20s & 30s Talcott Mountain State Park Loop Trail

Activity Type: Hiking, Local Walks, & Trail Running | Hiking
Difficulty: 3 - Easy
Trip Leader(s): Lee Thao
Registration Type: Registration
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UVX00000180Ld
Audience: 20’s & 30’s

Description: Join us for a rugged and scenic adventure at Talcott Mountain State Park! While many visitors stick to the main path, we’ll be taking on the full Talcott Mountain State Park Loop Trail , which explores the quieter corners of the park along with its most famous landmarks. 🌄🏰 We’ll start with a climb toward the ridge to visit the historic Heublein Tower, where we can take in the legendary 360-degree views of the Farmington River Valley and the distant Hartford skyline. From there, we’ll transition onto the more secluded sections of the loop, navigating rocky ridgelines and winding forest paths that offer a true deep-woods feel away from the crowds. This route provides a fantastic mix of steep pitches, unique geology, and iconic Connecticut history. This route is roughly 5.3 miles with ~850 ft of gain — a solid step up that offers plenty of variety and great photo ops. 🎒 What to Bring: 1.5+ liters of water 💧 Trail snacks to keep your energy up 🥨 Layers — the wind picks up significantly along the cliff edges! 🌬️ Sturdy hiking boots (recommended for the rocky sections of the loop) 🥾 Hiking poles (recommended for the steeper or rocky stretches) 🦯 🅿️ Parking: Parking is free for CT-registered vehicles via the Passport to the Parks program. FREE – In-State Registered Vehicles $15 – Out-of-State (Weekends/Holidays) $10 – Out-of-State (Weekdays) 🍽️ Social: After we finish the loop, we’ll head to Abigail’s Grille and Wine Bar in Simsbury for dinner (about a 10-minute drive). It’s a historic local landmark—formerly the Pettibone Tavern—with a cozy atmosphere and a broad menu ranging from elevated comfort food to classic New England fare, making it the perfect spot to refuel after our 5-mile trek. 📧 Confirmed participants will receive: Weather updates A Google Sheet for optional carpooling Exact meeting location Connecticut's Official State Park Site: https://ctparks.com/parks/talcott-mountain-state-park Explore Connecticut: https://explorect.org/view-location.html?slug=talcott-mountain-state-park&nocanon=1 AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/connecticut/talcott-mountain-state-park-loop-trail Abigail's Grille and Wine Bar: https://abigailsgrill.com/

Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!