Ragged Mountain Memorial Preserve

We hiked Ragged Mountain Memorial Preserve in Berlin, CT on September 13, 2025. As part of our “Around New England” adventures, it was about time we made an official trip to Connecticut. Poor CT gets teased by other New Englanders who joke that it’s “not really New England”—and yes, we’ve made that joke too. But let’s be real: Connecticut is part of New England, and it’s a beautiful state with some great hikes tucked in between its cities. Every time we’re there visiting friends and family, we’re surprised by how much open land there actually is. This hike reminded us of that in the best way.

The trailhead for Ragged Mountain is tucked into a neighborhood and parking is very limited. Street parking is available, but only on one side so pay attention to the signs. The full loop is about 5.4 miles with 830 feet of elevation gain, but our hike ended up being shorter because we cut through due to time. According to our Apple Watches (which, if you’ve listened to our Moosilauke episode, you know we have trust issues with), we clocked about 4.5 miles and 600 feet of gain.

This hike really had a little bit of everything: decent mileage, options to shorten the route, beautiful views, and some fun rocky sections. I’d read reviews mentioning the steepness and the rocks, so I was prepared, but honestly, it still surprised me that Connecticut had this much incline!

We hiked clockwise, starting on the blue and red trail, connecting to the blue trail, then cutting across on the yellow/blue connector before looping back. Going this direction meant the elevation started fairly early, which was fine by me I got my cardio workout done right away!

One thing I loved was the way the trail kept changing. It started with dirt and roots, shifted into rocky terrain, then opened up into a gorgeous forest. Along the way, we even had a rare wildlife encounter. The only other time that’s happened for us was at Mt. Pisgah in Vermont, when Mike and our daughter saw a bear (I was ahead of them and totally missed it). This time, Mike spotted a couple of deer quietly walking parallel to the trail behind the trees. Definitely a highlight.

About two miles in, we reached the peak of Ragged. The skies were a little cloudy, but we still got some nice views. Just after the peak came a short rock-scrambling section, not too difficult, but worth noting. Before cutting through the middle of the loop, we stopped at one last viewpoint where the sun broke through the clouds. From there, we could hear cows from a nearby farm. It made us laugh, wildlife and farm life all in one hike, and not in Vermont, Maine, or New Hampshire, but right here in Connecticut.

Overall, Ragged Mountain is a great hiking spot. The full loop gives you a solid workout, but you can cut it short if needed. It’s dog-friendly, runner-friendly, and family-friendly, so really, a win for everyone.

Stats:

  • Distance: 5.4 miles (full loop)

  • Elevation Gain: 830 feet

  • Difficulty: 2/10

  • Views: 5/10