Sleeping Giant State Park
Sleeping Giant State Park
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
A beautiful spot to view the autumn foliage.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
305 reviews
Excellent
209
Very good
82
Average
12
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Keith G.
Cheshire, CT502 contributions
Oct 2022 • Solo
To me this is the best park. It's not a far drive and close to many needs in Hamden, so your not off the beaten path. However when you are in the park, you feel as though you are in another world. It's quiet and so many trail options. Looking forward to returning and tackling a section of the white trail.
Written November 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
StefJK
Oakdale, CT41 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
Had to be out and about early in that part of the state. Decided to make a day of it and explore what the area had to offer.
Hiked the Tower Trail and had a spectacular time. Very scenic with great views at the top.
They have so many trails and many levels of difficulty. The grounds were clean and the dog owners highly responsible.
Hiked the Tower Trail and had a spectacular time. Very scenic with great views at the top.
They have so many trails and many levels of difficulty. The grounds were clean and the dog owners highly responsible.
Written August 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NEasternUSA
Stamford, CT148 contributions
Sept 2018 • Friends
Fire road to the top is easy, I have cross-country skied it. The advanced trail has taken some lives. The trail requires you to go close to big drops and one wrong step can and has been fatal. I question having a trail like that available at a family hiking area. There is a parking fee, at least at some times of the year. However, it seems like you can park on the road just a short ways away for free. The view from the top is great, by CT standards.
Written October 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JenJF5678
Wallingford, CT208 contributions
Aug 2011
If you're looking for an easy hike, take the red trail straight to the castle. It's wide and easy to travel. On my last trip there, I found a little swimming area off to the left. A few teenagers were jumping off of the rocks into the water. It looked like a lot of fun.
Written July 30, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael B
Westport, CT85 contributions
Oct 2019
Loved this park! The hiking is awesome and has different trails for all skill levels. We went up the blue trail (hard) and down the easy road. The blue can be intimidating for some so if you have any problem with heights or steep, rocky inclines I would skip that trail. There is an easy road that goes to the top.
Written October 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Keith G.
Cheshire, CT502 contributions
Mar 2018 • Family
Being a resident of Cheshire, it is great to have such a beautiful part not far from us. A few years back, my sons and I took on the challenge to be "Giant Masters" and to say it was fun would be an understatement. We took the challenge seriously and each weekend tackled another trail or two. Since that time, we always make it a point to explore the part as often as we can as the views are beautiful and so many places to explore.
Written October 26, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
flh2134
Holiday, FL1 contribution
Dec 2017 • Solo
Very nice photos. Looking at the "castle" of which there are several photos; notice the side view with the lower section on the right side. Between level 2 & 3 toward the left edge there is a raised block with a dog's head. The dog belonging to the individual who built this place died (I believe of old age) during the construction. The dog was buried in the structure and the raised surface block marks the dog's tomb. I currently live in Florida but grew up in Hamden, Ct.
Written December 23, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sara B
North Haven, CT64 contributions
I am fortunate enough to live within a few minutes of this beautiful state park. Located where Hamden, Cheshire, and Wallilngford meet this huge park includes over 30 miles of hiking trails, as well as picnic/bbq areas, fishing, horseback trails and cross-country ski trails. The hiking trails range from leisurely (the extremely popular "tower trail" leading up to a stone tower on a peak) to very challenging (the blue and white trails) with all levels in between. It's a beautiful park in all four seasons.
The main parking lot on Mt. carmel ave charges a seasonal fee (currently $7/car during the summer and on weekends in the fall). However, there is some free parking located in other areas year-round (such as the entrance on Chestnut Lane), and there is no fence so you can actually just walk in off the street from anywhere else you can find to park legally. Just make sure you take heed of the parking signs in and around Quinnipiac University, located accross the street.
The main parking lot on Mt. carmel ave charges a seasonal fee (currently $7/car during the summer and on weekends in the fall). However, there is some free parking located in other areas year-round (such as the entrance on Chestnut Lane), and there is no fence so you can actually just walk in off the street from anywhere else you can find to park legally. Just make sure you take heed of the parking signs in and around Quinnipiac University, located accross the street.
Written January 28, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Curious16574
Naples, Florida (Originally Wlfd, Conn.)1 contribution
It is very beautiful, it has trails for all levels of hikers, the main trail to the tower which is 1.6 miles and other trails for the more advanced hiker. You can just spend the day exploring, worth the trip.
Written June 6, 2003
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Don H
Stratford, CT191 contributions
Jun 2021
Beautiful area, great hiking trails that are well-marked and you can obtain a trail map upon entering the parking lot. My 17 yo son and I did the fast hike up the tower "trail" ( gravel and stone packed, wide and flat enough to drive an AWD car) but a constant uphill and with several switchbacks. I got winded enough, but it's only 1.5 miles each way. We did the walk to the tower in a little less than a half hour. Anyone can climb the tower--it has ramps, not stairs. The view of New Haven is distant but nice and the breeze is very welcome after a sweaty hike to the tower.
We saw two young families pushing sporty jogging strollers (but only on the easy tower trail).
We decided to take the blue trail back down thinking it would be more interesting. We learned afterward the blue trail is rated as one of the hardest: very rocky with lots of steep ups and downs in both directions, very strenuous- but also much more interesting. We bailed out at one of the tower trail intersections.
We'll need to go back to check out some of the other trails.
Bikes are not allowed on the trails, but the tower trail would be doable on a mtn bike.
We saw two young families pushing sporty jogging strollers (but only on the easy tower trail).
We decided to take the blue trail back down thinking it would be more interesting. We learned afterward the blue trail is rated as one of the hardest: very rocky with lots of steep ups and downs in both directions, very strenuous- but also much more interesting. We bailed out at one of the tower trail intersections.
We'll need to go back to check out some of the other trails.
Bikes are not allowed on the trails, but the tower trail would be doable on a mtn bike.
Written August 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
if you rent the pavilion, can you bring in a food truck to cater your event?
Written April 14, 2024
Please tell me.. what trail is the Tower trail. Need an easier walk and cant figure out which one you refer to. Also where do you park? thanks, Sue
Written September 21, 2019
There's a parking lot. The main walking trail us obvious, you can't miss it. They also have maps available
Written September 21, 2019
Yes dogs are allowed on the hiking trails and picnic areas.
Written June 27, 2017
Aside from this, is there any other place near that's nice to eat at with friends or fun to do? driving up from Brooklyn, and would like to have something else to do afterwards.
Written November 3, 2016
Aunt Chilada's Mex Rest on Whitney Ave, overlooks part of Sleeping Giant. Rose's Dairy Farm (Northford CT) for hayrides.Also if you "Google" Waterfall Cheshire CT this is a good hike and I believe one of the best waterfalls in CT
Written November 4, 2016
I want to take the blue trail down from the tower because it's not rough, but would like a more challenging way up to the tower. Which color?
Written August 16, 2015
Blue Trail is the hardest up and down the tower, while tower trail is the easiest. There are other trails but not all trails will take you all the way up the tower.
Written August 18, 2015
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