Hubbard Park: Quartz Rockhounding in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut
- Mineral reported
- 1
- Elevation
- 340 ft
- Best months
- March to November
Hubbard Park spans roughly 1,800 acres on the Talcott Basalt of the Hanging Hills, the traprock ridge that gives central Connecticut its classic quartz and zeolite pockets. Vesicular basalt along the road cuts and ridge exposes drusy quartz, amethystine quartz, and cavity linings of stilbite, natrolite, and datolite. It is the most freely accessible traprock locality in the state, with Castle Craig and miles of trails open to the public year round. Reported finds include quartz. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Plan your visit
Generally open to casual rockhounding
- State
- Connecticut
- Nearest road
- Mirror Lake Drive
- Postcode
- 06451
- Coordinates
- 41.54941, -72.83588
Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.
Land & collecting status
Generally open to casual rockhounding
Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.
Access note: Large City of Meriden public park, free and open for hiking and sightseeing. Removing material from park outcrops is subject to Meriden Parks and Recreation rules, so confirm current policy before collecting and limit any picking to loose scree. Do not hammer or dig on the ridge outcrops.
Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.
Best time to visit Hubbard Park
Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)
Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 83°F in midsummer and 36°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 18°F.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, MERIDEN MARKHAM MUNI AP station (3 mi away), adjusted for elevation.
Geology at Hubbard Park
This spot sits on New Haven Arkose, mapped as arkose that formed roughly 235 to 175 million years ago. Sedimentary rock like this erodes unevenly, so the most productive collecting is typically along fresh cuts, badland slopes, and active drainages.
- Mapped unit
- New Haven Arkose
- Age
- 235–175 Ma (Late Triassic to Early Jurassic)
- Rock types
- arkose
- Elevation
- 340 ft
Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.
Today's weather
Is today a good day to go?
The app shows live weather, recent rain, and a daily rockhounding score for Hubbard Park.
Get the appSources & verification
Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.
- Connecticut Geological Survey
- CT DEEP state land rules
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Hubbard Park
Each name opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.
Nearby rockhounding spots
Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Hubbard Park.
- MeridenSouth Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut · 2 mi awayQuartz, Amethyst, Calcite
- Mt. CarmelSouth Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut · 9 mi awayBornite, Chalcocite
- BethanySouth Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut · 9 mi awayGraphite
- MiddletownLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 10 mi awayGalena, Chalcopyrite, Sphalerite
- FarmingtonCapitol Planning Region, Connecticut · 11 mi awayAgate, Prehnite
- Riverside QuarryLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 12 mi awayAquamarine, Beryl
- White Rocks QuarryLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 12 mi awayBeryl, Tourmaline
- Bristol Copper MineNaugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 13 mi awayBornite, Chalcocite, Calcite
Across the state line from Hubbard Park
Hubbard Park is close enough to the Connecticut border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.
- Lane QuarryHampden County, Massachusetts · 40 mi awayAmethyst, Datolite, Prehnite
- Tilly Foster Iron MinePutnam County, New York · 43 mi awayMagnetite, Brucite, Chondrodite
- BlandfordHampden County, Massachusetts · 43 mi awayBeryl, Feldspar
- Pine PondPutnam County, New York · 45 mi awayArsenopyrite, Asbestos, Leucopyrite
- MontgomeryHampden County, Massachusetts · 46 mi awayGalena
- NE Dutchess CountyDutchess County, New York · 46 mi awayGalena, Goethite, Limonite
Hubbard Park FAQ
Where is Hubbard Park?+
What rocks and minerals can you find at Hubbard Park?+
Is collecting allowed at Hubbard Park?+
What tools should I bring to Hubbard Park?+
When is the best time to visit Hubbard Park?+
How do I get to Hubbard Park?+
More rockhounding in Connecticut
See all 55 Connecticut spots →
Open Hubbard Park on the map
Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.
