|
| | | |
| |
|
| Hiking | 6.96 Miles |
1,294 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.96 Miles | 3 Hrs 34 Mns | | 2.00 mph |
| 1,294 ft AEG | 5 Mns Break | 10 LBS Pack | | |
|
|
| |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | I needed to squeeze in a shorter day on the trail, so I found a section where the Metacomet Trail almost closes a loop upon itself. Parking near 843 Edgewood Road, I walked south on Edgewood Road and then on Park Drive to a locked gate. Just past the gate, I turned right on Peak Drive to cross the dam at the end of Merimere Reservoir and then left onto the trail at the end of the dam.
About 100 yards up the trail, there’s an unmarked fork. I stayed to the left on the blue-blazed trail. After following about 20-40’ above the reservoir for a while, the trail crossed a ravine, and turned right to follow the ravine up the hill. Leaving the ravine, the trail enters Hubbard Park and the town of Meriden and climbs steeply for a while before coming out on a series of viewpoints. About 1.4 miles from Peak Drive, I came out at the parking lot by Castle Craig on East Peak. The views from the top are great, but the people are annoying. One guy was flying a drone from the top and another had a hammock perched in the corner of the platform.
Leaving the castle, the trail follows the road for a bit before heading straight down the hill. There is no obvious reason for the trail to drop 300’ before climbing 400’ to the summit of West Peak, except to give you more exercise or to feed the mosquitoes at lower elevations. West Peak is marked on some maps as “West Peak State Park,” but as far as I can tell, no such park exists.
From West Peak, it was a gentle stroll north, downhill the whole way, back to my car. It is nice the way the hike finishes on wide, shady, flat two-track. |
| | |
|
|
|
Route Editor
Route Scout
