Peter's Rock

Infobox Mountain
Name = Peter's Rock
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Elevation_ft = 373
Location = North Haven
Range = Metacomet Ridge
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Coordinates = coord|41|20|31|N|72|51|11|W|type:mountain
Type = Fault-block; igneous
Age = 200 Ma
Last eruption =
First ascent =
Easiest route = Red Trail
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Peter's Rock, also known as Rabbit Rock, Rabbit Hill, Indian Rock and Great Rock, with a high point of (est.) convert|373|ft above sea level, is a traprock peak located convert|4|mi|0 northeast of downtown New Haven, Connecticut in the town of North Haven. It is part of the Metacomet Ridge that extends from Long Island Sound near New Haven, north through the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts to the Vermont border. Peter's Rock is known for its scenic views, unique microclimate ecosystems, rare plant communities, and columnar basalt rock formations. It is traversed by a number of hiking trails managed by the non-profit Peter's Rock Association.

Geography

Peter's Rock rises steeply convert|300|ft above the surrounding landscape, with a high point of (est.) convert|373|ft. It is roughly three quarters of a mile long by a quarter of mile (1,000 m × 400 m) wide. The peak lies within the town of North Haven, near the border of East Haven.

The summit is open with a 360° view encompassing Long Island Sound, the Quinnipiac River estuary, New Haven Harbor, and the surrounding peaks of the Metacomet Ridge. The Metacomet Ridge continues west from the isolated Peter's Rock as East Rock, east as Totoket Mountain and southeast as Saltonstall Mountain. Like East Rock, Peter's Rock lies between the main east and west ridges of the Metacomet Ridge. The east side of Peter's Rock drains into the Farm River, thence to the East Haven River and Long Island Sound; the west side into the Quinnipiac River, thence to New Haven Harbor and Long Island Sound.

History

veteran, who, suffering from a crippling and deforming spinal injury, built a small hut on the peak and lived there as a hermit. The United States Board on Geographic Names and the United States Geologic Survey refer to the peak as "Rabbit Rock."

A well on the southwest side of Peter's Rock has been a source of local fresh water since the 1800's when families would travel to the mountain on Sundays to fill up jugs of fresh water. A group of New Haven businessmen built a hunting lodge on the summit in 1901 called "The Hermitage"; the lodge was abandoned during the Great Depression and fell to ruin. The only remains of the Hermitage are the ruins of the wine cellar that may be seen on one of the trails leading up to the summit.

Geology and environment

Peter's Rock, like much of the Metacomet Ridge, is composed of basalt, also called traprock, a volcanic rock. The mountain formed near the end of the Triassic Period with the rifting apart of the North American continent from Africa and Eurasia. Lava welled up from the rift and solidified into sheets of strata hundreds of feet thick. Subsequent faulting and earthquake activity tilted the strata, creating the cliffs and ridgeline of Peter's Rock. Of particular note is the large, well-defined columnar basalt formation on the southwest side of Peter's Rock.

Hot, dry upper slopes, cool, moist ravines, and mineral-rich ledges of basalt talus produce a combination of microclimate ecosystems on the mountain that support plant and animal species uncommon in greater Connecticut. Peter's Rock is also an important raptor migration path. (See Metacomet Ridge for more information on the geology and ecosystem of Peter's Rock).

Conservation and recreation

Although Peter's Rock is almost entirely surrounded by suburban neighborhoods, much of it has been conserved by the town of North Haven and through the volunteer efforts of the Peter's Rock Association, which maintains a network of trails on the property. Parking lots and trailheads are located on Middletown Avenue (Connecticut Route 17), just .75 miles (1 km) north of the New Haven city line, and on Hermitage Lane, off Middletown Avenue.

Peter's Rock is open to hiking, picnicking, bird watching, and other passive pursuits during daylight hours. Alcoholic beverages and ATV's are not allowed on the property.

ee also

*Metacomet Ridge
* Adjacent summits:

References

* Farnsworth, Elizabeth J. " [http://www.mmmtrail.org/NaturalResourcesAssessmentFinal.pdf Metacomet-Mattabesett Trail Natural Resource Assessment.] " 2004. PDF wefile cited November 1, 2007.
* Raymo, Chet and Maureen E. "Written in Stone: A Geologic History of the Northeastern United States". Globe Pequot, Chester, Connecticut, 1989.
*Joan Mazurek " [http://www.petersrockassociation.org/mazurek_joan.htm Peter's Rock - A Brief History] " Spring 2005. cited Dec. 31, 2007.
* [http://www.petersrockassociation.org/ Peter's Rock Association] Cited. Dec. 31, 2007.
* [http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=115:1:10806204963181259790 United States Board on Geographic Names] . Cited Dec. 31, 2007

Links

* [http://www.petersrockassociation.org/trail_map.pdf Hiking Map of Peter's Rock]
* [http://localism.com/article/126381/Peter-s-Rock-Grand-Opening Peter's Rock at Localism.com]