Tower Trail (Sleeping Giant State Park) Hiking Guide
Sleeping Giant's ridge looks like a man lying on his back, and the gray-blazed Tower Trail is the gentlest way onto him. The wide gravel path switchbacks up to the Giant's hip on Mount Carmel, where a stone observation tower looks south to New Haven and Long Island Sound. DEEP calls it the most popular route with first-time visitors, in a park that is one of the busiest in the state.
Permit: Sleeping Giant is free for Connecticut-registered cars. Out-of-state vehicles pay $10 on weekdays, $15 on weekends and holidays, or $6 after 4 p.m. on weekends; the park association says the out-of-state charge runs April 1 through October 31. A $112 non-resident season pass also covers it.
How Long and How Steep
Connecticut DEEP calls the Tower Trail a three-mile gravel out-and-back and rates it easy, and the Sleeping Giant Park Association lists the Tower Path at 1.5 miles each way. Hiking Project measures 1.6 miles from the main lot to the top with about 512 feet of climbing, about 3.2 miles and 515 feet round trip. The grade stays gentle the whole way, which makes it a good choice for kids, new hikers and anyone who wants the view without the scramble.
The Tower and the Giant
Mount Carmel is the tallest of the seven ridge crests that form the Giant's head, chin, chest, hip, knee and feet. Hiking Project gives its height as 739 feet and dates the stone tower to 1939, a Works Progress Administration project. From the top you can see Long Island Sound and the Greater New Haven area. If you want more, the blue-blazed Quinnipiac Trail climbs the cliffs of the chin in 2.9 strenuous miles and meets the tower from the other side.
Parking and the Out-of-State Fee
The main lot is at 200 Mount Carmel Avenue in Hamden, and the park is open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset. Connecticut plates park free. The park association says the out-of-state charge applies from April through October: $10 on weekdays and $15 on weekends, with DEEP listing a $6 rate after 4 p.m. on weekends. DEEP warns that the 1,439-acre park often fills to capacity, so arrive early or plan a weekday visit.
Dogs, Picnics and the 2018 Tornado
Leashed dogs are allowed on the hiking trails and in the picnic areas. A tornado tore through the park in 2018; the picnic area by the lot has since been rebuilt with tables, fireplaces, restrooms and a covered pavilion that can be rented from mid-April through October. The trail crew of the Sleeping Giant Park Association keeps the 32 miles of blazed trails clear and takes hazard reports through its website.
Winter on the Giant
The park is open every day of the year, and the wide gravel Tower Trail is the gentlest way up the Giant in any season. The park also maintains a cross-country ski trail in the lower elevations, reached from Tuttle Avenue, Mansion Road or Chestnut Lane. Out-of-state hikers who come after October also skip the parking charge.
Hiking tips for Tower Trail (Sleeping Giant State Park)
- Get to the Mount Carmel Avenue lot early on weekends; the park often fills to capacity.
- Out-of-state drivers can save money by arriving after 4 p.m. on a weekend or visiting November through March.
- Pick up a printed trail map at the kiosk by the main lot, or download it from the park association.
- Return on the Tower Trail if anyone in your group is tired; it is the easiest way down.
- Keep dogs leashed on the busy gravel path.
Nearby trails to explore
- West Rock Ridge Loop
- Castle Craig Trail (Hubbard Park)
- Red Trail Loop (Millers Pond State Park)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
The Tower Trail suits a mixed group where some people are new to hiking. Start a Sleeping Giant meetup on TrailMates, pick an early start in the event's group chat so you get a parking space, and meet at the main lot on Mount Carmel Avenue. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.