Talcott Mountain State Park - Simsbury, Connecticut

Address: Summit Ridge Dr, Simsbury, CT 06070, United States.

Website: portal.ct.gov
Specialties: State park, Tourist attraction.
Other points of interest: On-site services, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Hiking, Picnic tables, Public toilet, Good for kids, Kid-friendly hikes, Dogs allowed.
Opinions: This company has 1271 reviews on Google My Business.
Average opinion: 4.7/5.

📌 Location of Talcott Mountain State Park

⏰ Open Hours of Talcott Mountain State Park

Monday: 8 AM–8 PM
Tuesday: 8 AM–8 PM
Wednesday: 8 AM–8 PM
Thursday: 8 AM–8 PM
Friday: 8 AM–8 PM
Saturday: 8 AM–8 PM
Sunday: 8 AM–8 PM

Talcott Mountain State Park is a beautiful outdoor destination located in Simsbury, Connecticut. With its prime location at Summit Ridge Dr, Simsbury, CT 06070, United States, this state park is easily accessible for tourists and locals alike. The park is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and an array of recreational activities, making it a must-visit for nature enthusiasts.

Key Features and Attractions

The park is a state park and a popular tourist attraction, offering an array of unique experiences for visitors. One of its primary attractions is its hiking trails, which cater to both casual walkers and experienced hikers. The trails provide breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, including the picturesque Talcott Mountain. The park also features picnic tables, public toilets, and wheelchair-accessible entrances, ensuring that it is accessible to all visitors.

Educational Opportunities and Facilities

Talcott Mountain State Park offers an on-site educational experience, with a small building that showcases an informative video about the park's ecosystem and history. This makes it an ideal destination for families with children, as it provides a fun and engaging way to learn about the natural world.

Perfect for Kids and Dogs

The park is well-known for being kid-friendly, with a range of hiking trails that are suitable for younger visitors. In addition, the park's picturesque surroundings make it a perfect spot for family outings and picnics. Dog owners will also appreciate that the park allows dogs, making it an excellent destination for pet-friendly adventures.

Opinions and Reviews

With an impressive 1271 reviews on Google My Business, Talcott Mountain State Park has earned a well-deserved 4.7/5-star rating. Visitors consistently praise the park for its stunning views, diverse hiking trails, and family-friendly atmosphere. One reviewer notes that the tower is an essential stop on the hike, offering breathtaking panoramas of the surrounding landscape.

Directions and Additional Information

While GPS may lead you to a private road, be sure to set your GPS for Talcott Mountain parking to ensure a smooth visit. The trail can be challenging in some areas, featuring rocks that may slide underfoot. It is advised to allocate around 45 minutes to reach the tower, and to note that it is open on weekends until 4 pm.

Recommending a Visit

👍 Reviews of Talcott Mountain State Park

Talcott Mountain State Park - Simsbury, Connecticut

Anita H.

4/5

GPS will take you to a private road, set GPS for Talcott mountain parking. The trail itself has quite an incline in some areas, rocks slide underfoot. Schedule about 45 minutes to get to the tower. The tower is open weekends until 4, I got there 2 minutes late and it was closed. There is a small building that plays an educational video though that appeased me. Wander the grounds and you can find the pavillion and other remnants. Beautiful vistas. Worth the visit.

Joshua L.

5/5

Excellent park. We love the hike. Steep at first to get the blood pumping then flat and short with amazing views and rewards the whole way.

Keep a close eye on your kids for this hike as there are some Dangerous ledges just off the main trail. Outhouse Bathrooms smell bad so plan accordingly if you want to avoid it…

Looks amazing on a stormy day and can stay until sunset. 5/5 wow! What a picturesque spot!

K M.

4/5

It's a very steep walk up the mountain and it felt longer than the advertised 1.25 miles as we were walking one way up, But after the initial steep beginning the views were beautiful and the incline was not as bad. The video in the visitor center was interesting, as was walking thru the little museum in the tower. It was nice seeing North South East and West views at the top of the tower, but we wished it were easier to identify the landmarks mentioned while up there.

The staff was great and were willing to make accomodations for the 70 year old in our party to have an easier walk down the mountain.

Eileen O.

5/5

Beautiful wooded landscape with many trails. The ultimate goal is to hike up to Hublein tower. The vistas are gorgeous and the tower itself has much to share.

Kim V.

5/5

A park with a spectacular view!

Talcott Mountain State Park is a 574-acre park located in Simsbury. Parking was spacious. The trail to the Heublein Tower is 1.25-miles long. The Tower can be seen from various parts of the state. It's a beautiful, white, 165-foot high tower with 360 degrees view.

The trail was wide and on gravel. There was recent heavy rains so some of the trails had some washout. The hike was mostly up hill with some flat areas; I'd say it's moderate but it was a little bit more challenging for me because I was baby-wearing my child. My toddler did great on it. There were a couple of benches and logs to sit on along the way; pet waste receptacles were seen. My only qualm were the bugs, so don't forget bug spray like we did.

Once we got to the top, there were a couple of porta potties and a kiosk. The view of the tower up close was exhilarating, so much history. There was an informational movie on in the garage with benches. There was a huge picnic pavilion and picnic tables throughout; a giant BBQ pit and another small one.

The Heublein Tower was beautiful and built in 1914; it can withstand 100-mph winds. The staircases going up and down were meant to be one way; this was a great way to reduce pedestrian congestion and a fire hazard. There were historic relics and rooms decorated the way it was back in the day. Informational signage throughout the space. The tower used to be the summer home for Gilbert Heublein; a successful businessman whose company acquired Smirnoff Vodka and A1 Steak Sauce.

The view from the ballroom was amazing and breathtaking. They had signs showing what we can see based on the direction. The hike back down the trail was easier, becareful though, some of the gravel were slippery and I saw a kid fall. Overall, a great hike and the view was worth it!

Dan V.

5/5

Always a great hike rewarded with fantastic views. Be prepared for elevation going from the parking area to the tower. While not super challenging, it will get your heart pumping for new hikers.

swati S.

5/5

It was beautiful place.. good for short trek. The place is called Talcott mountain or Heublein tower. Amazing place for weekend

Joseph M.

5/5

I love taking this hike, fairly easy but you can still get a good workout in if you choose to treat it that way. The hardest part of the hike is the incline in the beginning but you're rewarded halfway up the hike with a wonderful cliffside view! And once you reach the tower you'll have gorgeous panoramic views. The tower has been closed as of recent but it's still gorgeous to look at and perfect for a photo opportunity. I've done this hike over 30 times but today was the first I decided to catch the sunset and it most CERTAINLY won't be the last!