4 Stone Towers To Visit in Connecticut

Did you know that there are stone towers that you can not only visit, but also climb up in Connecticut? There are multiple towers around the state that you can climb for some amazing views. You’re going to want to add these to your list!

Haystack Mountain Tower in norfolk, CT

First up on the list is the Haystack Mountain Tower at Haystack Mountain State Park in Norfolk, CT. This 34-foot stone tower sits at the 1716-foot summit of Haystack Mountain. The tower was actually built from gneiss quarried from the mountain it sits on. Pretty cool!

The hike to this tower is relatively short. When I went, I took the Haystack Mountain trail on AllTrails. There’s only about 200 feet of elevation gain on the hike because you take Haystack Mountain Road to a parking lot close to the summit. If you’re looking for a longer hike, you can park at the beginning of Haystack Mountain Road by Route 272. Simply hike up Haystack Mountain Road and then start the trail when you get to the lot at the top.

When you get to the top of the mountain, you’ll find the tower, but no views from the base. To get the views, climb to the top of the tower. From the top, you can see views of the Berkshires in Massachusetts, New York, and the Green Mountains of Vermont. The tower offers pretty impressive views for Connecticut! It’s a great spot to hike in the fall and a great spot for a sunset.

A view of the fall foliage from a mountaintop. — Just one of the views you’ll enjoy from the top of the tower.

Mount Tom Tower in Washington Depot, CT

Second on this list is the Mount Tom Tower. As the name suggests, this tower sits on Mount Tom located in Mount Tom State Park. The tower itself is 34-feet tall. The tower was built in 1921 to replace a previous wooden structure.

A stone tower sits in the middle of a wooded area.

To access this tower, you’ll have to hike. Follow the yellow trail up to the tower. If you’re directionally challenged like me, you’ll want to download the AllTrails map before you get there as there’s no service. I learned that the hard way, but thankfully some people on the trail had a picture of the actual map from the state park’s website and they AirDropped it to my phone. Be sure to check out the overlook shortly before you get to the top where the tower is.

When you get to the top, you’ll be greeted by the stone tower. Be sure to climb the tower for some stunning views. My favorite view from the top is overlooking Mount Tom Pond below. The views are beautiful year-round, but they’re especially pretty in the fall.

A view of a lake surrounded by trees in the fall.

Camp Columbia Tower in Morris, CT

Getting to this tower is an easy walk, no hiking required. The walk to the tower and back is a short 0.6 mile walk.

On the way to the tower, you will see an old building. This building is the Instrument House. It is one of two surviving structures at Camp Columbia.

A small, abandoned stone building surrounded by colorful autumn trees under a clear blue sky.

The tower at Camp Columbia is about 60-feet tall. The tower was built in 1942 as a part of the satellite campus of Columbia University. Back then, the tower served as a water tower for the camp. Today, it is an observation tower.

A stone tower in the middle of a grassy field.

The views from the top of this tower aren’t quite as impressive as the views at the previous two towers. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth visiting! The tower itself is cool looking and unique in the fact that some of the stairs are located on the outside of the tower. When you get to the top, you can see some mountains in the distance.

Castle Craig in Meriden, CT

Believe it or not, this tower in Hubbard Park is more accessible than the last tower. You can actually drive to the summit where this tower sits. Castle Craig is 32-feet tall and offers some beautiful views. If you’re looking to drive up, the road is only open seasonally so be sure to check their website prior to your visit.

If you’re looking for a hike, there are various trails you can take to the tower. My favorite way to hike up is taking the road to the tower and then cutting left at the far end of the reservoir to the ridge trail. The trail takes you along Merimere Reservoir and there are various stunning overlooks.

Person at an overlook of a reservoir. — Views of Merimere Resevoir.

People who are looking for more of a walk than a hike can take the road all the way up to the tower. Just be mindful of cars when the road is open. The road is relatively narrow in some spots, and it is open for two-way traffic.

When you reach the castle, be sure to climb to the top. You’ll be rewarded with views of Mine Island in Merimere Reservoir as well as Hubbard Park below. It’s beautiful in all seasons to visit. This is definitely one of my favorite hikes within an hour of home.

The view from the top of a cliff overlooking a forest. — Views from the top of Castle Craig.

Make A Day Trip Out of Visiting All of the Towers

It is possible to visit all of these towers in one day. In the fall of 2023, I did Haystack Mountain Tower, Mount Tom Tower, and Camp Columbia Tower in one day. All of the hikes to these towers are fairly short and they are all in the northwestern part of Connecticut.

@dailylifetravels Spent yestersay climbing some towers in the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut 🍁✨ The towers I visited were Haystack Mountain Tower, Mount Tom Tower, and Camp Columbia State Park Tower. #connecticut #litchfieldcounty #litchfieldhills #connecticutstateparks #foliage ♬ Mad World (Piano Instrumental) – Piano Queen

However, you could easily do Castle Craig in addition to those three towers in one day, especially if you go when the auto road to Castle Craig is still open. If you’re looking to hike to Castle Craig, then it might be a bit more of a stretch to visit all four in one day.