Middletown CT Recreation
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Nature Connection Location Directions


Footit Preserve: Footit Preserve in Middletown, along the Mattabesett Trail, and ends at Bradlay Hubbard Reservoir at Giuffrida Park in Meriden. This is a moderate hike due to the length of the trail (2.5+ miles) and duration of the hike, but the climbs/declines are gentle. Views include a conifer plantation, a scenic gorge, and the northern reservoir edge.
 
The access road to the preserve entrance is gravel and steep. If you are concerned about the climb, there is a parking pull-out to the left just before the road starts to climb and it’s a short walk to the trailhead.


Guida Farm Conservation Area: from Route 17 south (towards Durham), take the first left after Dooley Pond onto Round Hill Road. After 0.5 mi, at stop sign at intersection with Coleman and Round Hill, turn right into parking lot.
GPS: 300 Round Hill Road.

Higby: Parking is limited; carpool if possible. Drive west (out of Middletown) on Route 66 to where it starts to join I-691. Take the first exit which is a left exit for East Main Street. Take a right at the first light onto Preston Avenue. After 1.1 miles, turn right to continue on Preston Avenue (don't go under the highway). Follow Preston Ave to the end, where you can turn around, let out any passengers, and then park along the outgoing side of the road close to the edge. Someone will help guide the parking when you arrive . GPS address: ~667 Preston Ave, Meriden, CT



Highland Pond Preserve: from Country Club Road west of I-91, turn right (north) on Bell Street. Follow it as it curves until just at the junction of Saw Mill Road. Park along the street. The preserve is on the left (GPS: 268 Bell Street).
 
Highlawn Forest: on Route 66, 4 miles east from Interstate 91, exit 18 or 2.7 miles west from Main/Washington Street junction, Middletown. Trail head to right of CT Forest and Park Association building.
GPS: 16 Meriden Rd, Rockfall, CT 06481
 
Hubbard Brook Preserve, Maromas: take Route 9 or Route 154 to Aircraft Road (exit 19/old 10 from Route 9). Follow Aircraft Rd about 2.5 miles, turn right onto River Rd (marked with a small cardboard sign), parking on left ~1 mile from River Rd/Aircraft Rd JUNCTION
GPS: 3600 River Rd: this is NOT the section of River Road near downtown Middletown
 
Long Hill Estate: from Main/Washington St intersection, travel 1.4 miles west of Route 66/Washington St. Turn left on West Street (Walgreens is on the corner. At 0.8 miles, turn right onto Wadsworth St. We will be parking at SNOW SCHOOL, on the left, with the entrance driveway just past the intersection. We will gather to the right side of the school
GPS: 299 Wadsworth Street
 
McCutcheon Park Area/Crystal Lake: from Randolph Road (Route 155), turn south onto Millbrook Road. Follow Millbrook for 1.5 miles and take fifth right onto Livingston Road. After 0.2 miles, turn right into the park at Crystal Lake. Meet towards the left near the picnic pavilion.
GPS address: 100 Livingston Road.
 
Mattabesset River Trail: Newfield Street to Tuttle Road, then right on to Tuttle Place to cul-de-sac. Using a two-mile section of the Multi-use Trail system, we will walk along the Mattabesset River.
GPS: 54 Tuttle Place
 
Middletown Nature Garden: from Route 17, turn west on Randolph Road about 0.3 miles. The park entrance with a dark brown sign is on the left (between Brown St and Long Hill Rd)
GPS: 1495 Randolph Road
 
Mt. Higby: We will access the Mattabesett blue trail along Higby Mountain via the Preston Avenue entrance
 
River Road/Harbor Park: meet at Harbor Park, between restaurant and boat houses GPS: 80 Harbor Dr, Middletown, CT 06457
 
Spiderweed Preserve: at bend in Dripps Road, 500 ft from Saybrook Rd
GPS address: 60 Dripps Rd; sometimes the Dripps Rd sign is missing
 
Wadsworth State Park: at the parking lot on 721 Wadsworth St, Middletown



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