Black Pond Wildlife Management Area
16 acres in Meriden, CT
Parking: Medium sized lot at the boat launch near 1699 E Main St, Meriden, CT
Trail Map Trails: 3 miles Rating: ★★★★☆
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The Black Pond Wildlife Management Area in Meriden, Connecticut is a great spot and one of the best I’ve visited for catching the sunset. The actual WMA property does not include the 76 acre pond is the western marshy section and land to Thorpe Ave.
My first visit to Black Pond was after checking out Wharton Brook State Park when it reopened in January 2019. It was a chilly winter day and I knew I had just enough time to make it to the overlook before the sun set. From the just above the boat launch a wide trail ascends around the eastern rim of the pond through what is actually a parcel of the Cockaponset State Forest. Traprock chunks litter the trail making foot placement a conscious decision. The path quickly meets with the blue blaze Mattabesett Trail and taking it south heads to the overlook. Here my feet crunched on frost heaves and brushed through thick piles of leaves. While this area was new to my the trap rock ridge felt familiar, with geology similar to nearby Giuffrida or Ragged Mountain.
The overlook has an expansive view west over Meriden while the slope of Mt Higby pulls the eye north. I sat for awhile watching the sunset over the horizon for the first time in years (usually it’s through the trees or just out of sight). The cold wind kicked up the ridge and I headed back to the car with the last glow.
- Heading northbound starting from Rt 68 along this 5.1 mile stretch of the larger 235 mile New England Trail. You’ve just passed through Reed’s Gap and start by crossing a rail line and climbing to regain the ridge. The trail follows the ridge up and down for a couple miles with a handful of overlooks throughout. You’ll soon pass through the Powder Ridge area at the top of all the mountain bike runs and ski slopes combining wide paths, old woods roads, and slim connectors. The terrain regains technical footing to pass the Black Pond overlook, briefly descends, climbs to one last hill past an old chimney and then a long gradual descent east towards Rt. 147.
- Heading south: 0.2 mile road walk to Tri-Mountain State Park
- Heading north: 0.2 mile road walk to Mt. Higby
History:
Black Pond was a 100 acre tract purchased by the state in 1919 for $1,500 to be used as a wayside state park for travelers and “a station on the projected Trap Rock Trail”. Largely thanks to the work of, then Commissioner, George A. Parker.
However, these plans never progressed beyond the idea stage perhaps due to lack of funds or visitors. The park got less than $10 per year in maintenance for several stretches when other parks were getting several thousand. Black Pond was also only getting around 100 visitors on a good year when a popular park like Hammonassett was nearing one million.
Links:
- DEEP Property Map
- CTMQ – Mattabesett Trail: Section 3
- CT Fish Talk – Black Pond
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Last updated Jan. 16, 2019
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