How to Hike the Tower Trail in Connecticut

Connecticut's Talcott Mountain State Park is home to historic Heublein Tower, which stands at the crest of the park's namesake mountain and provides panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Originally built by Gilbert Heublein as a summer home in 1914, the tower is open to the public. No paved roads lead to the Heublein Tower, but you can get there on foot by following the 1.25-mile Tower Trail.

  1. Getting There

    • The Tower Trail is less than 10 minutes from the town of Bloomfield. Follow Connecticut Route 178 west from Bloomfield and turn right onto Route 185 after 2 miles. Follow 185 for a little over a mile, and then turn left on Summit Ridge Drive to enter Talcott Mountain State Park. The trailhead for the Tower Trail is less than half a mile down the road. Roadside parking is available on both sides of the road, and the trail departs off to the left. Yellow blazes on the trees mark the way. Trail maps are available through the Talcott Mountain State Park website.

    Hiking to the Tower

    • The Tower Trail covers easy to moderate terrain. The hike to the tower is entirely uphill, but the gradient is gradual, with only a few brief rocky patches and steep areas. It usually takes 30 to 40 minutes to reach the tower. The trail follows the ridge of Talcott Mountain through shady forest, with several scenic overlooks along the way where you can stop and take in the view. After 1.25 miles, the trail breaks out into a clearing at the top of the mountain, and the Heublein Tower is clearly visible in the center.

    Hiking Back

    • The view from the top of Talcott Mountain is striking, but the tower itself provides an even better vantage point. Inside the tower, 120 stone steps lead to a glass observation room that offers a panoramic view of the Connecticut landscape, and on a clear day you can see all the way to the Berkshires and Long Island Sound. Picnic tables are scattered around the tower if you choose to pack a lunch on your hike. Once you've taken in the scenery, you can return to the trailhead by retracing your steps back down the mountain, or extend your hike to explore the Metacomet Trail, which connects to the trail not far from the tower.

    Planning Ahead

    • Talcott Mountain State Park is open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset, but open hours for the Heublein Tower change with the seasons. From May 24 to the end of August, the tower is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Thursday through Sunday. From Labor Day until the end of October, the tower is open daily. Changing foliage makes autumn the most scenic time of year along the Tower Trail, but also the busiest, so consider visiting on a weekday if you intend to hike the trail during fall. Durable shoes are recommended, and plenty of drinking water is essential. Dress in layers to adapt to changing weather.