Chauncey Peak

Mount Higby ended up being my favorite hike so far, so I went looking for another one just like it, and Chauncey Peak turned out to be its awesome little cousin. Same blue-blazed traprock chain, one ridge over in Meriden, and it delivered on the same promise: a manageable climb that ends at open cliffs with a big view.

The best surprise is how easy it is. The trail rolls along and then has an eventual incline, but it's so gradual you barely notice you're climbing. Before I expected it, I was near the top. Park at the real lot at 800 Westfield Road, and here's the one heads-up I learned the hard way: navigate to the Westfield Road lot, not the summit, because the summit pin drops you into a neighborhood at the base of the ridge.

An easy walk with a climb you barely notice, then a cliff edge with a reservoir, a golf course, and a line of peaks laid out below.

Then you hit the top, and the view is the payoff. Bradley Hubbard Reservoir, also called Crescent Lake, sits right below the cliffs. Off in the distance you get the Hunter Golf Course and a whole spread of mountains and peaks, the rest of the traprock ridges rolling off toward the horizon. The one thing to respect is the edge: these cliffs are steep with no railings, so keep kids well back.

Verdict from the solo scout: this is Higby's easier cousin, a great payoff for not much work. My crew hasn't done it yet, so I'm holding the ratings for the family trip, but it's a keeper. If you want more, add Mount Lamentation from the same lot, and it's Meriden, so the after-hike move is Ted's for a steamed cheeseburger.