20's & 30's Afterwork Fall Foliage Mirror Lake, White Trail, and Castle Cra
Details
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/a5UVX000001J6ab
Audience: 20’s & 30’s
Description: Join us for a fantastic after-work fall foliage trek along the Mirror Lake, White Trail, and Castle Craig Loop at Hubbard Park in Meriden! We’ll be exploring one of Connecticut’s most picturesque municipal parks, combining historic park structures, serene lakeside views, and rugged trap rock ridges blanketed in vibrant autumn colors. 🌄🍁🌲 Starting near Mirror Lake, we’ll make our way onto the trail network to climb up toward the historic Castle Craig tower perched atop East Peak. Expect gorgeous rocky outcroppings, winding wooded paths, and sweeping, miles-long panoramic views across the valley as the evening sun begins to dip below the horizon. This route is roughly 3 miles, with 666 ft of elevation gain, a rewarding, moderately paced Monday evening escape to reset and catch incredible peak foliage views. 🎒 What to Bring: 1 liters of water 💧 Trail snacks to keep your energy up 🥨 Sturdy footwear / hiking boots (Recommended; the trail features rocky trap rock sections and uneven terrain) 🥾 Headlamp or flashlight (Always a smart safety essential in case we take our time enjoying the foliage and finish near dusk) 🔦 Hiking poles (optional, but helpful for the rocky ascents and descents) 🦯 🅿️ Parking & Meeting Location: FREE parking. We will meet at the main parking area inside Hubbard Park near Mirror Lake. 🍜 Social Dinner: After we finish the hike, we’ll head over to Tuscany Restaurant & Pizzeria Click to open side panel for more information for a fantastic post-hike dinner! It’s a wonderful local spot known for delicious artisan pizzas, classic Italian dishes, and a welcoming atmosphere to unwind after hitting the trails. Tuscany Restaurant & Pizzeria: https://www.tuscanyplantsville.com/ Address: 935 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike, Plantsville, CT 06479 Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/fGWWQJcpd8Bwizhz5 📧 Confirmed participants will receive: Weather updates A Google Sheet for optional carpooling Exact meeting location / pin via Google Maps 🔗 Helpful Links Trail Map: https://meridenlandtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/hubbard_quad.pdf Connecticut's Official State Park Site: https://ctvisit.com/listings/hubbard-park-castle-craig AllTrails Hike Route: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/connecticut/castle-craig-and-east-slope
Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!