Location: Manchester, CT, Glastonbury, CT, Bolton, CT & Hebron, CT
Hike Duration: Anywhere between 3.5 - 4.5 hours
This hike can be done either from the bottom of case Mountain in Manchester, CT or from Gay City State Park in Hebron, CT. For this articles purpose we will start from Gay City State Park located off of Route 85 in Hebron, Connecticut. This hike requires you leave one car at your end destination, so you can get back to the car you left to start the hike.
Begin in Gay City parking lot that runs parallel to Route 85. During the summer months there may be a charge to access the park and there will be optional parking available closer to other park features like swimming and picnicking. There are many maps located throughout the park, and there several options on which trail you would like to take that will eventually lead you to the Blue Trail.
We chose the Red Trail which can be picked up directly off the main road within in the park, a hundred or so feet from the main gate and ranger station. This trail loops out to the South a little and will add an extra mile to your overall hike. No matter what trail you start on, you eventually want to get on the solid Blue Trail, which you will eventually take all the way to the bottom of Case Mountain.
Throughout the hike, you should not encounter any level of difficulty as far as elevation gain. This hike is a simple ramble through the woods. With that being said at points you will be out deep into the woods so remember to bring water and dress accordingly.
There was still snow on the ground in spots not directly hit by the sun in Mid-March and parts of the trail were muddy and even flooded in some areas, however overall the trail is in relatively good condition. After 2 miles on the Red trail, it is time to take a sharp left on to the Blue Trail. Once on this trail you should see significantly less people as it does not loop back to Gay City. You will also notice slight elevation gain as you begin to get closer to Birch Mountain Road.
There will be an old apple orchard plowed over to make room for most likely more mcmansions and you will see the road. This is a popular spot for mountain bikers to start form so there may be cars parked along the road. You will also see a radio tower, right next to that is where the Blue Trail continues. Resist taking a break here because only a little bit more and you will be rewarded with some great views.
After running along the chain link fence surrounding the radio tower the trail starts to gradually drop off and you head down into a valley, then along a ridgeline. Soon you can look off to your left and you will have an amazing view of mostly wooded sections of Manchester and Glastonbury laid out in front of you. Hike another 10 or 20 minutes, go up a rocky outcropping and you will be at a clearing with an old fire ring. Off ot the left are even better views, not only of Manchester, but of down town Hartford, the Hublien Tower, and on a clear day, way way beyond. An incredible sight.
At this point you are coming into the "backside" of Case Mountain, even if you are several miles out still. Continue along the Blue blazed trail as you will come upon several trail directions in which to take. You will see a sign for the Shenipsit trail, which is the one you want. Back here some of the trail junctions are numbered - this is the result of a few hikers getting lost on Case Mountain and the Search and Rescue team decided to break the area into sections to better search and find the lost parties.
Keep your eyes peeled for old remnants of a stone foundation close to the Blue/Red trail junction - as it was most likely someone’s house a long long time ago.
If you hike during the spring melting months, some of the streams will be swollen, but if they are passable this spring after the record snowfall we received, they should be passable at any point of the year,. If you cannot pass look ot the right and left as some have makeshift bridges to get across safe and dry.
About an hour or so after the Hartford viewing spot you should be getting close to the top of Case. There will be a few indicators you are close, besides the sign pots. There should be more people activity than you have seen over the past hour or so and you may notice a high point clearing.
The top of Case Mountain has changed dramatically over the years. The town has cleared most of the top, apparently for a better view of the Manchester Mall and Hartford skyline, they have also added a bench/shelter for weary hikers who just reached the top. Feel free to sit down and relax, take in the view, it is all downhill from here.
Head down the main trail at the bottom of the top clearing and mosey down to the waterfall and your second car.
Comments