Metacomet Trail

This article is about a footpath in Connecticut. For the similarly named trail of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, see Metacomet-Monadnock Trail.
Metacomet Trail
Blue-blazes mark the Metacomet Trail
Length51 mi (82 km)
LocationHartford County / New Haven County, Connecticut, USA
DesignationPart of a National Scenic Trail
Usehiking, snowshoeing, other
Highest pointWest Peak, 1,024 ft (312 m)
Lowest pointFarmington River, 150 ft (46 m)
Difficultyeasy, with difficult sections
Seasoneasiest spring to fall
Hazardsdeer ticks, poison ivy, copperheads (in places)

The Metacomet Trail is a 62.7-mile (100.9 km) Blue-Blazed hiking trail that traverses the Metacomet Ridge of central Connecticut and is a part of the newly designated New England National Scenic Trail. Despite being easily accessible and close to large population centers, the trail is considered remarkably rugged and scenic. The route includes many areas of unique ecologic, historic, and geologic interest. Notable features include waterfalls, dramatic cliff faces, woodlands, swamps, lakes, river flood plain, farmland, significant historic sites, and the summits of Talcott Mountain and the Hanging Hills.[1][2] The Metacomet Trail is maintained largely through the efforts of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association.

On March 30, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 establishing the New England National Scenic Trail (and two other national scenic trails).[3]

The combination of the Metacomet, Monadnock and Mattabesett trails is also often referred to as the 3-M, MMM or Metacomet-Monadnock-Mattabesett trail. The New England National Scenic Trail includes all or almost all of the MMM trails as well as the new extension trail from the southernmost point on the Mattabesett Trail through Guilford, Connecticut to the northern shore of Long Island Sound.[4]

  1. ^ Connecticut Walk Book: A Trail Guide to the Connecticut Outdoors. 17th Edition. The Connecticut Forest and Park Association. Rockfall, Connecticut. Undated.
  2. ^ The Traprock Wilderness Recovery Strategy. Cited Dec. 13, 2007 Archived 2007-08-16 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Obama Signs Major Land Conservation Law". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012.
  4. ^ "New England National Scenic Trail". newenglandnst.org. Archived from the original on 3 September 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2022.