New England National Scenic Trail
The place
American hiking trail
Why go
Hanging Hills of Meriden CT (view over New Haven). Devil's Hopyard State Park. Soapstone Mountain (elev. 1 075 ft, broad views). Peaked Mountain. The basalt ridgeline with its distinctive columnar jointing.
A bit of history
Designated as a National Scenic Trail in 2009, the NET incorporated existing trail sections — the Metacomet Trail (CT), Mattabesett Trail (CT) and Metacomet-Monadnock Trail (MA) — that had been maintained by regional hiking clubs since the 1930s–1950s. The volcanic trap rock ridgeline is a remnant of Triassic-Jurassic rifting when North America and Africa began to separate.
Getting there
Southwick CT: car or bus from Hartford (1h). Royalston MA: car — remote rural area. Multiple trailheads accessible from Hartford, Springfield and Worcester.
Recommended gear
Hiking boots. Map (NEHC maps or GPS). Water filter (natural water sources available). Bear awareness.
Best season
Year-round. Spring and autumn ideal. Snow/ice in winter. Summer hot and humid at lower elevations.