Totoket Mountain, with a high point of (est.) above sea level, is a traprock massif with several distinct summits, located northeast of

New Haven, Connecticut New Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound in New Haven County, Connecticut and is part of the New York City metropolitan area. With a population of 134 ...

. It is part of the

Metacomet Ridge The Metacomet Ridge, Metacomet Ridge Mountains, or Metacomet Range of southern New England is a narrow and steep fault-block mountain ridge known for its extensive cliff faces, scenic vistas, microclimate ecosystems, and rare or endangered plants. ...

that extends from the

Long Island Sound Long Island Sound is a marine sound and tidal estuary of the Atlantic Ocean. It lies predominantly between the U.S. state of Connecticut to the north and Long Island in New York to the south. From west to east, the sound stretches from the Eas ...

near New Haven, north through the

Connecticut River Valley The Connecticut River is the longest river in the New England region of the United States, flowing roughly southward for through four states. It rises 300 yards (270 m) south of the U.S. border with Quebec, Canada, and discharges at Long Island ...

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...

to the

Vermont Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provin ...

border. Totoket Mountain is known for its scenic cliffs, unique

microclimate A microclimate (or micro-climate) is a local set of atmospheric conditions that differ from those in the surrounding areas, often with a slight difference but sometimes with a substantial one. The term may refer to areas as small as a few squ ...

ecosystems, rare plant communities, and for

Lake Gaillard Lake Gaillard in North Branford, Connecticut, began during the 1920s, when the New Haven Water Company (which is now South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority) started buying land in North Branford from the area of Totoket Mountain to wh ...

, a public reservoir nearly enclosed by the mountain. The north ridge of Totoket Mountain is traversed by the

Mattabesett Trail The Mattabesett Trail is a long, hook-shaped blue-blazed hiking trail in central Connecticut and a part of the New England National Scenic Trail. One half of the trail follows the high traprock ridges of the Metacomet Ridge, from Totoket Moun ...

and a significant network of shorter trails. The name "Totoket Mountain" applies to both the entire mountain and to a subordinate northwestern peak ().

Geography

Totoket Mountain rises steeply between and above the surrounding landscape, with a high point of (est.) above sea level. It is roughly long by wide at its widest point and lies within the towns of

Durham Durham most commonly refers to: *Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham *County Durham, an English county * Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States *Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...

, North Branford, and

Guilford, Connecticut Guilford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, that borders Madison, Branford, North Branford and Durham, and is situated on I-95 and the Connecticut seacoast. The population was 22,073 at the 2020 census. History Gui ...

. Major peaks on the mountain include Sea Hill ; East and West Sugarloaf Hill, ; Totoket Mountain (a subordinate peak), ; and Bluff Head, est. , the high point. The southern half of the mountain splits into two arms which completely encircle the Lake Gaillard Reservoir. Beside Lake Gaillard, the mountain shelters several other small bodies of water, including Menuckatuck Reservoir, West Lake, Clear Lake, Bartlett Pond, Lane Pond, and the scenic Myerhuber Pond (protected as part of the Northwoods conservation area), just below the high cliffs of Bluff Head. The Metacomet Ridge continues north from Totoket Mountain as

Pistapaug Mountain Pistapaug Mountain, also known as Paug Mountain, est. , is a traprock mountain located northeast of New Haven, Connecticut. It is part of the narrow, linear Metacomet Ridge that extends from Long Island Sound near New Haven, Connecticut, nort ...

and south as Saltonstall Mountain. An outlying peak,

Peter's Rock Peter's Rock, also known as Rabbit Rock, Rabbit Hill, Indian Rock and Great Rock, with a high point of (est.) above sea level, is a trap rock peak located northeast of downtown New Haven, Connecticut in the town of North Haven. It is part of ...

, lies to the west of Totoket Mountain. The west side of Totoket Mountain drains into the Farm River, thence to the East Haven River and Long Island Sound; the south side into the Branford River and Long Island Sound, the east side into West River and Long Island Sound, and the north side into Parmalee Brook, then to the

Coginchaug River The Coginchaug River in Connecticut, with a watershed including 39 sq mi of forests, pastures, farmland, industrial, and commercial areas, is the main tributary of the Mattabesset River. It is 16.1 mi long, and the river flows northwards fr ...

, thence to the

Connecticut River The Connecticut River is the longest river in the New England region of the United States, flowing roughly southward for through four states. It rises 300 yards (270 m) south of the U.S. border with Quebec, Canada, and discharges at Long Islan ...

and Long Island Sound.

Geology and environment

The origin of Totoket Mountain and the Metacomet Ridge dates back 200 million years ago with the rifting apart of

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and th ...

from

Eurasia Eurasia (, ) is the largest continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. Primarily in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres, it spans from the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula in the west to the Japanese archipelag ...

in the process that would ultimately create the

Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...

. In the area that is now the Metacomet Ridge and surrounding sedimentary rock basin, massive basalt (traprock)

lava Lava is molten or partially molten rock (magma) that has been expelled from the interior of a terrestrial planet (such as Earth) or a moon onto its surface. Lava may be erupted at a volcano or through a fracture in the crust, on land or ...

flows spread across the prehistoric

rift valley A rift valley is a linear shaped lowland between several highlands or mountain ranges created by the action of a geologic rift. Rifts are formed as a result of the pulling apart of the lithosphere due to extensional tectonics. The linear d ...

, some of them several hundred feet thick, over a period of 20 million years. Sediment accumulated between lava flows and lithified into

sedimentary rock Sedimentary rocks are types of rock that are formed by the accumulation or deposition of mineral or organic particles at Earth's surface, followed by cementation. Sedimentation is the collective name for processes that cause these particles ...

. After the rifting processes ceased, layers of strata faulted and tilted upward. Subsequent

erosion Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as water flow or wind) that removes soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust, and then transports it to another location where it is deposited. Erosion is d ...

glaciation A glacial period (alternatively glacial or glaciation) is an interval of time (thousands of years) within an ice age that is marked by colder temperatures and glacier advances. Interglacials, on the other hand, are periods of warmer climate bet ...

, and uplift exposed the weather resistant edge of the traprock lava sheets, creating the cliffline of the Metacomet Ridge as it is today. The mineral content and the shape of the ridge make possible a variety of microclimate ecosystems. Hot and dry cliff faces support plant and animal species uncommon so far north. Deeply gouged ravines support cooler climate species found in more northerly climes, while gradual backslope environments support species typical of the surrounding latitude. Talus slopes beneath cliffs accumulate minerals that support

alkaline In chemistry, an alkali (; from ar, القلوي, al-qaly, lit=ashes of the saltwort) is a basic, ionic salt of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal. An alkali can also be defined as a base that dissolves in water. A solution of a ...

-loving plant species uncommon in surrounding

acidic In computer science, ACID ( atomicity, consistency, isolation, durability) is a set of properties of database transactions intended to guarantee data validity despite errors, power failures, and other mishaps. In the context of databases, a ...

southern New England. Extensive cliffs provide ideal habitat and important migration corridors for

raptor Raptor or RAPTOR may refer to: Animals The word "raptor" refers to several groups of bird-like dinosaurs which primarily capture and subdue/kill prey with their talons. * Raptor (bird) or bird of prey, a bird that primarily hunts and feeds on v ...

species.

Raymo, Chet Chet Raymo (born September 17, 1936 in Chattanooga, Tennessee) is a noted writer, educator and naturalist. He is Professor Emeritus of Physics at Stonehill College, in Easton, Massachusetts. His weekly newspaper column ''Science Musings'' appear ...

and Raymo, Maureen E. ''Written in Stone: A Geologic History of the Northeastern United States.'' Globe Pequot, Chester, Connecticut, 1989. See

for detailed information about the geology and ecosystem of Totoket Mountain.

Conservation and recreation

Recreational activities enjoyed on the mountain include

hiking Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...

mountain biking Mountain biking is a sport of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, usually using specially designed mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and pe ...

hunting Hunting is the human activity, human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, or killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to harvest food (i.e. meat) and useful animal products (fur/hide (skin), hide, ...

(in season),

picnicking A picnic is a meal taken outdoors ( ''al fresco'') as part of an excursion, especially in scenic surroundings, such as a park, lakeside, or other place affording an interesting view, or else in conjunction with a public event such as preceding ...

fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from fish stocking, stocked bodies of water such as fish pond, ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. ...

(certain locations only) and

snowshoeing Snowshoes are specialized outdoor gear for walking over snow. Their large footprint spreads the user's weight out and allows them to travel largely on top of rather than through snow. Adjustable bindings attach them to appropriate winter footwe ...

; many high cliffs provide excellent views of the rural countryside. The

South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority The South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (SCCRWA or RWA) is a public water supply utility in Connecticut, United States. The RWA supplies water in a 15-town region with a population of about 430,000. The RWA acts as a steward of th ...

(SCCRWA) maintains two networks of trails on Totoket Mountain: ''Big Gulph'' on the northwest side of the mountain, and ''Sugarloaf Hills'' located in the center of the ridge. An admission permit (fee charged) is required to use these trails. The ''Northwoods'' trailhead area is located in the area of Bluff Head, on the northeast side of the mountain; it is maintained by the Guilford Land Trust and is free to the public; sheer basalt cliffs and a firetower provide sweeping views. The 50 mile (80k)

(managed by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association), passes over Bluff Head and through the Northwoods area. A fourth trailhead is located in the gap between Pistapaug Mountain and Totoket Mountain. Much of the mountain has been protected as public watershed. The balance of the landscape is relatively rural, with farmland and semi-rural home development in the center of the ridge and some conservation land on the northeast bluffs. The SCCRWA restricts public access on portions of its watershed property; boating and fishing on Lake Gaillard are prohibited. Threats to Totoket Mountain and its unique habitat include

suburban sprawl Urban sprawl (also known as suburban sprawl or urban encroachment) is defined as "the spreading of urban developments (such as houses and shopping centers) on undeveloped land near a city." Urban sprawl has been described as the unrestricted growt ...

and

quarrying A quarry is a type of open-pit mine in which dimension stone, rock, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, gravel, or slate is excavated from the ground. The operation of quarries is regulated in some jurisdictions to reduce their envir ...

. A large quarry operates on the southwest side of the mountain, but expansion is restricted by watershed property to the east and housing to the north. In 2000, the north side of Totoket Mountain was included in a study by the

National Park Service The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages all national parks, most national monuments, and other natural, historical, and recreational properti ...

for the designation of a new

National Scenic Trail The National Trails System is a series of trails in the United States designated "to promote the preservation of, public access to, travel within, and enjoyment and appreciation of the open-air, outdoor areas and historic resources of the Nati ...

now tentatively called the

New England National Scenic Trail The New England National Scenic Trail (NET) is a National Scenic Trail in southern New England, which includes most of the three single trails Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, Mattabesett Trail and Metacomet Trail. After the Metacomet-Monadnock-Matta ...

, which would include the

Metacomet-Monadnock Trail The Metacomet-Monadnock Trail (M&M Trail) is a hiking trail that traverses the Metacomet Ridge of the Pioneer Valley region of Massachusetts and the central uplands of Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. Although less than from Boston and ...

in Massachusetts and the

and

Metacomet Trail The Metacomet Trail is a '' Blue-Blazed'' hiking trail that traverses the Metacomet Ridge of central Connecticut and is a part of the newly designated New England National Scenic Trail. Despite being easily accessible and close to large populat ...

trails in Connecticut.

Trailheads and parking

The Northwoods-Bluff Head parking lot is located on

Connecticut Route 77 Route 77 is a state highway in southern Connecticut. It is a state-designated scenic road and runs from the Guilford town green, through North Guilford, into the town center of Durham. Route description Route 77 begins at an intersection with ...

, south of Durham center and north of Guilford center. The Mattabesett Trail is accessible from this lot and via a trailhead located between Totoket Mountain and Pistapaug Mountain on

Connecticut Route 17 Route 17 is a primary north–south state route beginning in New Haven, through Middletown, and ending in Glastonbury, with a length of . Route description Route 17 officially begins about west of its interchange with Interstate ...

, east of Northford and west of the junction of Route 77; parking is permitted along the road. The Big Gulph trailhead is located behind the Northford Park recreation fields on

, east of Northford and west of the junction of Route 77. Parking is free, but a permit is required to use the trails. The Sugarloaf Hills trailhead and parking lot are located on West Street, north of its junction with Connecticut Route 80 in North Branford. A permit is required to park and use the trails.

References

* Farnsworth, Elizabeth J.
Metacomet-Mattabesett Trail Natural Resource Assessment.
2004. PDF wefile cited November 1, 2007. * ''Connecticut Walk Book: A Trail Guide to the Connecticut Outdoors.'' 17th Edition. The Connecticut Forest and Park Association. Rockfall, Connecticut. Undated. * Raymo, Chet and Maureen E. ''Written in Stone: A Geologic History of the Northeastern United States''. Globe Pequot, Chester, Connecticut, 1989.
SCCRWA
cited Dec. 7, 2007]
Guilford Land Conservation Trust

U.S. Congress New England National Scenic Trail Designation Act

External links

Northwoods area trail map

SCCRWA website

SCCRWA Sugarloaf Hills map

SCCRWA Big Gulph map

Connecticut Forests and Parks Association

{{Mountains of Connecticut Durham, Connecticut Guilford, Connecticut North Branford, Connecticut Metacomet Ridge, Connecticut Protected areas of New Haven County, Connecticut Protected areas of Middlesex County, Connecticut Mountains of Connecticut Landforms of Middlesex County, Connecticut Landforms of New Haven County, Connecticut