Ragged Mountain

On a gorgeous «warm for winter «Sunday in January a hike is a great way to spend the afternoon. We googled hiking spots to find a new place and packed up some pb and j’s and a thermos of tea and hit road. Park on west lane in Bristol for best access to trail head. We enjoyed 4 hours of easy to follow trails as well as investigating around on the unbeaten path. The views are great and perfect to nibble lunch and get some needed sun. Some parts are steep and can be slick on the wet leaves, for the most part though easy for all. Great spot and also there’s a letter boxing to be found too!

Hills
and
rocks
Ragged Mountain Memorial Park was opened in 1975 in honor of Maurice Stanley, a hiker and environmentalist who loved and appreciated the wild stuff. The park is almost 600 acres and there are a little over 6 miles of trails, although you can add a few more miles by taking some of the unmarked paths.
The hiking varies a lot from very flat and easy to hilly and slippery. As can be expected in New England, there are plenty of rocks, ranging from strategically placed small ones to trip over to huge glacial boulders than were dropped in the area 15,000 years ago.
The trails are well marked but it is easy to miss a turn if you’re not paying attention. They are some lovely views along the way to the top and the hiking is never dangerous or really that difficult as long as take some care as you move along.
Mountain bikes are allowed and so are dogs, as long as there are kept on a lease and like most trails in NE, the best to hike is in the cooler weather when the biting flies and mosquitoes are gone. The trail can also be done in the snow if a bit more care is taken on the hills. A wonderful and interesting place to hike and explore that changes with the seasons.

As someone else suggested, do NOT google «Ragged Mountain» because it’ll take you to a sketchy street. If you use the location here on Unilocal is it hard to tell how to get into the mountain paths. There is no clear entrance as it is right at the start of a developed neighborhood. So I do not recommend that. I DO recommend googling «Ragged Mountain Memorial Preserve» as Katie suggested, as this is how I eventually found my way.
No parking lot, just park along the street (you’ll see shoes on the lines above you).
You’ll see a map at the entrance and, I think, three or four different directions to start. We went the far right. I’m not sure exactly where we went the remainder of the way. This is why I docked the star — the markings on the trails were not very good and clear and we guessed the path many times, which caused us to take a much shorter trail. Well, we did only a partial trail I’m assuming since it only took 1.5 hours. I have no idea how we could’ve done a full loop given the limited avenues the markings showed us! Next time, I will download or take a picture of the map so that I have an idea where to turn and consult my google maps.
Beautiful woods though in the fall. Loved trail running here with my dogs and didn’t see a whole lot of people despite a huge line of cars. Be careful of all the rocks though. It got slippery in some spots. As others noted, it is not a beginners trail. I didn’t see too much water, only one stream, which my dogs enjoyed. Seems as though there are more though! Looking forward to coming back and exploring Ragged Mountain again. Hopefully will find the cliff areas then!

For my 150^th review, I wanted to pick a place that’s special to me, and this is it! Ragged Mountain is my favorite place to hike in central CT. The hike is just steep enough to be challenging and interesting, but it’s not crazy intense either. I like to take the blue loop all the way around the park back to the entrance, and it offers a multitude of gorgeous overlooks, one after another. The entire hike takes about 2.5 hours, or 3 hours if you’re taking your time. Despite the fact that this trail is pretty well-​known, it’s never crowded, and the park itself is well-​maintained. The last time I was here, someone had brought a trampoline to the top (bonus!), and my boyfriend and I had a bizarrely awesome time trampolining on top of a mountain. Thanks to whoever did that!
A tip for first-​time visitors: When searching for this place in Google Maps, choose the result named «Ragged Mountain Memorial Preserve» in Berlin. That will take you to the trailhead. The first time we came, we got lost because we chose the search result simply named «Ragged Mountain» and it ended up bringing us to some random house all the way on the other side of the mountain. Basically, don’t do that. Happy hiking, everyone!

Not for beginners. With some experience the hike is challenging but not blister-​inducing. The vista is worth the 3 hour round trip hike, but may take up to 4 hours if you are inexperienced.

What a great hike! There are some beautiful overlooks, and most of the trail is easy.
If you go mountain side, there are 2 – 3 rocky/​cliff areas, which are not dangerous but definitely require some arm and hand work to make it to the top. A few parts of the trail are also super rocky, so you have to be careful where you step.
Trails are marked very well for the most part.
Going the outside (blue) trail and then crossing back to the beginning via blue-​orange took us (active but not super fit!) just under 3 hours.

This is not a beginner trail.
The hills vary from a stroll in the park to being rocky and steep uphill and downhill. For the unacquainted, it can be a vigorous day hike. Even though the outer loop is 6.1 miles, there are 3 shorter trails that cut through the park that’s perfect for first-​timers or for less experienced hikers.
The trails are well-​worn and well-​marked though! Hiking boots are crucial for Ragged Mountain. But if you’re like me, trail-​running is the way to go (just mind your step and wear proper footwear!)
The terrain can be rugged, sharp, and very uneven. The Metacomet trail runs across the top of Ragged Mountain. Extending from Long Island Sound near New Haven, north through the CT River Valley of Massachusetts to the Vermont border, Ragged is a popular hiking and rock climbing destination.
Known for expansive vistas, vertical cliff faces, and mountain ridge reservoirs — locals and out-​of-​towners love to go cliff-​jumping here too!
Parking at Ragged can be tricky. But local recommendations are usually at Timberlin Park, West Street in Berlin, or responsible street parking in the neighboring area of Sheldon Street and Moore Hill Road. I’ve seen neighbors get impatient with the number of climbers cars clogging up their community so carpool if you can.
Beautiful year-​round and a seasonal treasure, Ragged Mountain is one of my favorite hikes in Central Connecticut.

This is a fun, active free activity to do with friends! Beware though! This is by no means a «walk in the park,» this mountain is compromised of several trails that uphill, through the woods, and definitely «ragged.» If you’re up for the challenge though, it’s a great time.
The paths are created to be intuitive for the hikers, but there are trees and rocks marked different colors to follow along the path and not get lost.
In the yellow trail, there is a broken down car up deep in the woods with several bullet holes in it. We assumed people use it as target practice and shoot at it, but not sure how long it’s been there or why it’s still there. Kinda cool though.
There are several trees and waterfalls throughout the courses; it’s a great hike in nature.

Yeah, it’s pretty ragged alright.
Depending on which trail you take, hikes range from throughly trodden foot paths to undulating and daring rock scrambles. Some of the trails are extremely poorly marked, though it is hard to get lost here. No matter what, you’d run into a lake or a road… still, follow those trail blazes carefully!
A beautiful natural waterfall, the Wassel Reservoir, and other remarkable sights lie just off the trails here. A full lap is close to 5 miles, though shortcuts are available to make your hike much shorter.
Head south on the blue/​red trail, and in 10 minutes, you’ll be treated to a sweeping view of Berlin… no really, like the whole thing. Estates, farms, woods as far as the eye can see. You can even make out the Congregational Church in the Historic District… gives you an idea of just how much you can see.
Hard to believe this place is «in town.» We’re very lucky indeed.

Our go-​to mountain for local hiking and dog walking. Lovely atmosphere in all the seasons. Great for snowshoeing and cross country skiing in the winter.
The topography is really interesting here with many views. The name ragged mountain is spot on, as the trails are covered with jagged rock. You will find the hiking easy to moderate in parts. Make sure to wear shoes with traction after a storm, as the combination of water, ice, leaves and jagged rock can be tricky to navigate in sneakers.
Trail parking is located on West Lane along the road. On warm days, expect large crowds. Also beware, as nightfall seems to lend itself to sketchy mountain partiers.