Hubbard Park: Quartz Rockhounding in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut
Updated July 2026
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.
Hubbard Park photos
Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.
Map showing Hubbard Park in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- State
- Connecticut
- Nearest road
- Mirror Lake Drive
- Postcode
- 06451
- Coordinates
- 41.54941, -72.83588
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.
Best time to visit Hubbard Park
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.
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.
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.
Sources & 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.
Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.
Found at Hubbard Park
Each chip 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
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More rockhounding in Connecticut
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