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East Rock Park
Categories: Active Life Parks Active Life Hiking Parks, Hiking [Edit]
Cold Spring and Orange StreetsNew Haven, CT 06519
(203) 946-6086
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
13 reviews for East Rock Park
13 reviews in English
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Review from Aslam S.
Strongsville, OH
8/14/2011
Been there twice in two weeks already. SO calming, and the air is so nice on the summit. Fantastic view of New haven, really nice place to just sit and unwind from a long week. I hiked up once, and drove up once, and both were great. The hike was not that difficult, only took me about 30 min, and was a nice little workout. Really enjoyed it.
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Review from Trevor B.
Bristol, CT
9/4/2011 1 photo
Look I love the outdoors and nice views, but southern CT can do better (Sleeping Giant for example). A late summer weekend was pretty crowded, lots of people driving around, some smokers chucking their butts over the wall towards the cliffs, and so-so views.
If you're looking for quiet, serenity and a physical climb look elsewhere. If you're in the area and looking for quick outdoor activity with interesting vantage points of NH hit up East Rock. -
Review from Type D.
Hamden, CT
1/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Lovely running trails, but not much to hike here. Since I live literally a mile away, it's a nice, strenuous jog up to the monument and back, but if you want a hike, Sleeping Giant on the other side of Hamden is your golden egg, with West Rock taking the silver.
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Review from Keith C.
New Haven, CT
7/20/2011
As an urban park, East Rock has two sides. During the days it's a nice park to go walking, hiking, and biking in. However, at night it'll pose the same risks as any part of town, with the added problem of being less populated.
With that out of the way, East Rock is definitely worth the time. I've enjoyed hiking and biking to the top of the park, and the view is certainly worth the trip. You can look out over the town with the harbor in the distance and watch the hawks flying around hunting for food. -
Review from Geoff P.
New Haven, CT
11/1/2010
At least the view is nice...
East Rock is great because of its location - easy to walk to if you live in New Haven. The view at the top is gorgeous especially during the fall. However, if you're looking for a scenic or challenging hike, you're going to have to find a different hill. The paths often cross the curvy road to the top. It can be a bit dangerous because the lazy drivers can't fathom that someone would want to walk to the top. But no matter how you get to the top, you'll be rewarded with a great view of all of New Haven. -
Review from Winifred X.
Santa Clara, CA
12/12/2010
I went to East Rock park for a visit with my housemate recently. The GPS shows 2 entrances, you have to pay attention and not miss the small sign that points to a parking lot but that's also the way up to the summit.
The summit is closed to cars during the winter season, for the obvious reason. =) We ended up parking our car and taking a short 15 min. hike up to the monument, that's allowed, but the weather is crispy freezing..
It's actually kind of nice to have the whole mountain top to yourselves, as this seem to happen a lot during off season in this part of the world. Not a single soul is sight, and only bumped into another couple at the summit for a few minutes.
The monument on top has just finished renovation on Oct. 16, 2010. The 4 sides show bias relief from 4 US wars: Revolution, War of 1812, Civil, and (?? forgot).. Also statues of 4 virtues sitting atop each side.
There's a small covered picnic area nearby, this'd be a wonderful but crowded place in the nice summer season.
The view of New Haven and Hamden below is incredible and memorable. But as my housemate says, "look to one side only!"
One can combine this summit drive in the summer with a 1.5 hr walk tour of Yale campus, plus visit the libraries and museums on campus. My favourite is the Beineke rare books collection. Those Vermont marble walls GLOW in the afternoon sunlight, especially towards dusk, they show firy orange and red patterns.. Beautiful design! -
Review from Bryan Y.
Updated - 5/17/2010 3 photos
Best place to de-stress if you're sick and tired of the intellectualism that is Yale and New Haven.
Was up on the summit this weekend with a friend. Beautiful during spring time!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/23/2010
Pretty sweet park.
I came here in the summer and its a great place to jog. Its also a good place to… Read more »
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Review from Zoe P.
Arlington, MA
11/11/2007
1 star because East Rock is a good place to drive up and look out from with out-of-town guests who don't want to hike. Which is cool and it's certainly beautiful when you do this and our guests ooh and aah over the fall foliage (or the lush green) that we pass on the drive up - the sunlight filters through just so - and they ooh and aah over the view.
2 stars because it's nice to ride thru, on a bike, on the way to the canal trail.
3 stars because jogging on the paths that run around the base of the park, along the little stream, behind the Eli Whitney Museum, through the neighborhood park, etc is pretty nice.
4 stars because I like walking on the closed roads in rain, shine or snowy weather.
But this park gets only 4 stars because it's not within walking distance of my house. I guess that's my problem, but still.Listed in: Inedible Delights
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Review from K W.
New Haven, CT
8/30/2007
What do I miss most about the Garden State? Jersey's lush green. Yes, when you steer away from the armpit part of the NJ Turnpike, you actually get the green part of the state.
And here in New Haven, East Rock Park is where I'll come to, in order to find my solace, my home away from home.
The roads here remind me of the the roads leading to the Palisades Cliffs or Bear Mountain. The roads are tree lined, creating a tent for those who pass by. The sunlight filters through the bright green leaves, leaving me in sublime. Best of all, all this is free!
Whether you hike your way up to the rock or drive leisurely, you'll enjoy getting there just as much as the destination. The view from the top is fine with a flat clearing for kids of all ages to play on, but the trees... that's what I'm here for.Listed in: Top Spots near Elm City
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Review from Michael H.
Guilford, CT
5/1/2008
I love this park. There are tons of trails and a few "closed roads" to hike. When I lived in New Haven I was there every day with my dalmation Dorothy. There are at least a dozen trails we frequented that took us from the mill river starting on Orange Street to the top where the monument is and back down the other side to where the waterfall is at the Eli Whitney Musuem. I remember Dorothy once chased a deer down a trail for quite a distance. I always wonder what would have happened had she caught up to that deer.
In the winter you can't drive to the top but it's a great walk if you park your car at the entrance. Atop East Rock where the views are spectacular sits newly repaired Soldiers and Sailor Monument. A worthy attraction if you're in the neighborhood. I just wish they (the park visitors and the city) would keep the top of the rock cleaner. It's always very littered. Why would somone do that! Anyway, the trails are nice and clean. -
Review from Joe C.
New Haven, CT
2/13/2008 1 photo
East Rock rocks. Literally. Mainly because it is a huge chunk of traprock jutting over the southern Connecticut skyline.
This New Haven landmark is a must-drive destination when out-of-towners ask to see the local area. You can't get a better view of east, west, north or south of the city. Plus, the "giant steps" are fun to hike up & down. I probably haven't hiked them since I was a little kid.
The only thing I don't like about the park are the erratic hours of the entrance gate. Sometimes it's open. Sometimes it's not. I can't figure out the logic. When it's closed you cannot drive to the top.
It's amazing how something so beautiful and peaceful can be surprisingly so close to the city. -
Review from Tom S.
Seattle, WA
5/1/2008
I love East Rock. It's great to walk around in, and the view at the top is really nice. However, I would recommend West Rock park to anyone who hasn't been. It's further, so you have to drive, but the view is better, and there is a lot more wilderness to explore.
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Review from taylor e.
San Diego, CA
10/16/2008
for some reason, when i lived in the east rock neiborhood. east rock must have been having a dark time. hookers would show up, dead. must have surprised joggers tyo no end. that being said, i loved canoeing up the small river at the base, riding my bike on the trails and the great view of new haven from the top.
