Stone observation tower perched atop the Hanging Hills of Meriden, offering sweeping views across central Connecticut—from Long Island Sound to the Berkshires—within the scenic expanse of Hubbard Park.
General Information
Castle Craig tower: Exterior accessible year‑round; interior typically open during daylight hours
Seasonal access road: Open May 1–October 31, approximately 10:00am to 5:30pm (weather permitting)
Peak Drive, Hubbard Park, Meriden, CT 06451
How to Get There
From New Haven (22 mi): Take I‑91 North to Route 691 West, exit at Hubbard Park (Exit 7). Follow signs into Hubbard Park; from May through October you may drive up Peak Drive to the tower or hike year‑round via park trails.
Overview
Castle Craig, located on East Peak in the Hanging Hills, is constructed of trap rock, has a metal interior stairway is used to ascend the observation deck on top and provides an expansive view of the greater Meriden, Connecticut area.
Origin and details
Castle Craig, dedicated October 29, 1900 and given to the people of Meriden, Connecticut by Walter Hubbard is part of Hubbard Park named after Hubbard. There are hiking trails to the tower (most notably the 62-mile Metacomet Trail as well as Reservoir Road. Walkers and joggers are allowed use of this road 365 days of the year during normal park operating hours which is basically sunrise to sunset. From the top of the observation tower, 1,002 feet elevation, it is possible to see New Haven and Long Island Sound 25 miles to the south. To the west, the foothills of the Berkshires are visible; to the north, the Hartford skyline as well as the summit of Mount Tom in Massachusetts.
The inspiration for the tower's design has been disputed for years. Some say Walter Hubbard, a world traveler, was inspired by a Norman French tower; others by a 12th Century Turkish tower on the Danube; still others maintain that it was patterned upon an ancient tower in Craigellachie, Scotland.
Castle Craig Tower stands 32 feet high on 976-foot east peak in Meriden's Olmsted designed Hubbard Park. It has the distinction of being the highest point within 25 miles of the coast from Maine to Florida. Its design origins are clouded. Some say its native trap rock construction resembles Norman watchtowers on Europe's Rhine River while others claim it was modeled and named after an ancient castle in Scotland.
Meriden industrialist Walter Hubbard donated the tower and the surrounding park, which a grateful Meriden named after him. The tower is one of the highlights of the park from its observation deck. Looking south one can observe Long Island Sound and on a clear day, the outline of Long Island itself. To the north, Southern Massachusetts Berkshire Hills come into view.
Although the plaque indicates that East Peak is "the highest point within 25 miles of the coast from Maine to Florida," West Peak, just 2,000 feet to the west, at 1,024 feet, is higher than both East Peak and the tower. Both East and West Peak are lower than a number of mountains in the Downeast coastal region of Maine.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Castle Craig", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
