Americas

Hiking Heublein Tower

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While driving on the roads of Simsbury and Avon, this 165-foot-tall beautiful tower always catches our attention. But never got a chance to explore it. Due to COVID, when we were hesitant to go out of our state, we decided to explore such a lovely gem in Connecticut. It is a short and steep hike of 1.25 miles to Heublein Tower with a nice payoff – the gorgeous panoramic view! The Heublein Tower Trail, located just inside the Talcott Mountain State Park in Simsbury CT.

Designed in a Bavarian style, the 165-foot tall tower was not just nice to look at, it was immensely sturdy enough to withstand winds of over 100 miles per hour. 

Be careful, as there are no railings on the trail. The tower itself is incredible. The views as you climb higher get more and more scenic. You can see for miles up in the tower on top of the mountain. Some tables, grills and toilets are at the top for hikers. Interior of the tower and summer home accessible during the day only, but unfortunately everything was closed due to COVID.

The trail has some additions obviously meant for to improve the Talcott Mountain experience, such as benches for hikers to rest along the steep section.
We hiked lower trailhead, which is an easier hike, and follows the yellow markers. The beginning of this trail is steep, but a good cardio workout. 
Heublein tower offers a spectacular vista in all directions. One can enjoy panoramic views of the Hartford skyline, the Farmington River Valley, and surrounding areas.

Once you get to the first overlook, you have the option to continue the main trail to the Tower or follow a secondary trail closer to the cliff edge (and views!). Built in 1914, the European-styled tower was created by Gilbert Heublein, a manufacturing magnate who made his fortune in steak sauce and vodka. The tower was intended to be a summer retreat for his family, which he had built after romantically promising his wife that he would one day build her a castle on the peak. This tower was modeled on castles in his native Bavaria. In addition to hosting Heublein’s family on holiday, the tower was also visited by a number famous persons including President Dwight Eisenhower and countless socialites. 

The Tower was designed to withstand 100-mile-an-hour winds with reinforced concrete and 12-inch iron girders anchored into the bedrock of the mountain ridge. Tower is a gracious, comfortable spot, 1,000 feet above the Farmington River Valley.

The Eisenhower Barbecue Pit: This huge pit was constructed to celebrate the May, 1950 groundbreaking of the Frances B. Murphy terminal building at Bradley Field.

One interesting fact about the tower: The first phase of the Tower was completed in the same year that WWI began, 1914. Because Germany was the enemy in this war, there was great national distrust for people of German descent. It was rumored that Gilbert Heublein was using a spotlight mounted on the top of the Tower’s cupola to signal enemy ships in Long Island Sound. In fact, Gilbert was using the spotlight to highlight the views at night for his guests at the Tower. When the United States entered the war in April 1917, Gilbert Heublein offered the use of the Tower to the state and federal governments. Neither of them took him up on it, and the rumors died down.

It’s a great opportunity to grasp a flavor for the past century when movers and shakers of the time left visible marks of their lifestyles and values for others to experience.

So, I would surely recommend you all to take this cardio-inducing hike and get rewarded by fantastic views. I cannot wait to have a foliage view from this tower.