20s & 30s - Sleeping Giant Loop: The Tower to the Gorge to Mount Carmel Loo

Activity Type: Hiking, Local Walks, & Trail Running | Hiking
Difficulty: 4 - Moderate
Trip Leader(s): Lee Thao
Registration Type: Registration
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UVX0000011pKr
Audience: 20’s & 30’s

Description: Join us for a highlight reel of Sleeping Giant State Park: the Tower, the Gorge, and the summit of Mount Carmel — all in one loop! 🌄🔥 We’ll kick things off with the Tower Trail, a steady climb that leads to the iconic stone lookout with panoramic views stretching across Hamden and beyond. After soaking in the scenery, we’ll drop into the Gorge, where rocky terrain, flowing water, and the Gorge Cascade create one of the most dramatic sections of the park. The final push takes us up toward Mount Carmel, offering peaceful forest walking and bonus viewpoints before looping back. This route is roughly 5.2 miles with ~1102 ft of gain — approachable, scenic, and packed with variety.
🎒 What to Bring: 1+ liter of water 💧 Snacks to keep you fueled 🥨 Layers — the ridge can get breezy! 🌬️ Sturdy shoes (hiking or walking) 🥾
🅿️ 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) $6 – Out-of-State (Weekends after 4pm)
🍻 Social: After the hike, we’ll head to Mikro Depot in Hamden (less than a 5-minute drive) to keep the social going! Mikro is a local favorite known for its incredible craft beer selection and elevated comfort food.
📧 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/sleeping-giant-state-park
Explore Connecticut: https://explorect.org/sleeping-giant/
AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/custom-route-sleeping-giant-tower-trail-4bbc0fd
Mikro Depot: https://www.mikrodepot.com/

Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!