20s & 30s Afterwork Giuffrida Park Loop Hike

Activity Type: Hiking, Local Walks, & Trail Running | Hiking
Difficulty: 4 - Moderate
Trip Leader(s): Lee Thao, Conrad Ward
Registration Type: Registration
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UVX0000019R0P
Audience: 20’s & 30’s

Description: Join us for a fantastic weekday wind-down at Giuffrida Park in Meriden! 🌅🥾 Our route follows the full Giuffrida Park Loop , a gorgeous trek that takes you around the scenic shoreline of Crescent Lake (Bradley-Hubbard Reservoir), pushes into peaceful wetland meadows, and climbs into the surrounding hills. It's a highly diverse route that showcases the park's vibrant local birdlife, wooden footbridges, and serene water reflections—perfect for clearing your head after a day on the clock. This loop gives us a solid, rewarding workout with a mix of beautiful waterside paths and rolling, wooded terrain. This route is roughly 4 miles with ~800 ft of elevation gain — a moderate trek with a few steady climbs that will get your heart pumping before dinner!
🎒 What to Bring: 1.5+ liters of water 💧 Comfortable hiking boots or trail runners with decent tread 🥾 Bug spray (Early evening near the lake and wetlands means the bugs will be active) 🦟 Hiking poles (For the steady climbs and elevation changes) 🦯
🅿️ Parking & Logistics: FREE for all visitors. We will meet in the main parking lot at Giuffrida Park, located at 666 Westfield Rd, Meriden, CT 06450 . Please arrive a few minutes early so we can lace up and head out together.
🍽️ Social Dinner: Once we wrap up, we’ll head out together for a well-deserved post-hike social dinner ! We have three excellent, distinct local options right here in Meriden depending on what the group is craving: Violi's Restaurant – Located just down the street at the Hunter Golf Club. It specializes in fine Italian-American cuisine (steaks, pasta, seafood) and features a great outdoor patio with beautiful views of the green. Dawg House Bar & Grill – A classic, lively sports bar right on Broad Street. Perfect for a casual vibe with an extensive menu of wings (over a dozen flavors), artisan burgers, and a Meriden original: steamed cheeseburgers. Flavors of Nawab – A fantastic choice on North Broad Street if the group wants authentic, high-quality Indian cuisine. Known for incredible butter chicken, lamb vindaloo, tandoori kebabs, and fresh naan. We'll take a poll at the trailhead to see which one the group wants to head to!
📧 Confirmed participants will receive: Weather updates A Google Sheet for optional carpooling Exact meeting location (pinned via Google Maps)
Connecticut Tourism Office: https://ctvisit.com/listings/giuffrida-park Giuffrida Park Trail Map: https://meridenlandtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/giuffrida_quad.pdf AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/connecticut/giuffrida-park-loop--2

Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!