Hubbard Park Meriden CT is nestled in the Hanging Hills, a dramatic trap rock mountain ridge overlooking Meriden and the Quinnipiac River Valley. The park features a 32-foot-high stone observation tower, Castle Craig, and Mirror Lake.
The event is free to attend but the parking lot will be busy. See more.
Hiking Trails
Hubbard Park is a mountainous area with wooded trails and scenic cliffs. It is home to a bandshell and picnic spots, and the showpiece Mirror Lake. It is part of the Hanging Hills – a dramatic trap rock mountain ridge overlooking Meriden and the Quinnipiac River Valley below.
The park has over a dozen hiking trails that wind through woodlands and around ponds. They feature a variety of wildlife, including birds, fish, amphibians, and mammals. The trails also lead past many varieties of plants, including flowering dogwood, swamp white oak, red maple, and shagbark hickory.
The park’s most popular trail is Chauncey Peak which offers a great picture spot on a rocky ledge high above Bradley Reservoir. It is a moderate to difficult hike, especially if you walk the trail counterclockwise.
Picnicking Areas
The park has several picnic areas, a playground, a basketball court, walking paths, and a pond. It is also home to a number of large trees and is a great place for hiking and relaxing. The pond is also a popular spot for fishing.
Located within the Hanging Hills, Hubbard Park occupies 1800 acres and overlooks Meriden and the Quinnipiac River Valley from its dramatic trap rock mountain ridge with two named peaks, South and East Peak. The park’s centerpiece is Castle Craig, a stone observation tower that was built by Walter Hubbard.
Picnicking is permitted in designated camping and picnicking areas. The use of portable stoves and charcoal grills is allowed, but open fires are prohibited in campsites and picnic areas. Hunting and the use of air rifles, spring guns, bows, and arrows are prohibited. Hang gliding is not permitted, but lighter-than-air dirigibles and balloons are allowed with a permit from the Director of Parks and Recreation. More about New Britain here.
Swimming Pool
A swimming pool is available at Hubbard Park, where you can enjoy a day of fun in the sun. The pool is open to the public and there are lifeguards on duty.
The park has a variety of other facilities, including the James Barry bandshell and picnic spots. Its showpiece is Mirror Lake, surrounded by wooded mountains, dramatic trap rock mountain ridges, and streams. The lake attracts ducks, turtles, and frogs. The park also has a number of hiking trails and streams.
The park is also home to the Walter Hubbard Tower, a structure that reflects the travels of its creator, Walter Hubbard. The tower was dedicated on October 29, 1900. Walter Hubbard, a world traveler, is believed to have been inspired by a Norman French tower and a 12th-century Turkish tower on the Danube. He also drew on ideas from the work of Frederick Law Olmsted and the Olmsted Brothers.
Camping Area
Hubbard Park, the centerpiece of the Hanging Hills of Meriden, encompasses 1,800 acres of wooded mountainous land filled with hiking trails, streams, dramatic cliff faces, flower gardens, and a James Barry bandshell. Most of the park is nestled between two mountain peaks, South Mountain and East Peak, with an expanse of the Quinnipiac River Valley below.
The park’s star feature is Castle Craig Tower, a stone observation tower built by Walter Hubbard, president of Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing Company and the city’s greatest benefactor. It was dedicated on October 29, 1900. Continue reading about Sleeping Giant State Park.
Driving directions from The Powerwashing Kings to Hubbard Park
Driving directions from Hubbard Park to Sleeping Giant State Park
