Heublein Tower — Attraction in Simsbury

If you set your Google map to Heublein Tower, it will take you to a dead end residential drive way. So the right way to get to Heublein Tower is by going to Talcott Mountain State Park, parking your car there and doing a 35 to 45 Minute hike to reach Heublein Tower.

There is plenty of parking at the Talcott Mountain State Park. Cars having Out of state registration plates have to pay a fee for parking. Connecticut registered vehicles can park for free.

Due to Covid-19, the tower is closed (hence 4 stars), but the hike to the Heublein Tower is well worth the trip. I am not a fan of hiking, but I loved this one. The trail is pretty steep and slippery (loose pebbles) for the first five minutes starting from the Talcott Mountain State Park, after which the trail flattens out completely and has multiple scenic points to stop and take some amazing pictures. If you are lucky, you will also get to see Para-gliders jump off the ledge within 5 feet from you. We were lucky to talk to one of them, see him prepare his glider for the flight and watched him sail off into the sky. It was an amazing experience. I wish I could just tag along. It was one of those beautiful day's with clear sunshine and blue sky peppered with beautiful white foamy clouds with an amazing cool breeze for a fantastic glide.

There are two toilets (not designated to either gender) at the beginning of the hike from Talcott Mountain state park. Your next chance to use one will be at the Heublein Tower. There are two restrooms at the Heublein tower (not designated to either gender), neither one had the toilet paper, so I would suggest carrying some towelettes and Hand Wash or Hand Sanitizer for your hygiene. Carry at least one big bottle of water, you will need it during the hike. I did not see any drinking water fountains at the tower. Further more, this hike is not handicap friendly (especially the first 5 min of the trail). Once you reach the tower, again there are multiple locations you can take some good pictures, but again if you are assisted or in a wheelchair, you will not be able to get close to the tower. There is a flat region right at the entrance of the tower, you will have to be content just hanging out here, while others can walk close to the tower and take some pictures or...

Heublein Tower is located in Talcott Mountain State Park. There were plenty of parking spaces and a few trails that lead up to the "castle". The main Tower Trail is 1.25-miles one-way; most of it were up hill and on rocky gravel. There were a couple of lookouts before reaching the tower; beautiful views but becareful, it's very steep. There were a couple of benches and waste receptacles along the way.

The tower up close was magnificent and the land is full of history. There was the old garage that's used as an information center with benches and a video. A huge picnic pavilion and BBQ pit. The Tower was built to look like a German castle. There are 6-stories; bedrooms, living rooms, restrooms, and the ballroom which is now called the observation deck are in it. There were signs showing what certain areas were. This building was Gilbert Heublein's summer home, then The Hartford Times, then the State of CT. Many parties and famous people have traversed these steps; Dwight D. Eisenhower and Prescott Bush to name a couple.

The observation deck is where the showstopper is; 360-degree views of Connecticut, it's a priceless and breathtaking view.

Thank you to Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and Friends of Heublein for up keeping and keeping this local and historical gem alive. I highly recommend the moderate hike up, if you're able to. Bring bug spray, water, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and your best...

This hike is not for the inexperienced hiker. Wear good shoes and bring water & snacks.

Entering from the Simsbury Rd entrance, there is a steep and steady, continuous incline, for ~465 feet up. The trail is covered in shale / trap rock.

There are several alternate routes. You can hike up from the WeHa Reservoir off Albany Ave, or follow the Metcomet trail adjacent to the power lines off Simsbury Rd, or turn onto the blue blazed trail on your way up from the parking lot off Simsbury road, or, there are a couple other ways off the Talcott Mountain Collective side.

Those vary in length and difficulty, following a mixture double track, single track, & rugged trails. I think it’s two miles out and back from Simsbury are parking. Or we did six miles up the power lines to Metacomet to the tower, and to the parking lot below.

There are a number of places to sit and enjoy the scenery, to poke around, and it is fun to climb the tower for a 360° panoramic view.

There are restrooms at the...