Site logo
    • Explore
      • Blue-Blaze Trails
      • Land Trusts
      • State Parks and Forests
      • By Town
    • exploreCT+
      • Membership
      • Shop
      • Events
    • Blog
    • Town Guides
    Sign in or Register
    Listing cover image

    Sunset Rock State Park

    • Trails
      2 miles
    • Rating
      ★★★★☆
    • Address
      84 Ledge Rd, Plainville, CT 06062, USA
    • Explore
    • Trail Map
    • Reviews 0
    • New Page
    • prev
    • next
    • Bookmark
    • Share
    • Get directions
    • Report
    • prev
    • next
    At A Glance

    Sunset Rock State Park / Crescent Lake

    Connecticut State Park and Southington Town Park

    18 acres in Plainville and Southington, CT

    Parking: Large lot near 403-, 537 Shuttle Meadow Rd, Southington, CT

    Trail Map          Trails: 2 miles      Rating: ★★★★☆

    Sunset Rock State Park is functionally combined with the Crescent Lake Town Park for a great combination that allows for rugged hikes to a great overlook as well as fishing and boating on the water.

    Hiking
    • Orange: 2.5 miles; rigorous & hilly
    • Red: 1.5 miles; rocky and muddy, but generally easy
    • Green: 0.5 miles; open trail, some elevation
    • Metacomet: 3.6 miles, up, then ridge, then down

    Trails start from the main parking area next to Crescent Lake with the red blazed trail heading off along the water’s edge and the orange/blue blazed trail right off the backside of the parking lot.  The inner red blazed loop hugs the edges of the water and is a comparatively easier hike since it lakes the elevation gain of other trails though it tends to be muddier and is still rocky.

    The orange/blue trail takes you up towards the ridges and overlook on well traveled but very rocky ground.  A green blazed trail branches off for a slightly wider loop option but soon rejoins.

    After about 0.4 miles the trail climbs a very steep hill between rocky outcrops where it joins the blue blaze Metacomet Trail / New England Trail. The trail follows this mostly wooded section of the Metacomet Ridge past an old chimney to the Sunset Rock overlook. Now to be honest this is the Sunset Rock that the state park is named after but that name dates all the way back to 1928 and I’d guess actually refers to a spot a good bit further north, but for our modern purposes this overlook is the best one.

    Metacomet – This section of the Metacomet enters from a roadwalk off Long Bottom Road gradually gaining elevation heading northeast to the steep ledge.  It follows the ledge until joining up with the Orange Crescent Lake Trail past the overlook briefly dipping down off the ledge along the rock face before climbing back again.  There are a number of other seasonal views but none as open and clear as the first. After 1.6 miles you’ll come to the Red/Blue Junction (this trail used to be the mainline connecting to Ledge Road and crossing over I-84 using Rt. 536). The Metacomet takes a hard right turn heading east away from the ridge and descending to Esther St in New Britain.

    Heading north: 1.2 mile road walk to Will Warren’s Den

    Heading south: 0.8 mile road walk coming from Ragged Mountain

    Rock Climbing

    The main climbing face here is called Firewall and the area has a number of classic climbs as well as trad, sport, and bouldering problems.  See the Mountain Project for more information.

    History

    Established as a state park in 1928. Southington purchased the lake property in 2000.

    Links

    CTMQ – Metacomet: Section 7 (2007)

    Tags
    • ★★★★☆
    • 2023
    • 2024
    • Explored
    • Hartford County
    • Metacomet Trail
    • Metacomet Ridge
    • New Britain
    • New England Trail
    • Overlooks
    • Plainville
    • Scenic Reserve
    • Southington
    • State Park
    Last Updated

    The information shown here is for general reference purposes only. exploreCT.org gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy or reliability of this data. Parking in all areas, whether designated here or not, is at your own risk. exploreCT.org is not responsible for any damage or loss to vehicles or contents. Last updated February 26th, 2023

    Trail Map
    Location
    • 84 Ledge Rd, Plainville, CT 06062, USA

      Get Directions
    Gallery
    Categories
    • Hiking
    • Boating
    • Fishing
    • Rock Climbing
    Gallery
  • No comments yet.
  • Add a review

    Leave a Reply · Cancel reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.

    You May Also Be Interested In

    Spruce Brook Falls

    • ★★★★★
    • 16 miles
    Featured
    FW6F+CW Beacon Falls
    • Quick view
    • Bookmark

    Candlewood Hill WMA

    • Unexplored
    • 17 miles
    1500 Gold Star Hwy
    • Quick view
    • Bookmark

    Bayberry Lane Boat Launch

    • Unexplored
    150 Bayberry Ln
    • Quick view
    • Bookmark

    Hi, I’m Matt.

    I’m building ExploreCT to be the guide for all your outdoor adventures. All the trails, views, and waterways this great state has to offer.

    Now get out and explore!

    Monthly Newsletter

    Each month I share site updates or an interesting article in my newsletter. It’s short, sweet, and practical.

    600+ explorers read it, I’d love for you to join.

    Thank you!

    You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

    X-twitter Youtube Envelope Instagram

    Cart

      • Facebook
      • X
      • WhatsApp
      • Telegram
      • LinkedIn
      • Tumblr
      • Reddit
      • VKontakte
      • Mail
      • Copy link
      • Share via...
      • Threads
      • Bluesky