Talcott Mountain State Park

Route 185

Bloomfield

860-242-1158 (c/o Penwood State Park)

Park Hours

8:00 a.m. – sunset

Directions:

From I-91 North or South: take Exit 35B, which is the Bloomfield Route 218 exit. This road is also known as Cottage Grove Road. Follow Cottage Grove Road heading west until you hit Route 185. Follow Route 185 heading for Simsbury. At the top of the hill, the entrance to Talcott Mountain State Park/Heublein Tower will be on your left.

From I-84 East or West: take the Route 44 Exit. Follow Route 44 heading west until you hit the junction of Routes 10 and 202 in the town of Avon. Follow Route 10 north until you hit Route 185 in Simsbury. Follow Route 185 heading for Bloomfield. At the top of the hill, Talcott Mountain State Park/Heublein Tower is on your right.

Talcott Mountain State Park

Talcott Mountain State Park

For scenic vistas sweeping more than 1,000 square miles, hike the 1.25-mile broad, steep trail to Heublein Tower at Talcott Mountain State Park. The 165-foot structure was built as a summer home in 1914 by Gilbert Heublein, owner of a successful hotel and restaurant in Hartford. Its design is reminiscent of a German castle and features three levels of living quarters and four levels of bedrooms, along with an observation tower that offers amazing views encompassing Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire and Long Island Sound at the Connecticut shore. The state purchased the 557 acres at Talcott Mountain in 1966 and opened it as a State Park in 1974. Today, visitors can not only enjoy the rewarding hike with breathtaking views, but also seasonal tower tours showcasing restored rooms, and great areas to picnic with tables and grills. The scenery is dotted with wildflowers such as trillium, trout lily, wood anemone and Dutchman's breeches among the damp, craggy rocks. And the native wildlife includes deer, fox rabbits, turkey vultures, bald eagles and pileated woodpeckers.

Activities

• Hiking
• Observation Tower
• Picnicking
• Scenic Vistas