraints, we just did the blue trail loop. The maps online for this area are very helpful too. I would suggest downloading here prior to the hike. The trails are a short walk from the parking lot. If you really wanted to just see the old furnace structures, this is only a 10 minute walk from the start if you veer right. Prior to hiking, I read the veering to the left would get the difficult portion of the hike done and that is what we chose.
In this direction, you pass a small pond to your right.
The main loop ascends up the Donkey Trail and here you will pass two mine tunnels.
The terrain was pretty interesting and varied. This side of the loop was by far the most challenging. It was very rocky and had some steep uphill areas. As you keep hiking , you will cross paths with multiple bat cages that serve as entry ways for the caves inside them.
The trails begins to descend and you will meet at the Old Quarry bridge which joins a dirt road that will lead you to the other side of the loop. The other side of the loop was more of a nature path. It was flat the whole way, roughly 1.5m. This was less interesting until the end where you will find the old forge site. The fall colors kept me attentive along the way.
Overall, the historic points of the trail offered a different features you don’t get on hikes generally. The trail was very maintained and marked well. The hike would be good for anyone beginner to advanced. I would recommend hiking boots since the terrain can be rocky. The loop didn’t take us too long, about 1 hr 45 min. Next time, I would leave more time and add the additional 2m loop. Pretty good recommendation!
Review:
Mine Hill Reserve Trail, 3.6m (Roxbury, CT): 3.5 out of 5
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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