Sleeping Giant State Park — Attraction in Hamden

There are trails for all levels at Sleeping Giant State Park. Besides Hiking there are picnic area with charcoal grills and fire rings for having a fire at the back of the Main parking lot. If going, download the trail map in PDF beforehand to your phone or check the kiosk near the gate.

There's a half mile long gravel road to the Observation tower called naturally enough, the Tower Trail. Another popular trail to the tower is the blue trail (this and the white trail are considered the two hardest trails in the park). The blue trail begins past the picnic area and goes up the rim of the old quarry to the giant's chin and then back down to the tower trail just below the tower. I don't think I would take kids up it if the rocks are wet, but they can definitely do it.

Here are some suggestions for alternative hikes. Being off the beaten path doesn't mean less fun. From the Main parking lot, there are three easy walks: the purple along the stream, the yellow, and the Nature trail. The yellow and the Nature can be combined into an easy loop.

If you want to get to the bluffs that overlook Quinnipiac Univ then you'll want to walk the white trail. You can begin on the tower trail and watch for where the white crosses it and make a right and head up.

There's space for about 4 cars at the red circle trailhead on Tuttle Ave. From here you have two great options, for an easy stroll do the horseback/XC ski trails, it's a pleasant, quiet stroll in the woods and you can take it the whole 2 miles to the Chestnut Lane Trailhead where the other trails come together. The other option from here is to go up the red. It follows a gorge so it's sometimes referred to as the 'gorge' trail. This areas was heavily affected by the tornados which uprooted trees. It follows the gorge and there are thirteen little cascades of water along the way. Our kids when they were little would soak in the deeper ones. This trail can be used as a back door to the Tower because it eventually crosses the blue on the other side of it. Just walk back. There is one waterfall, not really, but it's marked as a waterfall. Its between the red and the purple, about a 40 or 50' rock wall.

If you go past the Main entrance about 2 miles you'll reach the Chestnut Lane trailhead. There's room for maybe ten cars between the trailhead and the roadside. You can access all the quieter ends of the trails here. Head up to Hezekiah's knob or make your own loop, there are many more...

Disclaimer: I would normally give this park 4 stars however it was significantly damaged previously due to storms and has since reopened. Although all the trails are clear the more advanced trails still contain a lot of debris and less clear markers due to the loss of so many trees

Sleeping Giant is a beautiful park with an abundance of parking which is free to CT residents. There is a $15 charge for non residents. They offer toilets and water stations as well as several areas for picnics. The area around three parking is partially blocked off making it harder to determine trail head locations (since the storms). There is a variety of trails you can pick from and their maps are well marked. As stated earlier, overall the trails are clear and well marked but less frequented/harder trails you are likely to hit a few spots where you have to check around for markers to determine your route due to downed trees. The trails wind through the woods and are predominantly family friendly and heavily used, there is a college directly across the street so excited the main trails to be well populated. Dogs are allowed in the trails as well. The most popular trail is the tower trail which leads you up to a stone large stone structure with several windows and view points great to relax, break for lunch and...

I love this park! The trails are well marked, and so much to see, as long as you have your eyes opened and not talking too much. Creatures all over if you are watching, places to see I there are fantastic, there's even a cave if you look carefully on the green trail, not that you can see it but there are signs drawn on trees for it, so be watchful! There's the gorge where there is a half cave near a waterfall, great for the kids to explore. Frogs, toads, deer, fox, snakes, just be aware of the copperhead off trail, not seen very often but those who like to really explore the enviroment, they can be found. I've never seen a coyote, or bear, so I can't say much about them. But the different eco systems within the mountain are fantastic. The trail can be jarring to the joints so wear proper shoes and clothing, and in some areas there are tiny black flys that bug your face. But mostly this is a wonderful place to go. As of July 2018, the park has been closed due to a horrible storm we had a couple months back, the beautiful picnic area was totally destroyed, as as of the day I write this,they are still clearing the debris from that gorgeous place.. be patient and please go in the future. There is also a main walk there and a castle to go to but the trail is quite long, so...