Ragged Mountain trails will hike you ragged

By Peter Marteka

Editor

The first person I met while navigating Berlin’s Ragged Mountain was a trail runner that I marveled at because I was struggling just leisurely hiking the traprock ridges and boulders.

The second person was a man sitting on top of the mountain silently taking in the views.

A hiker takes a break near the summit of Ragged Mountain. (Marteka)

The third was a group of young college women giggling and laughing as they began their trip up. If they only knew what awaited them.

What awaits you as you make your way around the 5.6-mile loop trail around Ragged Mountain is an exploration as surprising as it is difficult. Surprising that there are views like this in one of the most heavily developed parts of Connecticut. And the views are some of the best in the state.

My loop hike began clockwise along a trail marked with blue and red blazes. The 1.5-mile-long trail travels along the southeastern portion of the mountain with spectacular, mostly forested views across Hart Ponds to the hillsides and distant mountains decked out in early spring green. The viewscape follows you as you hike with short, unmarked trails to overlooks along the way before hooking up with the Connecticut Forest & Park Association’s Blue-blazed trail system known as the Metacomet Trail.

The trails are rugged with some difficult stretches. (Marteka)

The Metacomet Trail is also part of the New England National Scenic Trail. The NET is a 235-mile hiking trail that travels through 41 communities in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The path is made up of the Mattabesett, Metacomet, and Monadnock trail systems.

This portion of the Metacomet/NET, marked by light blue blazes, runs about two miles across the western and northern portion of the mountain. A huge traprock cairn greets hikers when the blue and red and Metacoment/NET meet. Feel free to add a rock to the human formation.

Pitch pines and cedars along with oaks mingle with the traprock ridges. The views from the overlook are of a little more developed valley and hillside. The trail undulates across the traprock ridge and past huge boulders to the main overlook – a craggy, wide-open summit with views north across Wassel Reservoir to Lake Compounce to the skyline of Hartford and the hills and mountains beyond the capital city into Massachusetts. The red and blue connector trail will return hikers to the parking area.

A large boulder looks like an angry man. (Marteka)

Ragged Mountain Foundation, a nonprofit conservation group “dedicated to preserving natural resources and maintaining public access to Connecticut’s high and wild places,” currently owns much of the area. The foundation teamed up with the Berlin Land Trust, which hold the conservation easement, to preserve the mountain for future generations.

“It was Stanley Hart's wish that the land on and around Ragged Mountain be preserved in its natural state so that it could be continually enjoyed by everyone after his passing,” a history of the foundation reads. “In the 1980s he developed an initial plan that would ultimately transfer the property to the AMC (Appalachian Mountain Club).  This plan called for a park with nature trails, a campground, and other outdoor recreational activities.”

A view of the Hartford skyline from the top of Ragged Mountain. (Marteka)

The mountain is also a popular rock-climbing area with unique names like “Owl’s Lair,” “Fox Den,” “Unconquerable Crack,” “Broadway,” and “Weissner Crack.” But Ragged Mountain is the perfect name. It will hike you ragged, but the viewing rewards of the mountain are well worth it.

Directions: Route 71 or Chamberlain Highway to West Lane. Parking is available at the intersection of Wigwam Road and West Lane. Visit https://newenglandtrail.org/hike/ragged-mountain-preserve/ for a map of Ragged Mountain.

A view across Hart Ponds. (Marteka)

Mileage and Difficulty: The 5.6-mile loop trail ranges from moderate to difficult with a few easy stretches mixed in. Wear sturdy footwear and still plan on tripping and slipping on loose rocks more than once.

A rock cairn is piled high near the summit of Ragged Mountain. (Marteka)

Pets: Leashed pets are allowed but must be cleaned up after.

Signs of Civilization: Very few from the trails along the southeastern portion. Vistas along the southern, western and northern portion of the mountain are more civilized with a neat view of the Hartford skyline to the northeast.