Nearby Attractions:
- Restaurants:
- Breweries/Wineries:
- Lodging:
- Shopping areas: North Haven Commons (on Universal Drive North)
- Performance art venues:
- Movie theatres:
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- Geographical features:
Peter's Rock Park
Location Information
Sponsored by:
Peter's Rock Association
Location Entrance:
133 Middletown Avenue
North Haven, CT 06473
Location Phone:
(203) 239-5321
Type: An entire park
Alternate trailhead or entry point:
At the end of Hermitage Lane, which is .25 mile north of main entrance (133 Middletown Avenue/Route 17).
Difficulty: Moderate (Gently rising terrain with the likeliness to encounter occasional obstacles)
Primary Walking Surface:
Earth
Hours open:
Daily - Dawn to dusk
Suitable for ages: • Children • Teenagers • Adults • Seniors
Number of walking trails: 10+
Total walking route length: 7 miles
Admission fees:
Free
Location Website: Peter's Rock Park
Location Details
Peter's Rock is known for its scenic views, rare plant communities, and columnar basalt rock formations. From the 373-foot summit, you can enjoy views of Long Island Sound, the Quinnipiac River, New Haven Harbor, and the surrounding peaks of the Metacomet Ridge. The peak bears a number of competing names, including Rabbit Rock, Rabbit Hill, Indian Rock, and Great Rock. The name Indian Rock was derived from the peak's alleged use as a Native American lookout. Rabbit Rock or Rabbit Hill came about by the peak's notability as a source of cottontail rabbits in the 1800s. According to local folklore the name Peter's Rock is derived from the alleged Peter Brockett, an American Revolutionary War veteran, who, suffering from a crippling and deforming spinal injury, built a small hut on the peak and lived there as a hermit.
A well on the southwest side of Peter's Rock has been a source of local fresh water since the 1800s, when families would travel to the mountain on Sundays to fill up jugs of fresh water. A group of New Haven businessmen built a hunting lodge on the summit in 1901 called The Hermitage; the lodge was abandoned during the Great Depression and fell to ruin. The only remains of The Hermitage are the ruins of the wine cellar that may be seen on one of the trails leading up to the summit.
Location Features
| Landscape settings: | • Rural • Stream/river • Woodland • Wetland • Meadow • Gentle hill • Steep hill • Vista • Historical site |
| Amenities: | • Restroom • Shelter • Picnic • Geocaches • Letterboxes • Lighted parking • Reliable cell phone reception • Leashed pets permitted |
| Activities: |      |
| Neighboring towns: | East Haven and New Haven |
| Access restrictions: | No motorized vehicles |
How to get there
| Driving Directions: |
From New Haven: Take I-91 North to Exit 8 (CT-17/CT-80/Middletown Avenue). At the light at end of the exit ramp, proceed straight onto Route 17/Middletown Avenue. Peter's Rock Park is approximately 2 miles on the right, behind First Fuel Gas Station, in North Haven.
From Hartford: Take I-91 South to Exit 9, sharp right onto Universal Drive. At the light, turn right onto Montowese Avenue. Turn right onto Quinnipiac Aveneu/Route 103. Take a sharp left onto Middletown Avenue/Route 17. Peter's Rock Park is on the right behind First Fuel Gas Station. |
| Parking: | |
| Public transportation: | CT Transit (bus) |
Other Items of Interest
| Flora and fauna: | |
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