Mount Tom Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Fishing · Lake · Swimming · Views · Wildflowers

There is a required (and enforced) $7/day or $35/year vehicle permit fee. It's advisable to check the park's website for seasonal updates on trail conditions and available services. Food, lodging, and gas are available in nearby New London.

The Mount Tom Trail is also this park's Hiking Club Trail and is clearly marked as such at all key trail junctions. It's helpful to have a copy of the summer map provided by the park (for free) along with you as it's keyed to these junctions.

The trail starts at the Visitor Center (Trail Intersection A) and goes west for a short distance to Intersection B and then to Intersection C. From C, proceed north over the rolling glacially-formed terrain of the Alexandria Moraine Complex. Expect wildflowers through here during the summer and various bird sightings much of the year. Expect amazing Fall color here in October.

Pass through Intersection D and around west to J where a short spur trail goes to the observation tower atop Mount Tom. This is both the highest point in the park, and for miles around, so on a clear day you can see 100+ miles in all directions. Informative plaques around the tower help with identifying what you see.

From the tower, continue south through Intersections K and L, and past Little Mount Tom and Badger Point (limited views from both), to Intersection M on the north shore of Lake Andrew. Follow the trail along the lake to where it turns north near some private residences and continue on north to Intersection C and then east to the parking lot.

White-tailed deer, red and gray fox, coyote, raccoon, and ruffed grouse are park residents. Chipmunks, red and gray squirrels, mink, striped skunks, badgers, and woodchucks can also be seen. Common birds here include great blue herons, egrets, wood ducks, Canada geese, scarlet tanagers, indigo buntings, pelicans, loons and bluebirds.