Chauncey Peak and Crescent Lake Giuffrida Park. As the trail turns left, there is a gravel path to the right, that leads to an east facing viewpoint over the quarry. The parks White Trail, which follows the lake, is the easiest trail in the park. It rises steeply 400 feet above the city of Meriden to the south with west-facing cliffs that plunge into Crescent Lake 300 feet below. As you hike on, the roots of the trees begin to cover more and more of the path until you are walking on a pavement entirely made of buttress roots. You will be following the blue blazes for the first 1.7 miles of the hike, not including the short side trails that lead to several viewpoints. Trails are little hard to climb due to rocks but well marked. Looking west, South Mountain, East Peak and West Peak can be seen in the distance. Meriden is home to the oldest visual art gallery in the state. Also, check out nearby points of interest. Overview. He was the son. It was acquired by the city in 1965 and subsequently named for Dr. Francis Giuffrida, a beloved city surgeon who died in 1966 at the age of 56. Other trail sinclude the Crescent Lake Loop (white), Wetland Meadow (black), and Mount Lamentation (red or yellow). The park offers a variety of trails, with scenic overlooks and a quiet setting. Browse around this site to check, Another popular attraction is the Meriden Art Gallery, which is 110 years old and is one of the oldest buildings in the city. This is a good spot to take a break and enjoy the view. hubbard park doctor francis giuffrida park chauncey peak air line state park trail - east hampton castle craig westfield falls lamentation mountain state park hurd state park Youll be rewarded with views of the East Peak, West Peak, and South Mountain. Doctor Francis Giuffrida Park is a cultural feature (park) in New Haven County. The primary coordinates for Doctor Francis Giuffrida Park places it within the CT 06450 ZIP Code delivery area. After crossing the bridge, the blue blazes turn right onto a gravel road and head north along the brook. Once you reach the trails, you are greeted by a beautiful view of Bradley Hubbard reservoir, as well as a sign with trail maps and a tiny library declaring, Give What You Can, Take What You Need. At the top of the mountain, youll find a scenic view of the parks reservoir. The trail is well-marked but can be challenging at times. A blue-and-red-blazed connector trail begins to the left, but you should turn right and continue following the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail which continues to climb to the south and soon reaches a limited viewpoint. The Blue trails, meanwhile, require more effort and climb up Lamentation Mountain and Chauncey Peak. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Moderate Hike. Trail heads: 725 Westfield Rd., Meriden, CT - Parking: Technically, the parking area is inside Dr Francis Giuffrida Park (NOT the same as Giuffrida Park); Google Maps says Dr Giuffrida Park is at 500 Westfield Rd.However, if you put in 500 Westfield Rd, GPS will direct you a quarter of a mile down the road. The first mile is mostly rolling and downhill, but you'll begin climbing just before Eagle's Roost. Doctor Francis Giuffrida Park, Meriden CT Posted on July 13, 2020 July 13, 2020 by sharonandcols This fourth of July weekend, Colin and I ventured south into Connecticut for a new hiking getaway- enter Doctor Francis Giuffrida Park in the lovely Meriden, Connecticut. The White trail, for example, is a mile-long loop around the lake. New Haven yale university art gallery beinecke rare book library yale peabody museum of natural history . Dr. Giuffrida was on active duty with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from 1941 to 1946, serving in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of war. It was named for local surgeon, Dr. Francis Giuffrida, who died in 1966 at the age of 56. These trap rock ridges are extremely steep, and care should be taken. The brochures describe the trails at the park, including the Halfway House, Castle Craig, West Peak, and South Mountain. If youre looking for a hike in Meriden CT, you can try the Doctor Francis Giuffrida Parks hiking trails. The park offers everything from a peaceful reservoir to a beautiful wetland meadow to stunning views from Lamentation Mountain and Chauncey Peak. Giuffrida served in the military during World War II and attained the rank of captain. It starts off well-marked, but after a bridge, it gets a bit more challenging. It hosts events, workshops, and weekly classes. It was named in honor of the beloved city surgeon Dr. Francis Giuffrida, who passed away in 1966 at the age of 56. These trap rock ridges are extremely steep, and care should be taken. The Meriden Land Trust has created brochures to give hikers a guide to the parks trails. It was named for local surgeon, Dr. Francis Giuffrida, who died in 1966 at the age of 56. This route has an elevation gain of about 0 ft and is rated as easy. After the initial steep ascent, the hike becomes easy. Red (Mt. was born in Middletown, Connecticut, on December 15, 1910. One of these is the White trail, which wraps around the lake. Castle Craig Address: Peak Dr, Meriden, CT 06451, United States Website: Castle Craig The information shown here is for general reference purposes only. Established as a park in 1967. Elevation: 400 feet Trail: Start on the Blue Trail on the left (west) side of the reservoir. Birth. A companion for a historical walk in Seattle's Seward Park. Dr. Giuffrida was on active duty with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from 1941 to 1946, serving in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of war. Great Places for Workcations in Connecticut, Connecticut's Foliage Finder: Week-by-Week Guide, 35 Things to Do in Connecticut this November, Get a Room with a Foliage View at thses Connecticut Inns & B&Bs, Winter - Celebrating Places to Dine and Drink in Connecticut, Making Thanksgiving Traditions in Connecticut. exploreCT.org is not responsible for any damage or loss to vehicles or contents. The Mattabasett was rerouted in 2017 and they did a fantastic job adjusting rocks to create a flatter trail avoiding the previous scramble to the Chauncey Peak. The rental fee includes one park worker, bathroom access, trash removal, and electricity. Please contact the Facilities Coordinator at 203-630-4259 for any questions or for . Total trails distance is approx. Hiking destinations include Mount Lamentation, Chauncey Peak, and a wetland meadow in the upper reaches of Harbor Brook. The blue blazed Mattabesett Trail comes in from the left and heads east along the base of the dam. It passes by Chauncey Peak, and most of this loop hike overlaps with the New England Trail (NET, blue blazes). Home; Find a Hike; Connecticut. Moderate . Learn how your comment data is processed. The Mattabesett Trail now begins to descend through the woods. The first trail leads to a panoramic overlook, which is accessed by an open ledge. Thomas S. Giuffrida Thomas S. Giuffrida Thomas S. Giuffrida, age 72 of Colts Neck, died at his home on Sunday, March 27. This seems to be a popular spot with locals, but we only ran into a handful of people along the ridge, going in the opposite direction. A veteran of World War II, Dr. Giuffrida served in the Pacific and Atlantic theaters and held the rank of Captain. To the left is the ridge that you have just been walking. Its history is rich, and it is a vital part of the local community. United States . To the left is your return route, for now continue towards Chauncey Peak through the grass field that descends slightly. Moderate to Difficult Hike. Its 600 acres surround Crescent Lake and were acquired by the city in 1965. Jason Maiser (08/19/2020) Overall, this is a very nice park. Live in Connecticut? The mountain is traversed by the 50-mile blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail, a New England National Scenic Trail. Bear Mountain; Beseck Mountain; Birge Pond/Hoppers; Case Mountain; Crescent Lake; Devil's Hopyard; East Coast Greenway; Gay City State Park; Giuffrida Park; Hammonasset Beach; . Each month I share site updates or an interesting article inmy newsletter. Doctor Francis Giuffrida Park / AND / Chauncey PeakMeridenConnecticut- Hiking- Scenic Views- Mountain- Recreation- Lake with Dam- Woods- Picnicking- And mor. This 0.7-mile hike will give you an amazing view of the surrounding region. Hear the story on Amazing Tales: https://AmazingTalesCT.Podbean.com) 249. Doctor Francis Giuffrida Park is a 2.5 mile (6,000-step) route located near . Giuffrida Park is located in the northeast corner of the city. He also served as team physician at both city high schools and had a passion for helping children and teenagers. Blue trails, which lead up Chauncey Peak and Lamentation Mountain, are more difficult. Soon the trail begins to run close to the edge of the cliffs and views appear. Head past the end of the lake until you see a Blue trail on your right. The Mattabasett was rerouted in 2017 and they did a fantastic job adjusting rocks to create a flatter trail avoiding the previous scramble to the Chauncey Peak. Hiking with your pup at Doctor Francis Giuffrida Park. Doctor Francis Giuffrida Park, Meriden CT. It was named in honor of the beloved city surgeon Dr. Francis Giuffrida, who passed away in 1966 at the age of 56. This is the bypass trail, if this is the chosen route, look for a right turn with blue blazes that lead uphill. Pros: Great views, traprock ridge, Crescent Lake, Mattabesett Trail. Updated on: 2015-01-04 Doctor Francis Giuffrida Park is a park in Connecticut. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this sites author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. As the Mattabesett Trail ascends the mountain the path becomes more rocky. 17 Dec 1966 (aged 56) Meriden, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA. There are many trail options for pups of all skill levels. Overall its a great experience and must do activity. You have gained about 350 of elevation in the first 0.7 mile of the hike. The nearest weather station for both precipitation and temperature measurements is MIDDLETOWN 4 W (MERIDEN) which is approximately 2 miles away and has an elevation of 369 feet (51 feet higher than Doctor Francis Giuffrida Park). Almost entirely encircled by Lake Washington is the 300-acre Seward Park, in southeast Seattle. However, once you pass the bridge, you will notice that the trail becomes less well marked. One of the easiest trails is the two-mile loop that takes you around the lake. Doctor Francis Giuffrida Park. The trail is flat and easy to navigate, and it passes beautiful overlooks. Seward Park Walking Tour. Yellow (Mt. Luckily, the park entrance also has space for parking (if you dont mind a bit of a pre-hiking hike). The trail begins as a beautiful rusty red path, flanked on either side by various species of tall green trees. Shawangunk Ridge State Forest Loop from Cox Road Trailhead, Horseshoe Mine Falls Shawangunk Ridge State Forest, Long Path to Gurnee Park from South Mountain Park Trailhead, Follow Scenes From The Trail on WordPress.com. Parking: Medium sized lot near800 Westfield Rd, Meriden, CT. Giuffrida Park is one of the great parks of Connecticut for its mix of trails, beautiful overlooks, and peaceful settings. The trail leaves the cliffs edge, but soon returns to even more views. The Mattabesett Trail climbs steeply on switchbacks, with several shortcut trails, marked with blue blazes (probably the old route) that take a more direct and steeper route up Chauncey Peak. 1h 48m The hike takes place on the blue blazed Mattabesett and Metacomet Trails. Most of the foot traffic we encountered was along the lake as we neared the parking area. Giuffrida served in the military during World War II and attained the rank of captain. There are easy trails around the Bradley Hubbard Reservoir (formerly Crescent Lake), a two mile section of the Mattabasett Trail, and many loop options. Although there was plenty of parking space within the park, it appeared as though many other people had the same holiday idea as us, and nearly the entire lot was full. 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