Hubbard Park — Castle Craig
Central Connecticut / Meriden, Connecticut
Activity
Hiking / Observation Tower
Distance
2.4 mi round trip
Elevation gain
~700 ft
Route
Out & back
The adventure
Climb from Mirror Lake to a stone castle tower perched high above Meriden on East Peak. Start beside Mirror Lake, climb the Hanging Hills to East Peak and finish by climbing the stone stairs of Castle Craig itself.
Start at Hubbard Park near Mirror Lake and take the marked hiking route up East Peak, following the park's castle-direction signs through the Hanging Hills. Reach Castle Craig, enter the 32-foot stone tower and climb its interior stairs to the observation deck. Take in the summit view, hike all the way back to Mirror Lake.
What to expect
- Start beside Mirror Lake, climb the Hanging Hills to East Peak and finish by climbing the stone stairs of Castle Craig itself.
- Park in the developed Hubbard Park area near Mirror Lake at 999 West Main Street. Begin from the lower park and follow the marked hiking trails and castle-shaped directional signs toward East Peak and Castle Craig. The climb becomes rocky and steeper as it gains the Hanging Hills. At the summit, walk to the stone tower and climb the interior stairway to the observation deck. Return to the lower park on the marked trail system rather than using the seasonal summit road as your descent route.
Good to know
- BUILT IN 1900
- Castle Craig was dedicated in 1900 and given to Meriden by industrialist and philanthropist Walter Hubbard.
- ONE MORE CLIMB
- The stone observation tower rises 32 feet above East Peak in the Hanging Hills.
- BIG PARK
- Hubbard Park has roughly 1,800 acres and a network of marked trails, including part of the Metacomet Trail.
- START DOWN LOW
- A road reaches the summit seasonally, but this Challenge starts at the bottom. No automotive shortcuts for your Blister Points.
- LOOK DOWN ON MIRROR LAKE
- Find the lower park you started in from the summit. It looks considerably less intimidating once you're 700 feet above it.
- Fee
- Free — no required entrance or parking fee.
- Entrance fee
- No required admission, lower-park parking or hiking fee is identified for the routed Hubbard Park outing.
- Dogs
- allowed-on-leash.
- Season
- The lower park and hiking system support year-round foot access. The summit vehicle road is seasonal and is not required for the outing. Snow and ice can substantially change trail difficulty.
Photos
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