From Route 8: Take Exit 42 (CT-118). Turn right off ramp and go east on Rt. 118. After for 2.5 miles, Rt. 118 becomes Rt. 4. Continue on Rt. 4 for another 5.3 miles and turn right on Rt. 69. Go about 2 miles until you see small cemetery on your left, take an immediate right onto Scoville Rd. (there may not be a street sign). However, there is a sign for Tunxis Trail at this intersection. Follow this very windy road, which turns into West Chippens Hill Rd. for about 2 miles until you see the Burlington Fire Dept on your left. Take an immediate right onto Greer Rd.
From Hartford: I-84 West to Exit 38 (Rt. 6/Bristol). Go through light at end of ramp and continue on Rt. 6 for 10.2 miles. Turn right on Hill St. Follow Hill St. for 3 miles (it becomes W. Chippen Hill Rd.). Turn left onto Greer Rd.
On Greer Rd.: Go a short distance until you see a pond on your left. Park and follow the Tunxis Trail on the right side of the pond. Trail may skirt over some small rock outcroppings. Follow the trail until you see an obvious cliff. The trail from the pond to the cliff is approx. 3/4 to 1 mile.
From the intersection of Rt. 7 and Rt. 44 in Canaan, drive south about 3 miles to
a small pull-out across from a far at the top of a small rise. It's easy to drive
past without seeing it unless there are cars there. DOT often, but not always, plows
the lot.
Assuming there is snow on the ground, there will be a boot path winding north-northeast
through a barb-wire fence. 150 yards north of where the path crosses through the fence
is a stream (on the left as heading uphill). Occasionally, if it is frozen, it is possible
to crampon up the streambed. Otherwise, follow the boot path uphill (steep in places)
to the base of South Flow.
From Waterbury: I-84 East to I-691 East to Exit 5 (CT-71/Chamberlin Hwy.). Make left onto
Route 71. Go 1/2 mile to the end of road. Turn right onto Route 71. Stay on Route 71 for about
0.6 mile. There will be a long paved pull-off on the right, park here. Walk to
north end of pull-off, look for trail on right. Head up steep hill, trail will
bend left up through large boulders to cliff. 100 yards from road.
From New Haven/Middletown: I-691 West to Exit 6 (Lewis Ave.). Make a left at
end of ramp. Continue to end of the road and take a left at the light
(Kensington Ave. Go 1/2 mile to the end of road. Turn right onto Route 71. Stay on Route 71 for about 1/2 mile.
There will be a long paved pull-off on the right, park here. Walk to north end
of pull-off, look for trail on right. Head up steep hill, trail will bend
left up through large boulders to cliff. 100 yards from road.
From the intersection of Rt. 79 and Rt. 80, go east on Rt. 80 2.7 miles. There will be a rough pull-out on the right. Park, cross the street, and walk west (uphill) - about 50 yards. Just past a small rock outcropping on the right side of the road there is a guardrail. The trail starts at the guardrail and splits almost immediately. Go left and down across the gully. Follow the trail and you'll be at the cliff top (on your left) in a few minutes.
From Hartford: I-91 North to Exit 19 (Northampton Mass) about 40 mins from Hartford. Take Route 9 West 9.3 miles to Williamsburg, MA. Just past Williamsburg General Store (on left) bear right onto North St. which becomes Ashfield/Williamsburg Valley Rd. Follow this 6.8 miles. Cliff will be seen on left. Park at a bridge at bottom of a steep hill.
From Waterbury: I-84 East to I-691 East. Get off at Exit 4. Go right at the end
of the ramp. Go about .75 miles and turn left on Hubbard Park Dr. Follow Hubbard Park
Dr. until you reach the gate to the castle.
From New Haven/Middletown: I-691 West. Get off at Exit 4. Take a left at the end of
the ramp. Go about 0.8 miles, turn left on Hubbard Park Dr. Follow Hubbard Park
Dr. until you reach the gate to the castle.
If the gate to castle is
open, drive up the road about 3 miles (bear left at forks) and park by castle.
Be careful! If the gate closes, your car will be trapped. From the
lot, follow the blue-blazed trail east. Climbs are to the right after
5-10 mins walk.
If the gate to castle is closed, park in the lot by the swimming pool.
Walk up either road under the highway. Turn left on the dirt road just
before you reach the reservoir.
To the top: Follow the dirt road along shore until you reach a
white-blazed trail. Follow it uphill, past a gazebo, until you reach a
trail junction on the right that heads steeply uphill. At junction of
blue-blazed trail, turn right. Climbs are to the right after 5-10 mins
walk.
To the base: Follow the dirt road along shore until it curves sharply left.
Start looking for a small trail that leaves the road to the right.
Follow this trail across a small stream bed and diagonal up left through
the woods several hundred feet to scree slope. Hike up left side of slope to a
faint trail that leads to base of cliff near routes "Shades of Grey" &
"Grey
Corner".
From Waterbury: Take I-84 East to I-691 East. Take Exit 4 (Route 322). At end of
ramp turn left.
From New Haven/Middletown: Take 691 West to Exit 4 (Route 322). At end of ramp
turn right.
Then: Go a short ways and turn right
onto Rt. 120. Go 0.7 miles and, turn right at a light onto Savage St. Follow
1.1 miles to end and turn
right onto East St. When you see the entrance to YMCA Camp Sloper, park on the
street (or just onto the grass) by the entrance.
Approach: Walk through the
entrance and up the Camp Sloper driveway - if you look up from here you should
see the power lines and the cliff. Continue walking up through their parking
lot and onto the lawn staying to your right as you walk along the edge of the
woods. After approx 100 yds. there is an obvious trail on your right that heads
into the woods and under the power lines. Do not turn onto any paths that
would lead out from under the general power line area (there is a fork where
you must stay left). Soon the path heads to the right and up a rocky slope,
there is a cliff in front of you now but this is not the main climbing area.
Continue on as the path heads left to the main climbing area. As you reach the
cliff you can fork right to the top of the cliff, or fork left to walk along
its base.
From Waterbury: I-84 East to Exit 34 (Crooked St.), turn right at end of
ramp. Go to end of road and turn right at the light. Take first left onto Ledge Rd.
In about 1.6 miles, turn left into Crescent Lake parking lot.
From Hartford: I-84 West to Exit 33 (Route 72), stay right and get off at 1st
exit. Turn right at the end of ramp. Go 0.5 miles to traffic light at
Crooked St. (Sunoco gas station across intersection on right). Turn right and
continue to the end of the road. Turn right at light and take the first
left onto Ledge Rd.. In about 1.6 miles, turn left into Crescent Lake parking lot.
From
the parking lot, follow the shoreline trail on the
south side (right side) of the lake for about 10-15 mins until it curves
around to the north by a open area of large hemlock trees on a slope. Head up
hill for a few hundred feet to the cliff. Cliff should be visible from the
shore line.
From Waterbury: I-84 East to Exit 34 (Crooked St.), make a left at end of ramp. Go 0.4 mile to end of road and make a left at light onto New Britain Ave. Go 0.4 mile and turn right at light onto Metacomet Rd. at car dealership.
From Hartford: I-84 West to Exit 33 (Route 72), get off at 1st exit, make a right at end of ramp onto New Britain Ave. After 0.2 mile, make a left at light by car dealership onto Metacomet Rd.
On Metacomet Rd: Go about a mile until road turns sharp left and you see a pond on the left. The trailhead is on the right. Continue 100 yds. until there aren't any "No parking" signs. Park considerately and hike up the trail until you reach large cement blocks then head right up small path to base of cliffs. Most climbs are to the right. Access to top is at far left and far right.
On trail from Metacomet Rd. (above), instead of turning at the cement blocks, continue on the trail for another 100 yards. Cliff visible on the right about 50 yards off the trail. To reach top, stay on the trail another 50 yards until it intersects with the blue-blazed Metacomet Trail. Take a right and walk 50-100 yards.
When you reach the base of the Pinnacle (directions above), continue right until trail climbs to top of crag. Follow blue-blazed Metacomet Trail to the right (south). After 5-10 mins, look for old fencing and concrete (old Nike missile site). Cliff is down to the right.
From Hartford: I-84 West take Exit 35 on left and merge onto CT-72 East. Take first Exit 7 (CT-372/Corbin Ave.). Turn right off exit ramp onto CT-372/Corbin Ave. After 1.4 miles, bear right onto CT-71A (High Rd.). After 0.7 miles, bear right as 71A becomes Chamberlain Highway. After 1.5 more miles, turn left on Reservoir Rd. See below.
From Waterbury: I-84 East to I-691 East to Exit 5 (CT-71/Chamberlin Hwy.). Make left onto Route 71. Stay on Route 71 for about 4.5 miles. At fork, bear left onto 71A, make immediate left onto Reservoir Rd. See below.
From New Haven/Middletown: I-691 West to Exit 6 (Lewis Ave.). Make a left at end of ramp, Left at end of road at the light. Go up to end of road, about 1/2 mile, make right onto Route 71 east. Stay on Route 71 for about 4.5 miles. At fork, bear left onto 71A, make immediate left onto Reservoir Rd. See below.
Then follow Reservoir Rd. (which becomes Carey St.) until it ends in 1.9 miles. Turn right on Andrews St. and make an immediate left on Sheldon Rd. Park considerately on Sheldon Rd. or Moore Hill Dr.
Walk back down Carey St. about 1/3 mile. Turn left up gravel driveway following the blue blazes. You'll notice the trail leaves the driveway on the right (this leads to Small Cliff which is closed), but stay on the driveway until it turns sharp left. Here a trail, blazed with faint white circles, leads to the Main Cliff. At a bulletin board, turn right and climb the stairs to access the top of the cliff; go straight to access the base.
Walk back down Carey St. about 1/3 mile. Turn left up gravel driveway following the blue blazes. About 100 yards up, take trail right, off driveway. It will bring you to Small Cliff (currently closed). Head right along base of cliff. Go around the corner (by very large boulder) and continue another 100 yards to a short 30-40 ft high cliff.
Walk back down Carey St. about 1/3 mile. Turn left up gravel driveway following the blue blazes. About 100 yards up, take trail right, off driveway. It will bring you past Small Cliff (currently closed). Follow the trail up the rock gully on left side to top of the cliff. Follow the trail right (east) for about 5-10 minutes. Owl's Lair is at a clearing with a fire ring and large 6 ft. high boulder.
There are 4 major climbing areas on Rattlesnake Mountain (from north to south): Porcupine Hole, Green Wall, Will Warren's Den, and Rattlesnake Rock. The Metacomet Trail runs the ridgeline and connects the crags. There are three parking areas. From north to south: Rt. 6, Forest Hill Dr. and Metacomet Rd. (Pinnacle).
From Waterbury: I-84 East to Exit 37 (Fieneman Rd.), make a left at end of ramp.
At second light, turn left onto Rt. 6 (Colt Highway). In one mile, you will pass
the Tilcon quarry on the left and
the road will turn right, downhill. In another 0.3 mile you will see a parking area on the left.
From Hartford: I-84 West to Exit 38 (Rt. 6 Bristol), go straight through light
at bottom of ramp. In 1.7 miles, you will pass the Tilcon quarry on the
left and the road will turn right and go downhill. In another 0.3 mile, park in
the
parking area on the left.
Follow the short access trail from the parking area to the blue-blazed Metacomet Trail. Head up the trail (south).
You will encounter Porcupine Hole (on right) in 15 mins, Green Wall (on right) in 20 mins, Will Warren's Den in 25 mins.,
and the top of Rattlesnake Rock in 27 mins. The beginning of the trail can
be quite muddy.
Park in the cul-de-sac at the end of the Forest Hill Dr. Follow the power lines north about 30 yards and pick up the small trail that heads right, into the woods. There is/was some surveyors tape on part of the trail. The trail which leads to the base of Green Wall can be hard to follow. At the top of the crag, follow the Metacomet Trail left for Porcupine Hole or right for Will Warren's Den and Rattlesnake Rock.
Follow directions to the top of Pinnacle (Lone Pine) but go left (north) on the blue-blazed Metacoment Trail. You will encounter the base of Rattlesnake Rock first (in 10 mins.), then Will Warren's Den (12 mins.), then Green Wall (20 mins.) and then Porcupine Hole (20 mins.).
From Hartford: 91 North to Mass. Take Route 2 East (Exit 27) approx. 45-60 minutes from Hartford. Go about 8 miles take Rt. 63 North. Go about 2 miles, on right side is the Northfield Mountain Environmental & Recreation Center. Park in lot by the Visitor Center. Trail maps are available in the visitor center and some climbing beta. Climbing is legal so you can ask rangers for directions.
I-84 East to NY Thruway I-87 North. Take I-87 North to Exit 18 (New Paltz). At end of ramp, turn left onto Rt. 299 West. Stay on 299 thru New Paltz until the junction of Rt. 44 (about 10 minutes). Turn right onto Rt. 44 West. After about 0.5 miles, visitors center on right. PARKING: 1) .25 miles parking lot on right. 2) .25 miles hairpin turn more parking. 3) .25 Uberfall-Trapps access trail on right. 4) .25 Scenic overlook and parking area on left. 5) .5 miles (after passing under metal bridge) large parking area on right.
From Waterbury/Hartford: I-84 to 691 East. Get off at Exit 5
(CT-71/Chamberlain Hwy.). Turn left at
end of ramp onto 71 East. See below.
From New Haven/Middletown: I-691 West. Get off at Exit 6 (Lewis Ave.). Turn left at
end of ramp, Left at end of road at the light.
Go up to end of road, about 1/2 mile, make right onto Route 71 east. See
below.Then go about 3 miles, make left onto 364, follow signs to Timberlin Park. Once in the park find Marjorie Moore Road and
park at just around the
bend (at left turn, near swing sets, Timberlin ), there is a small park area
for about 4 cars. Park here or on side of road. Walk across the road, up small
hill and intersect a larger trail. Immediately follow trail down to stream and
cross bridge. Continue on this well marked trail all the way to the top of
Short Wall (this well marked trail continues on to the Small Cliff)
Follow directions to parking for Ragged Mountain. Walk back down Carey St. about 1/3 mile. After you the pass dirt driveway on the left which leads to Small Cliff, go another 300 ft. and turn right down private road, to a sewer grate at end of cul-de-sac. Continue straight into wood and pick up the blue-blazed Metacomet Trail. After ducking under a giant tulip tree log, there will be a trail junction. Follow blue blazes to the right and pass over old dam to reach southeast end of cliff or go left downhill and cross several bridges to reach the northeast end of cliff. 5 to 10 minutes from road.
From Kent (the intersection of Route 7 and Rt. 341) head west on Rt. 341. As soon as you cross the Housatonic River, turn right on Skiff Mountain Rd. (Kent School is on your left and the river is on your right). Follow tar road (less then 1 mile) until you come to a fork; take right onto a dirt road. Follow dirt road for a mile or two, until you see the Appalachian trail. Follow trail into woods on your left. There are two sections of the cliff. The Upper Wall has 100 foot friction slabs; the Lower Wall has 20 foot climbs of high quality. The lower wall is just left off the trail shortly after hiking in. The upper wall a bit further on the right.
From Waterbury: I-84 East to Exit 34 (Crooked St.) make a left at end of ramp.
Go to end of road (about 1/4 mile). Turn left at light. Park in Big Y
Supermarket lot. (about 1/3 mile on the right).
From Hartford: I-84 West to Exit 33 (Route 72) stay right and get off at 1st exit,
turn right at end of ramp. Park in Big Y Supermarket lot.
Walk left out of Big Y about 1/2 mile. Look for a blue Metacomet Trail
sign on the left side of the road. Head up the trail about 100 yards.
The crag will be on your right.
Seven Falls State Park, south of Middletown. Route 9 south, Exit 10, Aircraft Road. At end of ramp, turn right onto Saybrook Road. In less than a mile, you drive under power lines. Parking area is on the left after that.
From Waterbury, drive north on Rt. 8 to Exit 37 (St. Hwy 262). Turn right off ramp and go east on 262 across the Naugatuck River. Turn right after the bridge. Take the first left (Spruce Brook Rd./Rt. 262). Go about 1.2 miles. Where the road bends sharply right there is a small pullout on the left with a pipe gate across a dirt road. Park here. Walk up the dirt road past the gate. Take a right onto a second dirt road (a pavilion can be seen ahead of you at this point). Follow the blue-blazed trail, which turns right off the dirt road, crosses a brook and continues uphill to the right side of the cliff. The climbs are downhill to the left and on the west face.
I-84 to Rt. 384 East; follow to end, and pick up Rt. 44 East; Follow to Rt. 32, and take a right towards Willimantic; take a left onto Mansfield City Rd., follow to intersection of Brown St. and take a left onto Brown. Take a right onto Crane Hill Rd. Look for dirt pull-off on right. Follow the path across the street to the top of cliffs. (5-10 minute walk)