Metacomet Trail

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The Metacomet Trail is a hiking trail through central Connecticut that begins in the Hanging Hills in Meriden and ends on the Massachusetts border. The trail runs about 51 miles and traverses numerous ridges with views of the central Connecticut valleys. The trail passes close to the 18th century Old Newgate Prison in East Granby and Heublein Tower on Talcott Mountain in Simsbury.

The cliffs north of Heublein Tower provide an excellent view of the Farmington River valley. A cave in these cliffs is readily visible from the valley below. It is said that King Philip or Metacomet watched the burning of the village of Simsbury in 1676 from this vantage point (although other accounts state that King Phillip was in Rhode Island at the time). The cave is known as King Philips Cave. Joseph Wadsworth is said to have camped on this spot after saving the Charter of Connecticut from being repossessed by the King's emissary.

The trail continues as the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail through Massachusetts and into New Hampshire terminating on the peak of Mount Monadnock.