Connecticut's Gorgeous State Park Offers Scenic Hiking Among Beautiful Foliage

The world can be a crazy place, and sometimes, there is nothing better to soothe your soul than an escape in nature. If you're visiting the Northeast, you should make a point to stop at Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden, Connecticut. Not only does it have an incredible hiking trail system that was recognized by the Secretary of the Interior as a National Recreation Trail, but it's a perfect spot for autumn foliage viewing. There are miles of trails and a legendary mountain that looks like a giant asleep on its back. In fact, a local Native American legend tells of Hobomock, a spirit who was angry that his worship wasn't up to snuff and changed the course of the Connecticut River. He was put under a sleeping spell by the spirit Kiehtan, and now he rests in stone form. The mountain itself is a Connecticut landmark, and when you visit, you can hike, fish, picnic, and go cross-country skiing when there's snow on the ground. 

The park is just 11 miles from New Haven, Connecticut, the pizza capital of the United States, with free parking for state residents with a CT license plate. Out-of-state vehicles pay a $15 fee on weekends and $10 during the week from April 1 through October 31. Sleeping Giant State Park is 14 miles from Tweed New Haven Regional Airport and less than 50 miles from Bradley International Airport. 

The trail system in Sleeping Giant State Park was created by Ned Greist and Dick Elliott in the early 1960s, and it has a wide variety of hikes for all different skill levels. (You can download park maps here with information on each hike and its difficulty and features.) If you're looking for something on the easier side, you can take the 1.5-mile Tower Path up the giant's "hip" to the Sleeping Giant Observation Tower for some incredible views that include the Long Island Sound and New Haven. The Nature Trail is a 1.5-mile loop on the moderate side near the main entrance, and it has signs around with numbers that correspond to information about the area in the SGPA's Nature Trail Guide, which you can get at the kiosk in the park or at sgpa.org.

If you want a bit of a challenge, take the Sleeping Giant Violet and Yellow Trail Loop, which is 5.3 miles with an 859-foot elevation gain. There is some uphill hiking at the beginning, so you can get a great view of the foliage. You can also try the Sleeping Giant White, Blue, and Violet Trail Loop, which is 3.3 miles with a 770-foot elevation gain. Probably the most challenging trek is the park's portion of the 23-mile Quinnipiac Trail to the tower, which goes along the chin, neck, and hip of the giant and connects to other trails. It's an intense 2.9-mile climb through the trees for some incredible vistas. Make sure to wear good hiking shoes for these hikes.

While you're hiking, keep an eye out for some of the animals that live in the park. You may spot creatures like bobcats, foxes, deer, and bears. (Make sure you know what to do if you spot a bear while hiking.) If you bring some snacks, you can have a great picnic post-hike. The picnic area that was destroyed by a tornado in 2018 has been rebuilt with fireplaces, water, restrooms, and an open-air pavilion that you can rent for events. There are accessible tables, parking spots, and restrooms nearby.

If fishing is your thing, you can hit Mill River or Axel Shop Pond, both of which are stocked. You might catch striped bass or rainbow, brook, brown, or tiger trout. Just make sure you have a valid fishing license, which you can get here. You can even bring your pup on your fishing trip, as long as they're on a leash. 

Finally, while you're in the area, it's worth the hour-long drive to Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Connecticut, the laid-back beach town with some incredible maritime history on display. You can't miss taking some time to visit the Mystic Seaport Museum. Founded in 1929, this place has a whopping 19 acres of land along the Mystic River. There's a working shipyard, over 500 historic watercraft, and even a recreated New England coastal village.