Haystack Mountain (Connecticut)

{{Short description|Mountain in Connecticut, United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox protected area

| name = Haystack Mountain State Park

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| photo = HaystackMountainSP IMG 0833.JPG

| photo_caption = Observation tower atop Haystack Mountain

| map = USA Connecticut#USA

| map_caption = Location in Connecticut

| relief = 1

| location = Norfolk, Connecticut, United States

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| coordinates = {{coord|42|0|17|N|73|12|30|W|display=inline,title}}

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| area_acre = 292

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| elevation = {{convert|1663|ft|m|abbr=on}}{{cite gnis|207746|Haystack Mountain}}

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| designation = Connecticut state park

| established = 1917

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| administrator = Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

| website = [http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?A=2716&Q=325216 Haystack Mountain State Park]

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Haystack Mountain{{cite web | url=https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names/207746 | title=Geographic Names Information System }} is a {{convert|1680|ft|m|adj=mid|-high}} mountain topped with an observation tower that is the chief features of Haystack Mountain State Park, a 354-acre {{cite web | url=https://qpublic.schneidercorp.com/Application.aspx?App=TownofNorfolkCT&PageType=Search | title=QPublic.net - Town of Norfolk, CT - Search }} public recreation area in the town of Norfolk, Connecticut.

The {{convert|50|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} Haystack Mountain Tower, built in 1929 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, sits upon it.{{cite web|url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/e89ae8c8-8c45-43f0-992a-2827bc9fa187|title=OMB FORM 10-900, USDI NHRP Registration Form (Rev. 8-86), OMB 1024-0018 - Haystack Mountain Tower, Nork, CT|date=20 October 1993|publisher=Department of the Interior|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230124659/https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/e89ae8c8-8c45-43f0-992a-2827bc9fa187|archive-date=30 December 2023|url-status=live}} The tower provides a view over the town of Norfolk and the neighboring town of Canaan.

Common forms of wildlife found on the mountain include raccoons, bears, deer, coyotes, opossums, skunks and foxes. The dominant plant life include mountain laurel (the state plant), pine trees and maples.