Mount Higby Beseck Mountain

D L E I F E L D D I M 275 0 0.25 0.5 I-91

Higby/Beseck Trails N E D I R E M A Hall miles 154 Farm 0 0.25 0.50 mi Highland P Mount Higby COUNTRY 466 0 1000 2000 ft Pond BM 389 828 363

BM 415 COUNTRY CLUB RD CLUB RD State RT-147 248 Moody PRESTONAVE Police BM 471 I-91 Sch RT-66 I-691 F P N W O T E L D D I M Sawmill Brook

Fall Brook N E D I R E M P D 389 BM 325 Black E MAIN ST Pond Jackson HIGBY RD Hill PRESTON AVE 381 Tynan Rest Park Area P 495 E H BM 327

892 L MATTABESECK RD POMEROY AVE Mount Higby 358 407 MIDDLETOWN448 342 392 Lake 336 K MIDDLEFIELD Beseck Adder Reservoir518

363 315 Preston Notch BM 440 BM C RT-66 269 P 369 610 Ball G Fields P BM Camels 393 Spoonshop Brook B OLD Middlefield 236 Hump HIGH HILL RD PRESTON AVE Dog Park Coe Hill 517

D L E I F E L D D I M Mount Higby

N E D I R E M THORP AVE

Roaring Brook 539 RT-147 466 Beseck Mountain Powder 100 ft J BM 389 Mt Higby Reservoir Hill 828 200 ft Powder Ridge 437 363 300 ft YMCA Ski Lifts BM 415 400 ft RT-147 Camp I State BM 471 500 ft 461 Police 600 ft RT-66 700 ft I-691 F MERIDEN 800 ft 900 ft P 1000 ft WALLINGFORD Higby/Beseck Trail Map Trail Descriptions The map was created using open source software, Geographic [Blue, 10.4 mi] This segment of the blue-blazed Higby/Beseck Resources Analysis Support System (GRASS). The background is National Scenic Trail follows the trap rock ridge from Rt-68 in Durham a shaded relief map generated from National Elevation Dataset to Country Club Rd. commuter lot at I-91 in Middletown. Trails (NED) data obtained from the United States Geological Survey Nature Conservancy Trail [Black, 0.5 mi] Starts at the end of Old (USGS), reproduced at a scale of about 1:26,000. Each shade of color Preston Ave, crosses the power line right-of-way, and connects with represents a change in elevation of 100 ft. Map overlay data were the Mattabesett Trail at Preston Notch. Very limited parking. obtained from USGS 1:24,000 scale topographic maps, with GPS field corrections for some brooks. Tynan Park Trail [Blue_Red, 0.8 mi] Starts at a parking area off of Higby Rd., between Rt-66 and Country Club Rd. The blue_red-blazed The location of each trail and landmark was determined from GPS trail enters woods at the far back-left corner of the field, crosses Fall tracks and waypoints recorded during the year 2009. Note that Brook (sometimes difficult) and connects with the Mattabesett Trail. portions of blazed trails may have been relocated since then. I-691/Rt-66 Trailhead [Blue_Red, 280 ft] Starts at the parking area on An excellent source of up-to-date information on the blue-blazed west-bound Rt-66 near I-691 and connects with the Mattabesett Trail. Mattabesett Trail is the web site for the Forest & Park Association, the organization that maintains the blue-blazed trails. Black Pond Trail [Black, 0.25 mi] Starts at a gate on the north end of the parking lot at Black Pond. At the top of the hill, follow the blue http://www.ctwoodlands.org/blue-blazed-hiking-trails blazes to the right for an additional 0.25 to 0.4 mi for overlooks of Black Pond., or continue on to other destinations. Legend Middlefield Dog Park Trail [Yellow, 1.2 mi loop] Starts at the parking lot for the Middlefield Dog Park, located at the south end of Streets Mattabeseck Rd., behind Lake Beseck. The yellow-blazed trail comes Blue-Blazed Trail close to the Mattabesett Trail, but does not directly connect to it. Blue_Red-Blazed Trail Orange-Blazed Trail Hiking Info Yellow-Blazed Trail Location Mount Higby and Beseck Mountain form the ridge line Unblazed Major Trail along the eastern edge of Meriden, east of I-91. Unblazed Side Trail Parking Parking is available at numerous locations marked with “P”. P Parking Terrain Mount Higby and Beseck Mountain offer spectacular views Brooks, Ponds of Meriden, including The , Lamentation Mountain, and Town Line . These trap rock ridges are extremely steep, and care Scenic Overlook should be taken. In addition to trails that climb to ridgelines, there are Other Trail Landmark other trails that follow relatively level terrain. Gear Hikers should wear sturdy shoes or boots on rocky or slippery trails. Don’t forget water, and if you carry a daypack you will also have room for a snack, cell phone, binoculars, camera, field guide, first aid kit, insect repellent, etc.). Trail Landmarks [Elevation] Following Blazes Many of these trails are marked with colored blazes located on trees or rocks. To avoid getting lost, pay close attention A Country Club Rd. Lot (Trailhead) [230 ft] to the blazes. A double-blaze, with the top blaze offset to one side, B Middlefield Dog Park (Trailhead) [350 ft] indicates that the trail turns in the direction of the offset. C Nature Conservancy (Trailhead) [365 ft] The next blaze will usually be visible on a well-blazed trail, except D Black Pond (Trailhead) [410 ft] along a paved road. If you don’t see the blaze, turn around and look behind you to be sure you are still on the trail. If you do not see a blaze E Tynan Park (Trailhead) [420 ft] in either direction, re-trace your steps until you find the previous blaze, F I-691/Rt-66 (Trailhead) [500 ft] and investigate further. The blazed trail may take an unexpected turn G Preston Notch [610 ft] away from the main path, or a blaze may be on a fallen tree. H Beseck Mt. (Black Pond Overlook) [640 ft] Credits Many thanks to Bob Pagini for the cover photograph and to I Powder Ridge (Overlook) [790 ft] Dwight Needels for the map and GPS data. J Mt. Higby (State Police Overlook) [810 ft] Printed courtesy of Connecticut K Mt. Higby (Hanging Hills Overlook) [825 ft] Color, Inc. (located in Meriden, CT). L Mt. Higby (Suzio Quarry Overlook) [870 ft] Order our consolidated trail guide or download free copies of trail Meriden Land Trust guides for other Meriden Parks from our website. http://www.meridenlandtrust.org