Barn Door Hills
Encyclopedia
The Barn Door Hills of north-central Connecticut
are a pair of prominent rocky trap rock
knobs separated by a steep sided gap. They are located in Granby, Connecticut
. The hills are an outlying section of the narrow, linear Metacomet Ridge
that extends from Long Island Sound
near New Haven, north through the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts
to the Vermont
border. The crest of the Metacomet Ridge is located 3.75 miles (6 km) east at Hatchet Hill
.
founded by former United States Senator George P. McLean
, and now a National Natural Landmark
. A hiking trail summits the hill. West Barndoor Hill is maintained by the Granby Land Trust.
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
are a pair of prominent rocky trap rock
Trap rock
Trap rock is a form of igneous rock that tends to form polygonal vertical fractures, most typically hexagonal, but also four to eight sided. The fracture pattern forms when magma of suitable chemical composition intrudes as a sill or extrudes as a thick lava flow, and slowly cools.Because of the...
knobs separated by a steep sided gap. They are located in Granby, Connecticut
Granby, Connecticut
Granby is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 10,347 at the 2000 census. The town center was defined as a census-designated place known as Salmon Brook in the 2000 census....
. The hills are an outlying section of the narrow, linear Metacomet Ridge
Metacomet Ridge
The Metacomet Ridge, Metacomet Ridge Mountains, or Metacomet Range of southern New England, United States, is a narrow and steep fault-block mountain ridge known for its extensive cliff faces, scenic vistas, microclimate ecosystems, and communities of plants considered rare or endangered...
that extends from Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
near New Haven, north through the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
to the Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
border. The crest of the Metacomet Ridge is located 3.75 miles (6 km) east at Hatchet Hill
Hatchet Hill
Hatchet Hill, est. , is a trap rock ridge located in East Granby, Connecticut, northeast of Hartford, Connecticut. It is part of the narrow, linear Metacomet Ridge that extends from Long Island Sound near New Haven, Connecticut, north through the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts to the...
.
Recreation and conservation
East Barndoor Hill is located in the 4000 acres (16.2 km²) McLean Game RefugeMcLean Game Refuge
The McLean Game Refuge is a nature preserve in the towns of Granby, Simsbury, and Canton, Connecticut. Senator and Governor of Connecticut, George P. McLean had purchased the land throughout his life. It was left to the McLean Fund upon his death in 1932 and remains open to the public today...
founded by former United States Senator George P. McLean
George P. McLean
George Payne McLean was a United States Senator from Connecticut. Born in Simsbury, he attended the common schools and studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1881 and commenced practice in Hartford. He was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1883 and 1884, and a member of...
, and now a National Natural Landmark
National Natural Landmark
The National Natural Landmark program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only natural areas program of national scope that identifies and recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in...
. A hiking trail summits the hill. West Barndoor Hill is maintained by the Granby Land Trust.