JRaphaelson - Dec 4, 2021 9:54 am Date Climbed: Dec 4, 2021
Blue Trail to Gravel Road
Did a fun loop up the steep and beautiful blue trail, to the tower, and then down the gravel road. Unexpected gem but super busy even in December!
technicolorNH - Apr 20, 2020 9:21 am Date Climbed: Apr 19, 2020
loop hike
A chap on Talcott earlier in the day warned me that this mountain was popular, so I took a little used trail to the tower (red diamond, which had parking available) and then skirted a cliff before going back down the violet trail. This mountain has many cascades and small waterfalls for its short height.
Brian Jenkins - Oct 8, 2019 9:12 pm Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2019
Fun place
With Flanders. Hit all the body parts from the Chin to the Knob. Fun hiking around this park. Neat tower too.
ScAtTeRbOnE - Jul 4, 2010 11:55 pm Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2010
Bachelor Hike
Hiked this mountain with one of my groomsmen the day before I got married on Hammonasset Beach.
jcoalter - Apr 5, 2010 10:41 am Date Climbed: Oct 12, 2002
Pretty Day Climb
I was visiting a friend a college and we were bored and it was a nice day, so we spent the day finding the hardest way possible up Sleeping Giant. Views from the top were fabulous, looking at the Long Island sound and all the fall foliage.
locationA_D_D85 - Feb 13, 2006 1:31 pm Date Climbed: Nov 1, 2004
MAN MADE OF STONE
The giant and i are very familiar_this is the closest thing to a mountain where i used to live_the giant was a regular hike for me and i know just about all of the trails__its a good hike to the top and the castle tops it off_there is a cave if anyone is interested in looking for it__i know where it is_and will give you directions_DEAD MANS CAVE_sounds stupid but thats the name_someone lived and died in it or so i have heard_information gets around quick living in HAMDEN ct._go explore you'll find something interesting
Route Climbed: Tower (via Blue and White trails) Date Climbed: August 20, 2005
My brothers and I thought we were "settling" for a day of easy hiking at Sleeping Giant when our New Hampshire plans got cancelled, but we weren't expecting the Blue and White trails (ranked the most difficult in the park) to be such a workout! It was a pleasant surprise -- I don't imagine there are too many hikes in CT that offer scrambling opportunities like this one.
The park as a whole (tower, trails, picnic areas, facilities) is very well-maintained, and with so many trails of varying difficulties, it's really a great afternoon getaway for the restless Nutmegger. The day was overcast and relatively hazy, but the views were still impressive, and the ocean was visible from the southern overlooks.
Route Climbed: Tower (I Think) Date Climbed: Summer 1969
This was the first named mountain I ever hiked. A family outing with lot's of complaining from us as kids. I remember I calmed down considerably when we reached the top and the views took over.
Route Climbed: Tower Route Date Climbed: many many times
I cannot remember how many times I have climbed to the Tower. Having grown up only miles from this wonderful state park, I used to ride my bike over there and hike. During my years as a track and cross country runner, I ran to the top many times as well. Interestingly enough, I have never climbed up to the head. I plan to do this route on a return trip to CT this fall to visit family who now lives even closer to the park.
Great family hike, the trails are wide and shaded in the summer. This keeps the heat down tremendously.
Route Climbed: Up the top of the head and down the neck Date Climbed: November 2001
We climbed up the steepest portion, the head. Here we had great views of the leaves. It was beautiful and surprisingly challenging. After having spent years hiking in California, returning to my home stomping grounds was invigorating. The mold was a bit much to deal with though. The wet leaves retain mold quite well, and I had forgotten that.
JRaphaelson - Dec 4, 2021 9:54 am Date Climbed: Dec 4, 2021
Blue Trail to Gravel RoadDid a fun loop up the steep and beautiful blue trail, to the tower, and then down the gravel road. Unexpected gem but super busy even in December!
technicolorNH - Apr 20, 2020 9:21 am Date Climbed: Apr 19, 2020
loop hikeA chap on Talcott earlier in the day warned me that this mountain was popular, so I took a little used trail to the tower (red diamond, which had parking available) and then skirted a cliff before going back down the violet trail. This mountain has many cascades and small waterfalls for its short height.
Brian Jenkins - Oct 8, 2019 9:12 pm Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2019
Fun placeWith Flanders. Hit all the body parts from the Chin to the Knob. Fun hiking around this park. Neat tower too.
ScAtTeRbOnE - Jul 4, 2010 11:55 pm Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2010
Bachelor HikeHiked this mountain with one of my groomsmen the day before I got married on Hammonasset Beach.
jcoalter - Apr 5, 2010 10:41 am Date Climbed: Oct 12, 2002
Pretty Day ClimbI was visiting a friend a college and we were bored and it was a nice day, so we spent the day finding the hardest way possible up Sleeping Giant. Views from the top were fabulous, looking at the Long Island sound and all the fall foliage.
iditarod81 - Aug 7, 2009 3:51 pm
My mom grew up in Hamden; we did this as a family :-)A lovely family hike!
Rockscaler - Feb 3, 2009 5:58 pm
A friend talked it up!She kept saying that it was HER mountain! lol!
locationA_D_D85 - Feb 13, 2006 1:31 pm Date Climbed: Nov 1, 2004
MAN MADE OF STONEThe giant and i are very familiar_this is the closest thing to a mountain where i used to live_the giant was a regular hike for me and i know just about all of the trails__its a good hike to the top and the castle tops it off_there is a cave if anyone is interested in looking for it__i know where it is_and will give you directions_DEAD MANS CAVE_sounds stupid but thats the name_someone lived and died in it or so i have heard_information gets around quick living in HAMDEN ct._go explore you'll find something interesting
ScarletTanager - Aug 24, 2005 11:42 am
Route Climbed: Tower (via Blue and White trails) Date Climbed: August 20, 2005My brothers and I thought we were "settling" for a day of easy hiking at Sleeping Giant when our New Hampshire plans got cancelled, but we weren't expecting the Blue and White trails (ranked the most difficult in the park) to be such a workout! It was a pleasant surprise -- I don't imagine there are too many hikes in CT that offer scrambling opportunities like this one.
The park as a whole (tower, trails, picnic areas, facilities) is very well-maintained, and with so many trails of varying difficulties, it's really a great afternoon getaway for the restless Nutmegger. The day was overcast and relatively hazy, but the views were still impressive, and the ocean was visible from the southern overlooks.
fox5659 - Sep 24, 2003 7:34 pm
Route Climbed: Tower (I Think) Date Climbed: Summer 1969This was the first named mountain I ever hiked. A family outing with lot's of complaining from us as kids. I remember I calmed down considerably when we reached the top and the views took over.
mtnhiker13 - Mar 4, 2003 4:47 pm
Route Climbed: Tower Route Date Climbed: many many timesI cannot remember how many times I have climbed to the Tower. Having grown up only miles from this wonderful state park, I used to ride my bike over there and hike. During my years as a track and cross country runner, I ran to the top many times as well. Interestingly enough, I have never climbed up to the head. I plan to do this route on a return trip to CT this fall to visit family who now lives even closer to the park.
Great family hike, the trails are wide and shaded in the summer. This keeps the heat down tremendously.
butterflywings73 - Nov 17, 2002 9:48 am
Route Climbed: Up the top of the head and down the neck Date Climbed: November 2001We climbed up the steepest portion, the head. Here we had great views of the leaves. It was beautiful and surprisingly challenging. After having spent years hiking in California, returning to my home stomping grounds was invigorating. The mold was a bit much to deal with though. The wet leaves retain mold quite well, and I had forgotten that.