Recreation and Conservation
Despite the development on its lower slopes and the quarry on the mountain's northeast side, Bradley Mountain is a large area of protected public land. Much of the summit and the upper ridgeline west of the summit extending down to Plainville Reservoir has been conserved as Sunset Rock State Park, an undeveloped state property, and as water conservation property managed by the town of Southington. Permitted activities include, boating, fishing, mountain biking, hiking, picnicking, snowshoeing, and bow hunting (in season). A number of rock climbing websites indicate several climbing routes on the mountain. Permits are required for non-resident boating and fishing. Bradley Mountain is also traversed by the 51-mile (82 km) Metacomet Trail, (maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association), which extends from the Hanging Hills of Meriden, Connecticut to the Massachusetts border. The Metacomet Trail also passes by Shuttle Meadow Reservoir, managed by the New Britain water department. Bradley Mountain offers a number of clifftop views west over Plainville Reservoir and south toward Ragged Mountain.
The ecosystem of Bradley Mountain is most threatened by quarrying. In 2000, Bradley Mountain was included in a study by the National Park Service for the designation of a new National Scenic Trail now tentatively called the New England National Scenic Trail, which would include the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail in Massachusetts and the Mattabesett Trail and Metacomet Trail trails in Connecticut.
The Berlin Land Trust is active in the conservation of Bradley Mountain and its viewshed.
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