CT State Parks and Forests Main Page Park Location Route 185 Simsbury (Directions) Park Contact Information Talcott Mountain State Park c/o Penwood State Park 57 Gun Mill Road Bloomfield, CT 06002 (860) 242-1158 {Link to Purchase a State Park Season Pass}   {Symbol for Handicapped Accessibility} ACCESSIBILITY This park is not handicapped accessible. HOURS: The park is open from 8 am to sunset. Heublein Tower * May 24 through the end of August - Thursday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. * Labor Day Weekend through October 31 -  Daily, 10 am to 5 pm. Seasonal hours vary. Please call the State Parks Division (860-424-3200) for the most current information. PETS: Pets on a leash are permitted in picnic areas and on hiking trails. STATE PARKS CONTACT INFORMATION: Email: deep.stateparks@ct.gov  Telephone: (860) 424-3200 (866) 287-2757 (Toll Free in CT) Fax: (860) 424-4070

{Heublein Tower Dining Room} Talcott Mountain State Park Simsbury The beautifully appointed Heublein family dining room awaits hikers at the top of the mountain in the Heublein tower. Activities Facilities Directions Map Overview Activities {Hiking} Hiking {Picnicking} Picnicking {Observation Tower} Observation Tower (seasonal) {Vista} Vista    Tower and Landscape Tours (Seasonal) Thursday - Sunday 11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm   Hiking The Tower Trail is 1.25 miles long; a walk to the Tower takes approximately 30 - 40 minutes. Also running through the park is a section of the Metacomet Trail, developed and maintained with volunteer assistance by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association. For information on volunteering for trail activities throughout the state contact: Connecticut Forest and Park Association. Heublein Tower Heublein Tower may be accessed by walking trail only. Facilities Bathrooms, Picnic Shelter {Heublein Tower at Talcott Mountain State Park} Talcott Mountain State Park, Simsbury Directions From I-91 North or South: Take Exit 35B, which is the Bloomfield Route 218 exit. This road is also known as Cottage Grove Road. Follow Cottage Grove Road heading west until you hit Route 185. Follow Route 185 heading for Simsbury. At the top of the hill, the entrance to Talcott Mountain State Park/Heublein Tower will be on your left. From I-84 East or West: Take the Route 44 Exit. Follow Route 44 heading west until you hit the intersection of Route 218. Take a right on Rte 218 and follow north until you hit Route 185 in Simsbury. Take a left on Route 185 heading for Simsbury. At the top of the hill, Talcott Mountain State Park/Heublein Tower is on your left. Fees   Information on Season Passes There is no parking fee at Talcott Mountain State Park. More Information Map Park Map (B/W) Park Map (Color) Overview The familiar Farmington River Valley landmark of Heublein Tower sits atop Talcott Mountain, a long, precipitous wooded ledge named after the Talcott family. The 165-foot structure was built as a summer home in 1914 by Gilbert Heublein. In the early fifties, two future presidents were guests of the Hartford Times, then General Dwight D. Eisenhower (who was asked to run for office there) and Ronald Reagan, then president of the Screen Actors' Guild.  Following a period of ownership of the property by the Hartford Times during WWII and the early 1950's, it was slated for residential development by a private corporation when the 557 acres of Talcott Mountain came under public ownership in 1965 through the cooperative efforts of private conservationists and state and federal governments. The 1,000-foot high promontory provides a splendid view of the Connecticut landscape. On the horizon, Mount Monadnock, eighty miles away in New Hampshire, is discernible. To the northwest, the Berkshires dominate the horizon. Long Island Sound is revealed as a thin blue streak to the south. Those with sharp vision can see an area estimated to be 1,200 square miles. Hikers may encounter a variety of wildlife including deer, fox and rabbits in this natural sanctuary. Bird watchers enjoy occasional sightings of the turkey vulture, bald eagle, and pileated woodpecker. During May, visitors find wildflowers such as trillium, trout lily, wood anemone, and Dutchman's breeches among the damp, craggy rocks. Tables, grills, and toilets are available for picnickers. Video Tour of Talcott Mountain State Park (link to ‘The Outdoor Enthusiast’ - CT Public Broadcastings’ Media Lab online project) Other Nearby State Recreation Areas Include: Penwood State Park, Bloomfield  Location: Route 185 across from the Talcott Mountain parking area  Activities: Picnicking, Hiking, Vista, Biking, Ski Touring Charge: None Stratton Brook State Park, Simsbury  Location: 2 miles west of Simsbury on Route 309  Activities: Biking, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking, Swimming Charge: Daily, in season Related Links Connecticut Tourism Information Friends of Heublein Tower {Link to Top of Page}