Bradley Mountain facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bradley Mountain
View of Plainville Reservoir (AKA Crescent Lake) and Sunset Rock State Park from the Bradley Mountain summit.
Highest point
Elevation	679 ft (207 m)
Geography
Bradley Mountain Location in Connecticut
Parent range	Metacomet Ridge
Geology
Age of rock	200 Ma
Mountain type	Fault-block; igneous
Climbing
Easiest route	Metacomet Trail

Bradley Mountain is a cool mountain in Connecticut, standing about 679 feet (207 meters) tall. It's located near the towns of Southington and Plainville.

This mountain is part of a long, narrow chain of hills called the Metacomet Ridge. This ridge stretches all the way from Long Island Sound up through Massachusetts to the Vermont border. Bradley Mountain is a popular spot for outdoor fun, especially for people living near Hartford. It's famous for its amazing views from the cliffs, its special mini-ecosystems, and rare plants. You can even hike along the 62.7-mile (101 km) Metacomet Trail that goes right over the mountain!

Mountain Features

Bradley Mountain is about 1.5 miles wide. It rises sharply about 450 feet (137 meters) from the valley below. The mountain has a high ridge with several peaks and a lower cliff line.

To the north, the Metacomet Ridge continues as Pinnacle Rock. To the south, it becomes Ragged Mountain. There are also two reservoirs nearby: Plainville Reservoir (also known as Crescent Lake) on the west side, and Shuttle Meadow Reservoir between Bradley Mountain and Ragged Mountain. Some parts of the lower mountain are now covered by houses. There's also a large quarry on the northeast side of the mountain.

The Quinnipiac River flows west through a gap between Bradley Mountain and Pinnacle Rock. This river drains the north and west sides of the mountain. The east and south sides of the mountain drain into the Mattabesett River, which then flows into the Connecticut River and finally into Long Island Sound.

How the Mountain Formed

Bradley Mountain, like much of the Metacomet Ridge, is made of a type of rock called basalt. This rock is also known as "traprock." It's a volcanic rock, meaning it came from volcanoes!

The mountain formed about 200 million years ago. This was when the North American continent started to pull away from Africa and Eurasia. Hot lava pushed up from deep underground and spread out in thick layers. Over time, earthquakes and other movements of the Earth's crust tilted these layers. This created the steep cliffs and ridges you see on Bradley Mountain today.

Because of its unique rock and shape, Bradley Mountain has special "microclimates." This means different parts of the mountain have slightly different weather conditions. For example, some slopes are hot and dry, while ravines are cool and moist. These different conditions allow many unique plants and animals to live here that you might not find elsewhere in Connecticut. Bradley Mountain is also an important path for raptors (like hawks and eagles) when they migrate.

Fun Things to Do and Protecting the Mountain

Even though some parts of Bradley Mountain have been developed or quarried, a lot of it is protected land. The top of the mountain and the ridge leading down to Plainville Reservoir are part of Sunset Rock State Park. This is a state property that hasn't been developed, and it's also used to protect water sources for Southington.

You can do lots of cool activities here, like boating, fishing, mountain biking, hiking, picnicking, snowshoeing, and even bow hunting (during certain seasons). If you're into rock climbing, there are some routes on the mountain too! Just remember, you might need permits for boating and fishing if you don't live nearby.

The 51-mile (82 km) Metacomet Trail runs across Bradley Mountain. This trail is maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association. It stretches from the Hanging Hills in Meriden, Connecticut all the way to the Massachusetts border. The Metacomet Trail also passes by Shuttle Meadow Reservoir.

Bradley Mountain offers amazing views from its cliffs. You can look west over Plainville Reservoir and south towards Ragged Mountain.

One of the biggest threats to the mountain's natural environment is the quarrying. In 2000, Bradley Mountain was studied by the National Park Service. They were looking at creating a new long-distance trail called the New England National Scenic Trail. This trail now includes the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail in Massachusetts and several trails in Connecticut, including the Metacomet Trail.

Groups like the Berlin Land Trust are working hard to help protect Bradley Mountain and its beautiful views.