Hubbard Park, Meriden, CT: Hanging Hills, Metacomet Trail, Castle Craig

ABOUT THE PARK:
Hubbard Park - City of Meriden
Hubbard Park and Castle Craig - Connecticut Weekender
Hanging Hills - Wikipedia
The Black Dog of Hanging Hills - Connecticut Weekender
Metacomet Trail - Wikipedia

The Hanging Hills as seen from I-691: From left to right West Peak, East Peak, Castle Craig

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.562803, -72.809665

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Parking space for ONE car at the trailhead on the west side of Rt. 71.  Additional pullouts available farther south on the same side.  If you need to park there, road walk back to the trailhead.  Careful - Rt. 71 is VERY busy!

TRAIL MAPS:
Hubbard Park Trail Map - Meriden Land Trust  (shows most of the hike)
Metacomet Hiking Trail South - Connecticut Explorer Guide  (shows all of the hike)
Note that the map above refers to a reroute that is easy to miss -  no longer the case as this turn is now very well-blazed.
Connecticut Walk Book - CT Forest & Park Assn - 3-ring-binder book with removable maps for all of the Connecticut Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail System

HIKE DISTANCE:  7 miles

PEAK BAGGING:
East Peak - Peakery.com
West Peak - Peakery.com

THE HIKE:

Head west uphill into the woods at the Metacomet Trail sign on Rt. 71

For most of this hike follow the blue blazes of the Metacomet Trail.

I would have to say this first section of the Metacomet trail is very well-maintained.  The blazes were fresh and the trail was well-marked.  We fully expected many blowdowns from the Snowtober storm the weekend before.  Most of this area had just regained power the previous day after not having electricity for an entire week.  The snow had just melted.  It took us 2 hours to maneuver through 1 1/2 miles of blowdowns.  Amazingly, at the end of this hike, the section from Merimere Reservoir to Rt. 71 (the beginning and end of this hike) had already been completely cleared of blowdowns so trail maintainers has been hard at work while we were out hiking.  THANK YOU!  Much appreciated! 

1/4 of a mile into the hike, the Elmere Reservoir on the left and a large water tank on the right.

In another half mile, cross the dam at Merimere Reservoir.

At the end of the dam watch for the trail to turn left into the woods - step over the cable guardrail, descend to the creek, rock hop over, then ascend, somewhat steeply at times.

At the 1.5 mile point breathtaking views in all directions with Mine Island in Merimere Reservoir directly below.

Continue on to Castle Craig, almost 2 miles into the hike.  Castle Craig can be climbed for views from the top.

From the top of Castle Craig, Sleeping Giant State Park to the right of the Long Island Sound.

Flag at Castle Craig

From the castle at East Peak the trail continues on to West Peak.  Take this warning seriously - there are VERY steep drops from the cliffs in this area and many have lost their lives here.

I believe this might be a Peregrine Falcon seen on the way to West Peak.

The trail will turn sharply left just before a paved road at about the 2.2 mile mark.  You have a choice - continue along the trail which will take you down steeply into a ravine then back up steeply along the flank of West Peak (the most strenuous part of the hike) or go to the paved road, turn left and keep following to the left until you reach West Peak where you can pick up the blue-blazed trail again. 

Trail descends steeply down into the ravine.

Trail ascends steeply up West Peak.  Although this is the area haunted by the Black Dog of Hanging Hills, this is not the ghost dog,  this is my friend's dog, Haley :)

A little garter snake along the trail.

The trail will come out on a dirt road and turn right.  Turn left instead and walk a short distance to views at West Peak.

Views from West Peak

Tired dogs taking a nap on West Peak with East Peak in the distance.

Leaving West Peak the blue-blazed Metacomet Trail follows the ridge with more views to the west.

As you retrace your steps from West Peak and meet back up with the blue-blazed trail, continue along with radio towers and buildings on your left.  The trail will turn left up a dirt road towards the towers and buildings, then turn right leading you away from that ugliness.  The trail is a little bit confusing here as the blazes are faded and some of the markings appear to be old metal can lids painted blue.  Those are the proper markers to follow and the blazes return to being easy to see and follow just after the towers and buildings.

Trail along the ridge.

At 5.1 miles turn right on Edgewood Road as the blue trail turns left.  The next mile is walking on paved roads to Merimere Reservoir along residential streets with very little traffic (only had 1 car pass us).

At the gates at Merimere Reservoir turn left to pick up the blue-blazed trail from the first part of the hike which will lead back to Rt. 71.

Trail descends back to parking on Rt. 71

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Head uphill into the woods at the Metacomet Trail sign on Rt. 71
[  0.20]  Pass between a blue water tower on the right and Elmere Reservoir on left
[  0.55]  Keep straight at a cairn when a trail goes right
[  0.60]  Keep straight when a trail comes in from the right
[  0.65]  A residence comes into view to the right through the woods
[  0.80]  Trail comes out on road, turn left then right at Merimere Reservoir and cross dam
[  0.90]  Turn left over rope guardrail into woods, rock hop over creek and ascend veering left
[  0.95]  At top of steep ascent, keep left on blue when blue with red dot goes right
[  1.00]  Rock hop over creek
[  1.10]  Trail runs along ledge above Merimere Reservoir before veering away to the right
[  1.50]  Scenic overlook of Mine Island in Merimere Reservoir and Sleeping Giant State Park to the south
[  1.75]  Side trail to left to view
[  1.90]  Keep straight on blue trail when white comes in from the left; turn left on paved road towards castle
 when leaving castle, with back towards castle turn left and walk along the edge of the parking lot towards the electrical box to find a boulder with a blue blaze
[  2.20]  Blue trail turns sharply left downhill just before paved road (turn left and follow paved road as alternate route to West Peak to avoid steep descent into ravine and climb back up)
[  2.40]  At bottom of ravine, turn right on blue/red when red comes in from the left briefly, then follow blue to the right as red continues straight; begin steep ascent
[  2.60]  Cross small boulder field then swampy area after which trail switchbacks up to the left
[  2.70]  When the blue trail goes right at the gravel road, turn left towards views at West Peak
[  2.75]  West Peak; retrace
[  2.80]  When blue comes in from right, keep straight on blue
[  2.90]  Turn left at left turn blazes on pole towards radio towers and buildings; blazes old and faded in this area; trail turns right and heads away from towers into woods
[  3.20]  Trail veers left downhill just before woods road (easy to miss turn and get on woods road if not paying attention)
[  4.15]  Cross power cut
[  4.35]  Rock hop over creek
[  4.40]  Trail turns left when unmarked comes in from right
[  4.50]  Trail becomes wider woods road
[  4.55]  Keep left at fork
[  4.65]  Rock hop over creek
[  4.75]  Trail turns right on woods road that comes in from the left
[  5.00]  Keep straight through large open space when another woods road comes in from the right
[  5.10]  At orange barrier when the blue-blazed trail goes left, turn right and walk along paved Edgewood Road
[  5.40]  Hallmere Reservoir on right
[  5.80]  At intersection turn right on paved Percival Park Road
[  6.05]  Continue beyond the "Road Closed" signs
[  6.10]  At brown gates just before Merimere Reservoir, turn left into woods to pick up blue trail
[  6.30]  At fork keep right
[  6.70]  Pass between blue water tank on left and Elmere Reservoir on right
[  7.00]  Arrive at parking on Rt. 71