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41°26′12.33″N 72°40′49.31″W / 41.4367583°N 72.6803639°W
| Mattabesett Trail | |
|---|---|
 Higby Mountain along the Mattabesett Trail | |
| Length | 62.0 miles (99.8 km) [1] |
| Location | Connecticut |
| Designation | National Scenic Trail, CFPA Blue-Blazed Trail |
| Trailheads | Start: River Road in Middletown, opposite power plant on Connecticut River. End: Berlin Turnpike in Berlin. |
| Use | hiking, trail running, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fishing, geocaching, other |
| Highest point | Higby Mountain north summit, 892 ft (272 m) |
| Lowest point | Connecticut River, Middletown, 18 ft (5.5 m) |
| Difficulty | Easy to difficult with a few dangerous ridge walk sections |
| Hazards | deer ticks, poison ivy |
The Mattabesett Trail is a 62-mile (100 km) long, hook-shaped blue-blazed hiking trail in central Connecticut and a part of the New England National Scenic Trail. One half of the trail follows the high traprock ridges of the Metacomet Ridge, from Totoket Mountain in Guilford, Connecticut, to Lamentation Mountain in Meriden, Connecticut, from south to north. This ridge is known for its biodiversity, miles of scenic cliffs, and rugged hiking. The second half of the trail extends north from Guilford to Middletown, Connecticut, and ends at the Connecticut River. Here, the trail follows an upland of metamorphic rock with occasional views and dense forests.
Important features along the trail include Lamentation Mountain, Chauncey Peak, Higby Mountain, Besek Mountain, Fowler Mountain, Trimountain, Pistapaug Mountain, Totoket Mountain, the Broomstick Ledges, Seven Falls, and Coginchaug Cave. The Metacomet Trail continues north from Lamentation Mountain where the Mattabesett Trail leaves off.
The geology, ecology, and landscape of the trail are similar to that of the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail to the north in Massachusetts.
In 2000, the United States Congress authorized the National Park Service to research a new National Scenic Trail now called the New England National Scenic Trail in southern New England, which includes the Mattabesett Trail as well as the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail and the Metacomet Trail.
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).[2][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 will eventually include all or almost all of the MMM trails as well as a proposed extension trail from the southernmost point on the Mattabesett Trail through Guilford, Connecticut to the northern shore of Long Island Sound.[4]
- ^ Colson, Ann T. (2006). Connecticut Walk Book West (19th ed.). Connecticut Forest and Park Association. ISBN 0-9619052-6-3.
- ^ "Obama Signs Major Land Conservation Law". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012.
- ^ "comfort work boots". Saturday, 3 June 2017
- ^ "New England National Scenic Trail". newenglandnst.org. Archived from the original on 3 September 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2022.