List of All Connecticut State Parks

Connecticut is a small state, ranking third in terms of size. This stunning area more than makes up for its small size with its breathtaking splendor. Its most compelling features can be seen in its best state parks, which feature everything from shimmering lakes to roaring waterfalls to sandy beaches.

Whether you’re searching for a beach escape, a place to go hiking in the woods, or a green meadow where you can have a picnic by a stream, in one of the 97 Connecticut State Parks, you’ll undoubtedly discover it—and much more.

These parks’ main draws are their organic wonders, but they’re also well-kept, and most have amenities (including restrooms and food stands) that make it simpler to spend a whole day taking advantage of the benefits of nature. Not yet prepared to call it a day? There’s no need to worry; several of Connecticut’s state parks provide camping sites for individuals who simply cannot stand to pack up and go home. It can be challenging to make a short list with so many parks to consider

Let’s now quickly review some of Connecticut’s top state parks.

20 Best State Parks in Connecticut

1. Hammonasset Beach State Park
2. Sleeping Giant State Park
3. Kent Falls State Park
4. Lake Waramaug State Park
5. Lover’s Leap State Park
6. Rocky Neck State Park
7. Devil’s Hopyard State Park
8. Macedonia Brook State Park
9. Silver Sands State Park
10. Harkness Memorial State Park
11. Bigelow Hollow State Park
12. Sherwood Island State Park
13. Wadsworth Falls State Park
14. Gillette Castle State Park
15. Fort Trumbull State Park
16. Chatfield Hollow State Park
17. Haystack Mountain State Park
18. Burr Pond State Park
19. Collis P. Huntington State Park
20. Penwood State Park

List of All 97 State Parks in Connecticut

Beaver Brook State Park

Address: Back Rd, Windham, CT 06280
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Locate-Park-Forest/Other-State-Parks-and-Forests#BeaverBrook
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

Beaver Brook State Park is a state park in the town of Easton, Connecticut. The park’s 1,100 acres include ponds for fishing and ice skating as well as forests that provide habitat for white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, eastern gray squirrels, red foxes, mink, muskrat, otter, beavers, bobcats, coyotes and river otters.

There are ten miles of trails open to hikers, skaters, and cyclists, plus seven miles of horseback riding trails. The park also has extensive picnic facilities, including three pavilions. Two boat launches are provided for canoeing and kayaking. Three large parking lots allow for group tenting, as well as individual tents for those who prefer more privacy. Campsites range from modern with all amenities to rustic, meaning no electricity or running water. Half of the campsites are available on a first come, first served basis while the remainder must be reserved.

Beaver Brook State Park offers two primitive trail sites, one of which may accommodate up to six people in two separate sites. To ensure adequate space for everyone, groups larger than six persons should reserve both sites. No pets are allowed. Amenities include access to a sanitary dump station, restrooms, showers, playgrounds, playing fields, and a soccer field. Parking fees are in effect during the summer months. Seasonal permits can be purchased at the park office. Fees are approximately $8 per vehicle per day. Group campers/RV campers will need to have their permit verified by the park staff. For verification purposes, a valid CT license plate number is required. This requirement is in effect year round. Pets are permitted upon designated spaces. Permits may be obtained at the park offices. Space is limited, so permit holders are encouraged to arrive early.

The park features two main entrances, one on Mountain Road and another on Rocky Hill Avenue. Entrance signs direct traffic away from the park entrance to prevent out-of-state vehicles from entering illegally. Motorists needing additional directions may contact the park headquarters via telephone. The park provides ample parking for trailers and RVs. Owing to its proximity to Interstate 95, the park receives a considerable amount of vehicular noise, particularly overnight. A quiet zone is in effect between dusk and dawn. Pedestrians using the sidewalks bordering the roadways are less likely to be disturbed by traffic noise. Because of the highway noise, we recommend that campers use the park only during daytime hours. Three large parking lots allow for group tenting, as well as individual tents for those who prefer more privacy. Campsites range from modern with all amenities to rustic, meaning no electricity or running water.  

Bennett’s Pond State Park

Address: 550-698 Bennetts Farm Rd, Ridgefield, CT 06877
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Bennetts-Pond-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-424-3000

Bennett’s Pond State Park is a state-owned, public recreation area located in the town of Easton, Connecticut. The park encompasses 1,400 acres that are set aside for environmental education and fishing. It was once owned by textile manufacturer Louis D. Conley but has been operated continuously since 1923 by the state as part of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

In 1997, the state acquired 2,100 acres from Conley’s heirs; it paid $1 million for land near the pond plus an additional $500,000 to build a road leading up to the property. A dam at the site holds back 3,250 tons of water which creates a maximum depth of 35 feet (11m). The park offers hiking trails, camping facilities, picnic areas with pavilions, playgrounds, playing fields, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and fishing. Fishing licenses are required and are available at the park office. There is a boat launch on the pond and a fish cleaning station where anglers can have their catch cleaned and prepared for eating. 

The park features two campgrounds, one on each bank of the pond. Each campsite accommodates tents or trailers with electric hookups. Modern restrooms and showers are provided. Other amenities include horseshoe courts, volleyball court, playground, nature center, aquarium, museum, discovery dome, visitor center, carousel, trampoline, giant swing, bungee cords, and water fountain.

Parking fees are in effect at both the north and south entrances throughout the summer season. Entrance fee is $8 daily 7 days a week March – November, children between the ages of 7 -13 may enter for free when accompanied by a parent or guardian. Annual passes for unlimited access are also available. Hunting is permitted in about 600 acres of the park. Hunters must follow the rules and regulations of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.  

Bigelow Hollow State Park

Address: 298 Bigelow Hollow Rd, Union, CT 06076
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Bigelow-Hollow-State-Park-Nipmuck-State-Forest
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

Bigelow Hollow State Park is a state park in the town of Easton, Connecticut. The park’s 1,100 acres include forested woodlands and glacial erratics as well as open meadows, wetlands, ponds, and rocky outcroppings. In addition to its proximity to Mount Blue, the highest point in the state at 401 feet (123m), the park has scenic vistas due to its varied terrain; it includes areas with steep slopes, flat ground, and even swamps.

No hunting is allowed at Bigelow Hollow State Park. Parking fees are in effect during the months of May through October. The fee is $6 per vehicle per day, however, there is a special permit that can be purchased at the park office for those interested in exploring the park on horseback.

Backcountry campsites are available for individuals traveling with their RVs/Trailers. These sites feature minimal amenities and access to potable water. Water and electric site-wide hookups are not available. Backcountry campsite reservations can only be made online through the reservation system. Reservations can only be made between the hours of 8am and 5pm Eastern Time. Subject to availability, dogs are permitted on the backcountry campsites. They must remain on leashes no longer than six feet. Camping permits can also be purchased at the park offices. Group campground facilities include 50 tent and trailer sites, modern restrooms, hot showers, laundry facilities, and a sanitary dump station.

Advance campsite reservations can only be booked through the reservation system. Half of the group campsites are available for self-registration on a first come, first served basis. Unreserved group campsites are available on a walk-in basis. Access to the group campground requires a separate entrance fee of $8 daily for vehicles and $4 for pedestrians. The fee is waived for honorably discharged veterans and Connecticut residents age 62 & older and their spouses. Passes good for three days or a week are also available; annual passes good at both the reserved and unreserved sites are offered at an additional cost. Picnic tables and charcoal grills are provided at several locations around the park. Modern playground equipment is installed at the main picnic area. An accessible playground is located near the ball field.

Black Rock State Park

Address: 2065 Thomaston Rd, Watertown, CT 06795
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Black-Rock-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-283-8088

Black Rock State Park is a state park in the town of Easton, Connecticut. The park’s 1,000 acres include rocky shores and bluffs on Long Island Sound, as well as large tracts of forested land.

Areas of the park accessible by road include Bald Mountain, Beech Glen, Campground, Fishermen’s Memorial Drive, Glacial Lakes, Greenfield, and Huckleberry Mountain. Accessibility to other parts of the park requires traversing steep terrain that is difficult to drive on, so bicycles are often used to get around. Parking lots are full on game days, especially during the summer season, and bicycle traffic can become heavy. To help alleviate some of this traffic, parking fees are in effect during certain times of year. Beach access is available at two locations, both of which require climbing over fences. One area provides easy beach access via a dirt path, while the other requires scrambling up rocks to reach a level grassy area. This second location also features a small cave behind one of the bluffs, named after Eddie Caveman Arcaro, a local character known for wearing little clothing and taunting police officers.

The campground opens on Memorial Day weekend and closes Columbus Day weekend. 180 of the 200 campsites are available on a first come, first served basis, with the remaining 20 allocated among youth groups, family groups, and individuals needing adaptive camping facilities. Tent and trailer sites are available year round, with 30 tent sites being equipped with electricity. Water and electric sites are $20 per night, with water only sites charging a flat rate of $8 per night. No pets are permitted in the campground, and horses allowed only on designated trails. Horses allowed in the park must have current negative Coggins papers, which verify that the animal has no health issues entering the park.

Bluff Point State Park

Address:  55 Depot Rd, Groton, CT 06340
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Bluff-Point-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-444-7591

The park’s 1,100 acres include Lake Naraneka and its islands, as well as bluffs overlooking Long Island Sound. Visitors enter the park via a five-mile roadway leading north from Interstate 95. This road cuts through the center of the park, separating the northern half where development continues, from the southern portion where the old quarry lies abandoned. Visitor facilities include campsites, picnicking areas, playgrounds, and access to miles of hiking trails. Amenities include beach access, boat rentals, bike paths, nature trails, pond ecology programs, playing fields, recreational vehicle (RV) sites, reservable amphitheaters, scenic vistas, swimming, wildlife viewing, and full facility camping.

The park hosts numerous events, including cross-country skiing, triathlons, duathlon races, and bicycle tours. The park’s visitor center offers exhibits, displays, and information. Programs and workshops on a variety of topics are scheduled throughout the year. The park provides overnight accommodations in RVs and tent campsites. Reservations are accepted for the latter. Overnight guests must register with park staff. There are 45 semi-modern campsites, ranging from 6 to 30 amps, 50 to 60 hookups, and modern showers. Half of the sites are available on a first come first served basis, while the remainder require reservations.

Camping season begins mid-April and ends mid-October. To help fund a backlog of deferred maintenance and park improvements, the state implemented an entrance fee for this park and 21 others effective June 15, 2020. The fees, charged per vehicle, start at $10 per day for a single-day or $8 for residents with an active permit or license plate registration. Fees are waived for honorably discharged veterans and Connecticut residents age 62 & older and their spouses. Passes good for three days or a week are also available; annual passes good at all 22 state parks charging fees are offered at a cost of $75 for out-of-state visitors or $60 for Connecticut residents. 

Bolton Notch State Park

Address: Bolton, CT 06043
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/bolton-notch-state-park
Phone Number: 860-649-8066

Bolton Notch State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Connecticut, located in Easton near the town of Bolton. The park was formed when the state acquired more than 1,000 acres from private owners in 1969 and opened to the public in 1971. It is named after Bolton Mountain which sits across the notch separating it from Mount Blue. The mountain has an elevation of 2,209 feet.

The summit may be accessed via two trails leading up from the parking area at the base of the mountain; one goes directly to the top, while the other leads past several scenic overlooks before reaching the summit. From the top there are views of Mount Washington, Mount Katahdin, Mount Holyoke, and Long Island Sound. On clear days, New York City can be seen to the west. There are numerous peaks over 3,000 feet high around the park including Mount Lafayette, Camel’s Hump, and Bear Mountain.

The park offers hiking and biking trails as well as camping facilities with tent sites, yurts, cabins, and lodges available by reservation. A boat launch allows access to Moosehead Lake. The park also features extensive picnicking facilities, playing fields, and a disc golf course. The park includes a conservation land trust program where local residents can become involved in protecting environmentally sensitive lands within the park. The park hosts environmental education programs throughout the year. The Friends of Bolton Notch offer scheduled volunteer events for park maintenance and improvement.

To help fund a backlog of deferred maintenance and park improvements, the state implemented an entrance fee for this park. The fees, charged per vehicle, start at $10 per day for a single-day or $8 for residents with an annual permit issued by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Fees are waived for honorably discharged veterans and Connecticut residents age 62 & older and their spouses. Passes good for three days or a week are also available; annual passes good at all 22 state parks charging fees are offered at a cost of $75 for out-of-state visitors or $60 for Connecticut residents.

Brainard Homestead State Park

Address: 22 Landing Hill Rd, East Haddam, CT 06423
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/brainard-homestead-state-park
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

Brainard Homestead State Park is a state park in the town of East Lyme, Connecticut. The homestead was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Brainerd Farm and Estate in 1980. It includes four contributing buildings, two contributing sites, and one other contributing object. Fourteen acres (5.7ha) are managed by the Aspetuck Land Trust as a nature preserve with public access to ponds and forested areas.

There are extensive woods surrounding the property, particularly on the east side where the main road enters the property. These trees provide habitat for white tail deer, fox squirrels, wild turkey, pileated woodpeckers, groundhogs, skunks, and raccoons. Visitors can see ospreys and bald eagles hunting along the river frontage. On occasion, moose have also been sighted in this part of northern Connecticut.

The park has facilities for swimming, picnicking, mountain biking, cross country skiing, fishing, and horseback riding. It features hiking trails leading into the heart of the woodland, and visitors may drive right up to the pond on five miles of gravel road. The park is staffed seasonally by three full-time naturalists and several part-timers. Volunteers staff the visitor center year round. The park receives significant support from the Audubon Society of Greater New England and its member organizations including the Sierra Club, the Izaak Walton League, and the Nature Conservancy. Through donations and purchases of land, these groups helped establish the park in 2001. Prior to 2000, the parcel of undeveloped land comprising the bulk of the present day park was owned by Patricia Ruggles. With assistance from the non-profit Environmental Protection Fund, title was transferred to the state on June 22, 2000, at which time it officially became Brainard Homestead State Park. 

Burr Pond State Park

Address: 384 Burr Mountain Rd, Torrington, CT 06790
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Burr-Pond-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-482-1817

Burr Pond State Park is a state park located in the town of Easton, Connecticut. The park’s main feature is its pond, which was dammed in 1929 to create an artificial lake for boating and fishing. It is one of the oldest state parks in the state. In addition to its pond, the park includes forested uplands with scattered farm fields, open meadows, marshland, and beach areas featuring views of Long Island Sound. It is managed by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection as part of the state’s waterway system. 

Snowmobiles may be used on certain parts of the park when the frozen surface can be maintained. No motor vehicles (including motorcycles) are allowed on the wildlife refuge portion of the park. Parking fees are in effect during the summer season. All parking lots are free all year round. On-street parking is available throughout the year in downtown Easton where the park entrance is not accessible by car.

Access by public transportation to the park entrance is available from Bristol Road station, Grove Street station, and Shoreline Drive station. The park provides access points for the Bay Circuit Trail and the Blackstone Canal towpath. Boats up to 20 horsepower are permitted on the lake, which measures about 1 mile long by .5 miles wide. Fishing licenses are required and are issued by the fish commissioning authority in each municipality within the state.

Other than geese and ducks, no animals are hunted at this park. Deer flies and mosquitoes can be troublesome during late spring and early summer, so insect repellent and protective clothing are recommended. During hot months, a tent campground is provided with modern restrooms and showers, electric hookups, and a dumping station for chemical toilets. There are 49 campsites, 23 with electrical hookups, 25 primitive sites, and three yurts. Reservations are accepted for the regular site, walk-in sites are accepted if reservations are not taken. Campsites with electrical hookups are $20 per night, those without are $15 per night, and there is a $3 surcharge for multiple nights. Toilets and shower facilities are shared between all sites, and dump stations are available at both ends of the campground. Backflow systems are in place at both ends of the campground to prevent sewage spills into the watershed.

Camp Columbia State Park

Address: West St, Morris, CT 06763
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Camp-Columbia-State-Park-Forest
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

Camp Columbia State Park and its surrounding state forest are located in the town of Easton, Connecticut. It has a network of trails maintained by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection as the Camp Columbia State Forest. It was established in 1949 on 1,100 acres, with an additional 736 acres added in 1959.

Camp Columbia has 55 camping sites, each equipped with electric hookups and access to cold showers and flush toilets. Half of the campsites are available on a first come, first served basis while the remainder must be reserved. There are no sanitary dumping stations at the campground. Instead, camper’s use a dump station located near the ranger office.

Camp Columbia also serves as one of the main entrances into the adjacent state forest. On weekends from Memorial Day weekend through Columbus day, there is a $5 parking fee for vehicles. Campers can only enter the park between the hours of 8 am and dusk. Pets are not permitted within the campground or park. No fires are allowed in the campground or park. Only those designated by the DEP may burn wood. All other firewood must be purchased from a vendor inside the park. Camp Columbia features two group tenting areas. One area accommodates up to 100 people and the other up to 80 people. Each has 50 picnic tables and some with charcoal grills. Water is provided nearby both areas.

Some trails crisscross the campground loop road providing easy accessibility for drivers. Bikes are prohibited on most trails. Dogs are permitted on about half of the trails. They must remain on a leash at all times.

Campbell Falls State Park Reserve

Address: Old, Spaulding Rd, Norfolk Historic District, CT 06058
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Reserves/Campbell-Falls-State-Park-Reserve
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

Campbell Falls State Park Reserve (formerly known as Campbell Falls State Park) is a state park located in Easton, Connecticut. The park preserves the site of one of America’s first water-powered mills and was developed by the Peabody Museum which owns most of the land in the park.

Facilities include parking lots, picnic tables, restrooms, playgrounds, campsites, boat ramps, and trails throughout the park. Parking fees are in effect during certain times of the year. The park is open year round, staffed primarily by college students taking classes on environmental studies, history, and ecology during the fall, winter, and spring semester. There is also a part-time naturalist onsite during regular business hours. Campground facilities include tent sites, electric hookups, hot showers, a sanitary dump station, and access to swimming areas. Reservations can only be made online through the park reservation system. Half of the campers’ sites are available for self-registration on a first come first served basis, while the remainder require reservations. Unreserved walk-in sites are not accepted.

Backcountry camping is permitted in specific parts of the park. These sites must be reserved in order to guarantee your entry. A permit is required for overnight backpacking. All backpackers are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.

The park is part of the Metropolitan District Transit Authority’s Bay Circuit Trail, and connecting rides between the Mystic Valley and Fall River Lineages are available. Parking fees are in place during certain months of the year. Overnight parking is $7 per vehicle per night. Daily parking is $3 per vehicle. Passes good for 3 days or a week are also available; annual passes good at all eight MBTA transit hubs are offered at a cost of $75 for out-of-state vehicles or $60 for Massachusetts residents. The park is handicap accessible. Pets are allowed on leashes of 6 feet (1.8m) or less, and must have proof of inoculation before entering the domed portion of the park. They are not allowed inside the light-protected areas. Boats may be launched from either the upper or lower docks. Rowboats, kayaks, canoes, and pedal boats are available to rent. Fishing licenses are required, and saltwater fishing gear rental is available. Bicycles are allowed, though riders share the road with pedestrians and motorized traffic. 

Chatfield Hollow State Park

Address: 381 CT-80, Killingworth, CT 06419
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Chatfield-Hollow-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-663-2030

Chatfield Hollow State Park is a state park in the town of Redding, Connecticut. The park’s 1,000 acres include forested woodlands and glacial erratics studded with ponds and lakes.

The park has several campgrounds, one specifically designed for families with young children. There are also two ballfields, a basketball court, and a playground. Picnic tables and charcoal grills are available throughout the park, while pit toilets are present at certain sites. Parking fees are in effect during part of the year, ranging $6 per day for a single-day or $10 for residents with an annual permit. The park receives more than 325,000 visitors annually.

The park is divided into multiple sections, each containing different amenities. Most notably, there is a section of the park that is designated as The Wilderness, featuring mature trees, minimal ground cover, and very low visibility from the roadway. This section of the park includes three separate loop trails, totaling almost 18 miles. Another notable feature of this section of the park is the presence of numerous boulders, left behind by ancient glaciers. These boulders range from less than 5-foot-tall to more than 30-foot-tall (9.1m) in length. A third distinct section of the park consists largely of marshland, where the only signs of life are the occasional waterfowl that live in the reedy shoreline. This section of the park provides excellent habitat for birdwatching, particularly during autumn, when large numbers of migrating songbirds congregate here.

Collis P. Huntington State Park

Address: 9 Dodgingtown Rd, Redding, CT 06896
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Collis-P-Huntington-State-Park
Phone Number: 203-938-2285

Collis P. Huntington State Park is a state park in the town of Redding, Connecticut, United States. The park was named after railroad magnate Collis Potter Huntington and his wife Blanche, who donated $1 million for its creation. It is located on 1,000 acres that include land from the former Camp Bluefields training facility. In addition to hiking trails, fishing ponds and picnic areas, the park includes an extensive network of roads including main access points along Scenic Highway 101 as well as service loops providing access to other parts of the campground, day-use area, and northern section of the state forest.

Due to the relatively high elevation of the park compared to surrounding terrain, temperatures are generally lower than those experienced farther south. This allows trees to grow that would normally be found only north of Massachusetts, such as the hemlock tree, which is abundant here. Hemlock wooly adelgids, a severe threat to eastern white pine trees in New England, have been detected in this park.

The park has two marked hiking trails; one leads to Bear Mountain and the other to Bald Mountain. The park offers tent camping, camper cabins, and equestrian facilities with riding rings. The park contains four miles of bridle paths, five miles of hiking trails, eight miles of mountain bike trails, and seven miles of multi-purpose trails. Hikers and bicyclists use the connecting trail to complete loop tours around the park. The park has horse campsites, stables, and a show ring.

The common game species are waterfowl, deer, pheasant, woodcock, and small game animals like squirrels, rabbits, and raccoons. The hunting of groundhogs is prohibited. The park has several parking lots, most equipped with showers, restrooms, and vending machines. Parking lot B is handicap accessible. Other nearby public transportation options include the Metro North Railroad, bus routes served by the Greater Hartford Transit Authority, and the Wilbur Cross Parkway, which passes directly overhead. The park is easily accessible via Exit 38 off Interstate 84, which has been signed CT 2AQP, representing the official state highway designation for almost 70 years. On exit signs, the mileage indicates approximately how far east the intersection is from the interchange.

Connecticut Valley Railroad State Park

Address: 1 Railroad Ave, Essex, CT 06426
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Connecticut-Valley-Railroad-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

Connecticut Valley Railroad State Park is a state park in the town of Easton, Connecticut. The park preserves portions of an abandoned railroad line that was once part of the New Haven and New London Railroad’s Greenwood Division. Connecticut Valley Railroad State Park was established in 2001, initially covering just 300 acres (120ha). An additional 500 acres, purchased by the state in 2002, brought the park’s size to 640 acres.  Hiking trails lead to the Hillside, Rocky Ridge, and Blackjack mountains, while mountain biking trails can be found around Lime Rock and at the summit of Rocky Ridge. Horseback riding stables offer guided walks throughout the park, as do hayrides and equestrian campsites.

The park includes playing fields for soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, and American football, as well as a disc golf course. The park’s forest consists primarily of oak trees, some of which bear the scars of past logging operations. Other tree species include maple, hickory, elm, cherry, birch, poplar, and ash. The park contains about 100 bird species, 40 mammal species, 34 reptile species, 49 amphibian species, and 44 fish species. 

Dart Island State Park

Address: Middletown, CT 06457
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/dart-island-state-park
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

The park was opened to the public in 1980 and has been operated since 2011 by the Town of Easton. Prior to 2011, it had been run as a private family farm for nearly 100 years by the Steere and DeLancey families, who owned over 1,000 acres at one time.

It became a town park when Easton and neighboring Weston elected to forego their annual payments to the privately held Trust for Public Land and instead turned the property over to the state. At that time, 750 acres were set aside for conservation; today, this figure has grown to 936 acres. In addition to being a state park, it is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its importance in military history during World War II. 

Day Pond State Park

Address: Day Pond Road, Colchester, CT 06415
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Day-Pond-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-424-3000

Day Pond State Park is a state park in the town of Easton, Connecticut. The park’s 1,000 acres include forested woodlands and wetlands that offer opportunities for hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing, and seasonal horse-riding stables. It is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

The park has four marked bridle paths and offers a stable for renting horses. Two ponds, Day and Ruggles, each cover approximately 200 acres. They provide excellent habitat for bass, perch, crappie, bluegill, catfish, sunfish, and northern pike. Fishermen can also access information via Fishfinder, an online fish monitoring system.

The park hosts many events, including the annual International Dragon Boat Festival, World Orienteering Championships, and US Intercollegiate Championships. The festival takes place every Mother’s day weekend and includes races for both men and women. The course covers nearly all of the park grounds, stretching north along the east side of Ruggles’ Pond to Woodland Beach, then crossing under Route 54 to the open waters of Long Island Sound. The championships take place in even-numbered years. Day Pond is noted for having large quantities of chain mail mussels, a type of bivalve mollusc native to eastern coastal areas. These shells are commonly found adrift at the surface or buried in sand dunes. Eastern gray squirrels live in some of the older growth forests. American black bears and bobcats inhabit the remote mountain regions. White pelicans lived alongside black ones on the beach in former times, but now they are extremely rare.  

Dennis Hill State Park

Address: 519 Litchfield Rd, Norfolk Historic District, CT 06058
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Dennis-Hill-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-482-1817

Dennis Hill State Park is a state park in the town of Redding, Connecticut. The park’s 1,100 acres include forested hills and valleys, open meadows, wetlands, and scenic vistas overlooking Lake Compounce. It was named after Dennis P. Hill, who served as governor from 1945 to 1949.

Campground facilities include tent sites, leantos, modern restrooms, hot showers, and parking for 50 vehicles. Other campgrounds on the property include Rocky Neck, Hanging Hills, and Twin Lakes. These have tent and trailer sites, electric hookups, and sanitary dump stations. Each site has access to running water and some have sewer. Modern bath houses with hot showers are available at all three campgrounds. Two yurts are available for rent. They sleep up to six people each in single or double bunks. All bed frames, mattresses, chairs, tables, and kitchenware are furnished. Electric lights and heat are standard throughout the yurt. Outdoors there is a fire ring and picnic table at every site. On the main road through the park there is a large grassy area that can be utilized as soccer fields when the weather permits. This is known as the Green Field.

While driving into the park, there is a narrow dirt shoulder along Route 58 that gives way to a steep wooded hillside covered in shrubbery and trees. Careful drivers can take advantage of the blind spots created by the foliage to avoid colliding with the tree trunks that jut out from the side of the road. As a visitor approaches the summit of the hill, there is a sudden drop off, exposing the bare rock face of the Catskill Formation. An overlook provides a panoramic view of the Adirondack Mountains, Long Island Sound, and the lower Hudson River Valley. The park contains approximately five miles of hiking trails, two miles of bike trails, and seven miles of equestrian trails. Some of these trails are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The most prominent feature of the park is Bald Mountain, whose peak reaches 2,063 feet (626m). From the top, there is a fine view of the surrounding countryside, including Lake Compounce, the former home of Sunken Meadow State Park. The name Bald Mountain stems from the fact that once upon a time, long before any humans lived here, the mountain was completely bald.

Today, however, several patches of trees grow back together again, hiding what was once an expansive meadow filled with hundreds of thousands of wild flowers. The mountain meadow is now overgrown with vegetation, but when viewed from the appropriate angle, one can see portions of the original terrain peeking through the foliage. White-tailed deer, coyotes, and bobcats are regularly sighted. 

Devil’s Hopyard State Park

Address: 366 Hopyard Rd, East Haddam, CT 06423
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Devils-Hopyard-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

Devil’s Hopyard State Park is a state park in the town of Easton, Connecticut. The park preserves a remnant of pre-Revolutionary War farming that includes a farmhouse and five acres or more of land. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the John Eliot Farm in 2002 for its surviving agricultural features, including fields divided by wooden fences, which indicate periods of cultivation stretching back to the 1740s.

In addition to the Eliot farmhouse, which serves as visitor center, the park has trails through forests of oak and hickory trees, open areas with views of rolling hills, and restored water wheels from an adjacent mill site.The park offers hiking and biking trails, picnic facilities, and access to waterfalls across Mill Brook via boat launch. There are several historic sites within the park, including remnants of the old roadways, a covered bridge, and a sawmill. Visitors can also see the foundations of the Dwight Mill, which operated on the site from the mid-to-late 19th century.

The park’s campground consists of tent and trailer sites, with an overflow area for large groups. No flush toilets or showers are available, but a sanitary dumping station has recently been installed near the campground. Camping season begins with trout season in April, and ends at the conclusion of deer season in December. Tent and trailer sites are available year round, with the exception of July and August, when the campground is closed to allow crews to install new sewer lines. Water is available year round from hand pumps. 15 campsites are dedicated to youth groups, 12 sites accommodate medium sized group tenting, and 50 sites are available for large groups. The park has six walk-in equestrian campsites, each accommodating up to four people. Three of the sites are reserved, the rest are open on a first come, first served basis.

Dinosaur State Park

Address: 400 West St, Rocky Hill, CT 06067
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Dinosaur-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-529-5816

The park preserves paleontology-related facilities and displays from the Fairfield Museum of Natural History, including an outdoor fossil trackway. In addition to its dinosaur tracks, exhibits include skeletons of blue whales; mastodons, bison, horses, camels, and rhinoceroses; turtle shells dating back 300 million years; and a meteorite that felled trees 500 miles away nearly 13,000 years ago.

A small pond near the entrance offers anglers a chance to catch bass, perch, crappie, and pickerel. Fossil collection and excavation are permitted on the grounds, with special permits available for professional researchers. The adjacent Peabody Museum features natural history exhibits. There is also a campground with tent and trailer sites, as well as picnic areas with grills and access to drinking water. Toilets and showers are provided seasonally. Year-round parking is available but limited, so those arriving in their vehicles must have a permit issued by the park office.

The park’s visitor center includes a research lab where visitors can study mounted animals, learn about geology, and ask questions of scientists. During warmer months, there are daily naturalist programs offered. Programs vary depending on the time of year, but may include crafts, storytelling, and other activities. Occasionally guest presenters appear who share their knowledge and passion for the natural world. 

Eagle Landing State Park

Address: 14 Little Meadow Rd, Haddam, CT 06438
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Eagle-Landing-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-424-3000

Eagle Landing State Park is a state park in the town of East Lyme, Connecticut. The park offers scenic views on Long Island Sound. It is managed by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection as part of its Green Acres program.

Parking fees are in effect at Eagle Landing State Park from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Permits may be purchased at the park office for $6 per vehicle per day, however these permit purchases are not accepted at the park on weekends or holidays. Permits are good for three days or a week depending on the type of permit purchased. Annual passes are also offered at the park office.

Additional information regarding hunting, fishing, and environmental issues can be obtained at the park offices. Facilities – Campsites consist of a central grassy area with several wooden platforms nearby. Each site has a fire ring, picnic table and grill, and a sanitary dumping station. Water and electric sites are 30 amp hookups, while sewer sites require a 60 amp hookup. Half of the campsites are occupied by their owners each summer, with the remainder left unoccupied. The campground opens on Memorial Day weekend and closes Labor Day weekend.

The park’s picnic area has been expanded to handle larger crowds. An accessible playground area has been added, and handicap-accessible restrooms have been installed. A new waterfront restaurant called Buzzard’s Roost, featuring local seafood, steaks, and pastas, is scheduled to open sometime in 2011. The park’s campground has undergone extensive renovations. Previously, sites were equipped with 40 amp electrical service, but now all sites receive 20 amp service. To compensate, tent campers will need to bring their own generators. Modern restroom facilities, including hot showers, have been built in the campground. A dump station has been constructed near the campground, providing residents with a place to dispose of garbage and recycling receptacles have been placed in strategic locations around the park.

Farm River State Park

Address: 121 Mansfield Grove Rd, East Haven, CT 06512
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Farm-River-State-Park
Phone Number: 203-582-3777

Farm River State Park is a state park in the town of Easton, Connecticut. The park’s 1,100 acres include forested woodlands and wetlands that offer opportunities for hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing, and seasonal horse-riding. It is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

The park has recently undergone major improvements to its parking lot, restrooms, and pathways. The park offers picnic tables and grills, playing fields, ballfields, playgrounds, equestrian stable, riding ring, bridle path, nature trail, pond, and extensive woods. The park includes a campground with tent and trailer sites, hot showers, dump stations, and a sanitary landfill. It is located approximately one mile north of the Metro North railroad station, three miles east of the Interstate 95 interchange, and five miles west of the Bushwick Inlet.

The park entrance is located on Millwood Street, across from the post office. To the left after entering the park is the maintenance building, followed by the main road through the park. On the right side of the main road is the Campground, followed by the stables and riding area. Past the stables is another road, which leads to the equestrian facility. This second road also serves as the bike path for accessing the park from the south entrance along the Blackledge Trail. The park is connected to the Ives Trail System via the Farm River Greenway, which forms a loop off of the Blackledge Trail. The Farm River Greenway uses portions of the former Erie Railroad bed from Wethersfield to Stamford, crossing the Quinnipiac River into Greenwich before continuing northeast to Norwalk. The 0.8-mile rail spur connects the park to the Ives Trail System, passing by the old Conley farmhouse en route to the station. The park is adjacent to the Naugatuck Reservoir, providing anglers with watercraft access to the upper reaches of the river.

Ferry Landing State Park

Address: 398 Ferry Rd, Old Lyme, CT 06371
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/ferry-landing-state-park
Phone Number: 860-424-3000

Ferry Landing State Park is a state park in the town of East Lyme, Connecticut. The park preserves a working ferry landing and associated infrastructure on the eastern shore of the Thames River as it flows past southeastern Connecticut into Long Island Sound. It is accessible via footpaths from a parking area off U.S. Route 1. The park’s principal feature is its views of the river; seasonally available boat tours travel along the river to various points of interest including historical sites, Fort Trumbull, and Niantic Bridge.

Other features include hiking trails, picnic areas with playground facilities, and an enclosed nature center/gift shop. In addition to seasonal boat cruises, the park offers programs for children and adults throughout the year. These range from holiday events such as Christmas light shows to educational programs about local ecology and conservation issues. Programs are also offered for school groups, community organizations, and visitors interested in learning more about the history and culture of the region. To date over one million people have visited the park. Approximately 10,000 cars cruise through the park daily during summer months.

On any given day approximately 20-30 boats may be seen navigating the waters near the park. There are several possible reasons why so many people visit this small park. Its location at the mouth of the Thames River gives travelers coming from New York and New Jersey multiple options for ferries to downtown London. This includes services provided by both the Fairfield County Boat Line and the Connecticut River Line plus stops at the South Street Seaport and Tower Hill Park. Another reason for its popularity could be that it provides convenient access to the Ives Trail which passes through the park en route to connecting with the Metro North Railroad tracks.

Additionally, there is a strong environmental education program run by the park staff and volunteers who bring awareness to issues regarding the environment, recycling, and composting.  Although these factors contribute to making Ferry Landing State Park a destination spot, it still remains a very remote and quiet place despite its easy accessibility. Visitors can typically count on seeing no more than five or six other people per trip. Most of our repeat customers live outside of Connecticut, but drive here to take advantage of lower car rental rates.  

Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park

Address: Park Ave & Monument St, Groton, CT 06340
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Fort-Griswold-Battlefield-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-449-6877

Fort Griswold, also known as Castle Island Fort or Rock Island Fort, is a former American defensive fortification in Groton, Connecticut. The state park preserves the site of one of America’s first seacoast defenses, built during the Revolutionary War and named after Deputy Governor Matthew Griswold. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.

Admission is free. Campsites range from modern with water and electric hookups, to tent camping, to areas designated for youth groups. Toilets and showers are provided at both the north and south campgrounds, while the west side lacks full restroom facilities.

Harbor seals have returned to the area in large numbers following restoration of their habitat, and porpoises have been sighted almost every month of the year. The park provides space for parking, picnic tables, and tents, as well as play areas, a playground, and a food concession. Picnic tables are available throughout the day, but are mainly intended for use by people staying at the campsites. Access to electricity and water is available at the South and West Garrisons. Both have modern restrooms and provide outdoor shower facilities.

Fort Trumbull State Park

Address: 90 Walbach St, New London, CT 06320
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Fort-Trumbull-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-444-7591

The park preserves the site of the former Fort Trumbull military installation and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Fort Trumbull Military Reservation. It includes land that was once part of the Noyes Estate, which was given to General William Ledyard when he joined the British Army during the American Revolutionary War.

Fort Trumbull Historical Society operates a museum featuring exhibits covering the events of the siege, including a scale model of the fort, dioramas, antique weapons, uniforms, books, period photos, and audio presentations. Admission is charged, and guided tours are offered daily. The park offers trails for hiking and cross-country skiing, picnicking facilities, and access to the Long Island Sound shoreline for fishing and boating. There are plans to add a maritime museum to the complex.

The park is located at the intersection of Route 254 and the Wilbur Cross Parkway, south of the city of Bridgeport. Its main entrance is accessible via Exit 38N of the latter highway, and provides access points for the Shoreline Greenway Trail, the Southeastern Connecticut Greenway, and the Metropolitan Bike Path. The park lies within walking distance of Fairfield University’s Sturtevant Campus, and is easily accessible from the Metro North/Amtrak station serving the Fairfield branch line. The park’s principal feature is Fort Trumbull itself, a large irregularly shaped brick fortress surrounded by moats and containing numerous gun emplacements. 

Gardner Lake State Park

Address: 208 Old Colchester Rd, Salem, CT 06420
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Gardner-Lake-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-526-2336

The park was named after William B. Gardner who donated land for its construction and served as an engineer during the American Revolutionary War. A portion of the shoreline near the parking lot has been designated a wildlife sanctuary to protect nesting birds.

The park offers a campground with 168 sites including 120 with sewer, 30 with dump station, and six walk-in tenting sites; cabins, ranging from one to three bedrooms in size; and a food concession.

Prior to the public opening of the renovated park, there was a ceremonial ribbon cutting attended by family members of veterans, first responders, and people living with disabilities. Among those attending the event were U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, Congressman Joe Courtney, State Representative Nancy Wyman, State Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney, State Secretary of Energy and Environmental Protection Matthew C. Tursi, and DEEP Commissioner Shawn M. Garvin. Speakers emphasized the importance of keeping parks like Gardner Lake open during the renovation process, which has allowed workers to focus on repairing potholes, addressing accessibility issues, and cleaning up litter.

They also highlighted the benefits of using recycled materials, solar power, and green roofs to make improvements to the park without increasing emissions. Following the ceremony, attendees toured the grounds, sampling refreshments, snacks, and beverages available for purchase. At the conclusion of the tour, participants were treated to a performance by singer/songwriter Mary Gauthier. Proceeds from the event benefited the Special Olympics. Later that evening, a gala celebration was held at the Renaissance Hotel in Hartford. 

Gay City State Park 

Address: 435 North St, Hebron, CT 06248
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Gay-City-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-295-9523

The park’s 1,400 acres include ponds for fishing and ice skating as well as forested hills with views of the Bristol Mountains to the west. It was once the estate of George Dudley Seymour, great-nephew to both King Charles II and Queen Elizabeth II, who summered here from 1660 until his death in 1677.

There is talk of expanding the park northward, onto adjoining farmland owned by the family of former U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman. Although these projects are in early stages of planning, they demonstrate the level of interest in promoting recreational usage of the park. When asked if they thought the park could become as popular as Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Linda Beers responded, Anything is possible, but my hope and prayer is that it will be even more so.

On June 6, 2017, it was announced that Governor Dannel P. Malloy and First Lady Michelle Rhee signed an agreement creating a partnership to promote conservation and outdoor recreation, including in the state parks system. Through the Partnership for Conservation initiative, the pair agreed to work together to protect habitat for wildlife and plants, improve accessibility for people with disabilities, create jobs, and spur economic activity. Among the first actions taken by the newly formed partnership was a pledge to restore 200 acres of wetlands along the Quinnipiac River in cooperation with six nonprofit organizations.

George Dudley Seymour State Park

Address: Clark Hurst Rd, Haddam, CT 06424
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/George-Dudley-Seymour-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-295-9523

The park was named after George Dudley Seymour (1874-1934), an American lawyer and conservationist who served as governor of Connecticut from 1923 to 1927. It preserves portions of land that were once part of the estate of George Dudley Seymour, along with facilities for passive recreation including hiking trails, picnic areas, and boat ramps.

The park offers approximately 1 mile of multi-use trails open year round. Dogs and mountain bikes are permitted on certain trails when accompanied by a permit issued by the park staff. Boat ramps are available seasonally. Facilities include parking lots, restrooms, playgrounds, picnic tables, and shelters. There is a small pond suitable for fishing and ice skating in the winter. The park hosts numerous events, including races, festivals, outdoor concerts, and interpretive programs throughout the year. George Dudley Seymour State Park is located off Connecticut Route 254 roughly halfway between Northampton and Montague. Access is from the south side of the highway bridge over the Quinnipiac River; there is no access from the north side of the bridge. To the east of the park entrance is the Mount Holyoke Range with views toward Canaan Mountain and Bear Mountain beyond. To the west of the park entrance is Wooster Street, leading to the center of Northampton.

The park accepts both adult and youth permits. Campsites range from one to five persons per site. Unattended pets are not permitted in any area of the park. Pets must either be kept within view or under control at all times or left unpermitted. No animals are allowed on the beach. Motorized boats such as motorcycles, sailboats, rowboats, canoes, kayaks, etc., are prohibited at George Dudley Seymour State Park. Non-powered watercraft may be brought onto the beach provided they are properly registered with any state. Boats are only required to display registration stickers from Connecticut, Rhode Island, or Massachusetts.

George Waldo State Park

Address: 457 Purchase Brook Rd, Southbury, CT 06488
Website: https://www.southbury-ct.org/waldostatepark
Phone Number: 203-262-0600

George Waldo State Park covers 1,936 acres, with its main entrance located at 69 Court Street. In addition to hiking trails, the park has fields for model airplane flying, picnicking facilities, and access to waterfowl hunting on Long Island Sound. The park’s forests are part of the Northeastern coastal forest ecoregion. George Waldo State Park is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

The park accepts Passports, Military ID cards, and Visa cards as forms of identification. Pets are permitted on leashes of six feet or less, and must have proof of inoculation before entering the camping area. They are not permitted in the campground or elsewhere on the park lands. As of February 2015, there is no fee charged to enter the park. Fees are charged for day use and camping/RV sites. Day use permits are valid for 3 days or a week; annual permits are also available. Campsites range from modern, full hookup RVs, to rustic tent sites, to cabin-like shelters. Thirty-five primitive campsites are scattered throughout the park, designated specifically for hikers and bicyclists traveling along the Bay Circuit Trail.

Fourteen additional comfort campsites are situated near the parking lot, providing easy access to restroom facilities, hot showers, and electricity. Two yurts are available for rent. Each yurt contains 2 single bunk beds, wooden floors, windows, skylights, countertop, table, chairs, electric heat, lights, and outlets. The campground opens on Memorial Day weekend and closes Columbus Day weekend. Advance campsite reservations can be booked through Reserve America. Tent and RV sites are available all year round, with the exception of several weeks around Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The picnic area is shaded by the forest and has grills, tables, and drinking water. Drinking water is available seasonally.

Gillette Castle State Park

Address:  67 River Rd, East Haddam, CT 06423
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Gillette-Castle-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-526-2336

Gillette Castle was built as a summer home by John Alden and his wife, Mary, between 1895 and 1900 for their three children, Mary, Jane and Philip, along with Mr. and Mrs. Cottle. It remained in near continuous use by the Astors until 1941 when it was given to the state.

Gillette Castle is currently operated by the Town of Northfield under an agreement with the State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. It can be rented for overnight stays or used as a venue for family events such as weddings and birthday parties. There are picnic tables on site, but no grills. No alcoholic beverages, glassware, kites, drones, fireworks or hunting are permitted. Pets are not allowed due to health regulations. The parking fee is $8/car per night. A permit is required for 3 or more cars per vehicle. Reservations are recommended.

The park accepts credit cards through the reservation system. Parking fees are waived for those who have received permits from the park office. For groups needing multiple passes, there is a group reservation facility available. The park has added a new feature to its camping facilities, Camp Aurora. Located off Route 109, one mile north of the town center, this modern campground features 50 tent sites, 10 leantos, 2 yurts, flush toilets, hot showers, playgrounds, basketball courts, horseshoe courts, volleyball net, tether and ladder ball. Half of the campsites are open year-round, while others close during winter months.

To help fund a backlog of deferred maintenance and park improvements, the state implemented an entrance fee for this park and 21. The fees, charged per vehicle, start at $10 per day for a single-day or $8 for residents with an annual pass. Fees are waived for honorably discharged veterans and Connecticut residents age 62 & older and their spouses. Passes good for three days or a week are also available; annual passes good at all 22 state parks charging fees are offered at a cost of $75 for out-of-state visitors or $60 for Connecticut residents.

Haddam Island State Park

Address: 321 Rock Landing Rd, Haddam, CT 06424
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/haddam-island-state-park
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

Haddam Island State Park is a state park located in the town of Haddam, Connecticut. The park consists of 1,500 acres that are primarily wooded and include a significant amount of freshwater shoreline. In addition to its land area, the park also includes Little Brewster Island across the Saugatuck Reservoir.

A new campground opens this fall near the intersection of Route 109 and the Saugatuck Reservation Road. This campground has 50 sites, each with water and electrical hookups, plus 3 camper cabins. There is a modern bathhouse, dump station, playground, picnic areas, and boat rentals. To help fund a backlog of deferred maintenance and park improvements, the state implemented an entrance fee for this park and 21. The fees, charged per vehicle, start at $10 per day for a single-day or $8 for residents with an existing permit. Fees are waived for honorably discharged veterans and Connecticut residents age 62 & older and their spouses. Passes good for three days or a week are also available; annual passes good at all 22 state parks charging fees are offered at a cost of $75 for out-of-state visitors or $60 for Connecticut residents. 

Haddam Meadows State Park

Address: 20 Parmelee Rd, Haddam, CT 06438
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Haddam-Meadows-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-345-8521

Haddam Meadows State Park is a state park located in the towns of East Lyme and New London, Connecticut. The park preserves open meadows (or prairies) that have been preserved as natural areas since the time when the region was part of the estate of Colonel Edward Hitchcock. It is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

To help fund a backlog of deferred maintenance and park improvements, the state implemented an entrance fee for this park. The fees, charged per vehicle, start at $10 per day for a single-day or $8 for residents with an annual permit. Fees are waived for honorably discharged veterans and Connecticut residents age 62 & older and their spouses. Passes good for three days or a week are also available; annual passes good at all 22 state parks charging fees are offered at a cost of $75 for out-of-state visitors or $60 for Connecticut residents. 

Haley Farm State Park

Address: 24 Haley Farm Ln, Groton, CT 06340
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Haley-Farm-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-444-7591

Haley Farm State Park is a state park in the town of Easton, Connecticut. The park preserves an estate that was once home to Elizah Abel Haley (1849-1934), a prominent Unitarian minister and educator who founded Eastern States Exposition and served as president of Brown University. In addition to its historic buildings, the park features hiking trails, picnic areas, playing fields, and sports courts. It also includes the site where Haley conducted many of his public addresses, including those given from the steps of the Plymouth Court House when he spoke before thousands at the 1932 Democratic National Convention.

Parking is available all year long, however some restrictions do apply. For example, there is no parking allowed overnight or on Sundays. Also, there is limited parking on the weekends outside of peak hours. During the weekdays, you can usually find a spot along the street or in the lot across the highway. On major holidays such as Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc., the park may be closed entirely.

Hammonasset Beach State Park

Address: 1288 Boston Post Rd, Madison, CT 06443
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Hammonasset-Beach-State-Park
Phone Number: 203-245-2785

Hammonasset Beach State Park is a state park in the town of Madison, Connecticut. The park’s 1,500 acres offer beach activities including swimming and surf-fishing as well as camping facilities. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 for its surviving Civilian Conservation Corps infrastructure which includes buildings, bridges, roads, and trails. In addition to the shoreline, the park has extensive inland wetlands that support wildlife and bird life.

Amenities include parking areas, picnic tables with CCC-built pavilions, playground equipment, playing fields, restrooms, and water fountains. The park also features an exhibit featuring artifacts, photographs, and documents about the 1930s through 1950s history of the Civilian Conservation Corps within the park. A campground facility contains 90 campsites divided into tent sites or minimally equipped yurts. Half of the campsites are available year round while the remainder are open from May to September.

During the fall and winter season there is a reduced rate for those who wish to have their site heated. There are three separate trail systems; one that runs along Lake Lillinonah, another that goes around Black Rock Pond, and a third that passes through Noddle’s Woods. All three run approximately 4 miles. The Lake Lillinonah loop passes by the ruins of Fort Wooster where a gun battery once stood. This area hosted a major fire control post during World War II. Visitors can see the remains of bunker housing, concrete observation bunkers, a mess hall, and powder magazine shelters. Two huge chimneys still stand guard over the site.

The Black Rock Trail system consists of two main trails, both 3/4 mile long. One follows the course of the former railroad track laid down in 1848 when this land was owned by Edward Hitchcock. After it passed under the East River Railroad Bridge, it split, with one portion following the right-of-way past Bald Rock and into Noddle’s Woods, and the other continuing across Wooster’s field to the fire tower. At the end of the trail beyond Wooster’s Field, there were several shingle pits where logs had been cut for the rock quarry located today near the Fire Tower. The last train ran in 1958, after which time the line was abandoned east of Pratt.

Harkness Memorial State Park

Address: 275 Great Neck Rd, Waterford, CT 06385
Website: https://www.harkness.org/
Phone Number: 860-443-5725

Harkness Memorial State Park is a state park in the town of Lebanon, Connecticut. The park was established to provide space for public recreation and to preserve portions of its forested landscape that have been designated as significant historical resources.

Parking is available in several different lots around the perimeter of the park, however, there is a large grassy area where most of the races put on by the New England Cycling League occur. The course varies widely depending on what event is being held, but typically the men go out for a 25 mile race and the women do a 20 mile race. Some events cover multiple days, others consist entirely of a series of sprints. Regardless of the format, every participant must bring their own bicycle to the race. No bicycles are permitted on the course, only hand-carrying.

Most of the roads are shaded heavily, which makes them popular with cyclists, runners, skaters and snowmobilers. The park boasts nearly 30 miles  of bridle paths. The park’s campground has 140 sites, 60 with electrical hookups, modern flush toilets and showers, and a dump station. Half of the campsites are available on a first come first served basis, while the remainder require reservations made in advance. Campsites are separated according to type, family, group, equestrian and primitive. Primitive camping requires setting up tents in remote locations away from paved roads and facilities. Tent sites are provided with 4 stakes and a ground cloth, plus there is 1 site specifically designed for use by bicyclists traveling light duty.

The park entrance is opposite the grade crossing guard house, and behind the building is a second set of entrance gates. These gates are used primarily to keep unregistered visitors out, as opposed to registered users like rangers and maintenance workers out. Registered users may enter the park via either set of gates, and both sets of gates are opened daily. However, unlike at Cedar Glen State Park, there are no annual passes for pedestrians or cyclists entering the park, so pedestrians/cyclists must register at the park headquarters. Once registered, they receive an Access Passport valid for seven days or until revoked.

Haystack Mountain State Park

Address: CT-272, Norfolk Historic District, CT 06058
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Haystack-Mountain-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-482-1817

Haystack Mountain State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Connecticut. The park was established in 1949 on land that had been part of the estate of textile manufacturer Albert and Alfredine Leland since 1871.

There are three parking lots, all of which are full on game days. During non-game times, visitors must pay a fee to enter the park. Game day tickets are available at the park offices. The park hosts numerous events, including cross country running competitions, triathlons, bike races, and disc golf tournaments. The park is crossed by the East Coast Greenway, which follows the route of former railroad tracks between New York and Massachusetts. The park saw heavy usage in the 1960s and ’70s, particularly during football season, when thousands of University of Hartford students would make their way to the park every weekend to tailgate before games. Because of its proximity to Ives Street in the Village of Ridgefield, the park often hosted gatherings where participants could listen to music, play sports, or engage in other activities. 

The park also serves as home field for the Yale Bulldogs’ rugby team. Every Labor Day Weekend, the park holds its own version of Burning Man, complete with art installations, theme camps, live music, etc. Called Phoenicia Art & Music Festival, it has featured such acts as Yo La Tengo, Superchunk, and The Headhunters. It is produced by the nonprofit Friends of Phoenicia, whose mission is to promote the preservation, history, and arts of Fairfield County’s largest urban growth boundary. The park boasts fourteen miles of paved multi-use trails open to runners, cyclists, skaters, and walkers. Other amenities include boat ramps providing access to Long Island Sound, a campground with tent and trailer sites, and a playground.  

Higganum Reservoir State Park

Address: Higganum, CT 06441, United States
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/higganum-reservoir-state-park
Phone Number: 860-424-3000

Higganum Reservoir is a reservoir on the Naugatuck River in the town of Easton, Connecticut. The lake extends into the towns of North Branford and Guilford as well as across the border with Rhode Island in Bristol County. It has an area of 1,300 acres and is 2 miles long. Higganum Reservoir was constructed from 1958 to 1963 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers as part of the Flood Control Act of 1938. The dam which forms the reservoir is an earthfill dam 165 feet high and 2,400 feet long.

Higganum Reservoir provides flood protection for southeastern Connecticut including cities such as Bridgeport, New Fairfield, Stratford, and Shelton. The campground features 60 campsites divided into tent or trailer sites. Half of the campsites have access to hot showers while the other half do not. Camping season begins around Memorial Day weekend and ends at the end of October. A boat launch allows access to the river for boaters. The park’s nature center offers naturalist programs throughout the year. Higganum Reservoir is known as The Trout Capital of the World due to its large population of native brook trout. Rainbow trout, brown trout, and kokanee salmon also thrive in the warmer waters of the upper layers of the reservoir.

Fishermen may catch striped bass, smallmouth bass, flounder, weakfish, cod, haddock, perch, panfish, and pumpkinseed. Visitors can go horseback riding, mountain biking, and hayrides through scenic areas of the park. The park includes trails for hikers, joggers, bicyclers, and equestrians. The park hosts numerous events open to the public, including the annual Higganum Festival held every June. The festival celebrates the state’s first inhabitants, the Pequot tribe, who were driven out of the region in 1662 after failing to pay taxes.

Hopemead State Park

Address: Cottage Rd, Bozrah, CT 06334
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/hopemead-state-park
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

The park’s 1,100 acres include forested woodlands and wetlands that offer opportunities for hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing, and seasonal horse-riding stables. It was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression of the 1930s as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal.

The park offers trails for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians, and facilities for camping, picnic tables, and food. There are over 200 campsites divided into tent or trailer sites. Six stone fire rings and two wooden ones are provided at several locations around the campground area. Toilets and showers are available seasonally. Two pavilions may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Reservations must specify if the site is to receive visitors with mobility challenges. Half of the campsites are available on a first come, first served basis. Camping costs $20 per night per vehicle.

Advance campsite reservations can be booked through the park reservation system. Half of the campsites are available on a first come, first served basis. Camping costs $20 per night per vehicle. The park includes ten cabins and thirty campsites among its 2,400 acres (970 ha). Each cabin sleeps six people and has electric heat, two bedrooms, living room, dining room, bathroom, and kitchen. Outside of the cabins are a fire ring and grill, picnic table and charcoal disposal pit, and access to a boat dock/launching ramp. The park has eight marked hiking trails ranging from easy to moderate difficulty. Easy trails connect Hopemead State Park with neighboring Mount Blue State Park and Trumbull Nature Center, while moderate trails feature rocky sections and steep hills. Fourteen miles of mountain biking trails are found within the park, ranging from beginner friendly loops to highly technical singletrack.

One hundred and fifty campsites are designated for individuals with physical disabilities, sixty of these with accessibility for wheelchairs. Accessibility for the disabled-related campsites varies; some have level gravel pads, others steps down to a boardwalk.

Hopeville Pond State Park

Address: 929 Hopeville Rd, Griswold, CT 06351
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Hopeville-Pond-State-Park
Phone Number:  860-376-2920

The park’s 1,400 acres include a pond for fishing and ice skating as well as forested land with opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and hunting. Hopeville Pond is used as a location for fishing, especially for largemouth bass, crappie, perch, bluegill, catfish, sunfish, pumpkinseed, channel catfish, bullhead, and sucker. Ice fishing takes place mostly in the months from January until March, though it is popular all year long.

Hopeville Pond also serves as a starting point for kayaking tours around the Sound. The park offers a boat launch and mooring facility for non-motorized watercraft. Boats may be launched into the pond or moored along its shores. Canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and pedal boats are common sights. Motorized boating is prohibited. The park has two playgrounds, several soccer fields, and a basketball court. Campsites range from modern to rustic. Some sites have access to electricity while others rely solely on generators. Water is provided at all campsites. Modern restrooms with hot showers are located near the campground. Tent and trailer sites can be found farther out in the campgrounds than the traditional tent only sites. Toilets and shower facilities are shared between the sexes in the main campground. The single sex campground contains only men’s restroom facilities.

The Hawk Ridge campground is designed specifically for large group tenting and includes a full service kitchen. The campground opens with trout season on April 15 and closes on December 14. Advance campsite reservations can be booked through the park reservation system. Walk-in campsites are available throughout the rest of the year. Reservations made after November 14 cannot guarantee admission on any given day. Hopeville Pond State Park accepts DEP pass holders for a fee. Annual passes are not offered.

Hopeville Pond allows for primitive, backpacking style camping. Tents and RVs are not recommended because of the wet conditions. Two lean-to shelters are available. Group shelter areas contain three separate family shelters, each accommodating up to six people, plus a central gathering area. Each family shelter comes equipped with electric heat, lights, and outlets. The central gathering area lacks windows and has a different set of electrical demands; it accommodates up to 40 people. Backcountry campsites are accessible via a trail that loops through the woods surrounding the pond. These sites require a hike of .75 to 1.0 miles, depending on where you decide to leave your car. Half of the sites are reserved, the other half are open on a first come first served basis.

Horse Guard State Park

Address: 245 W Avon Rd, Avon, CT 06001
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/horse-guard-state-park
Phone Number: 860-242-1158

The park preserves a portion of the original course used by the British Army’s famed Hobart’s Heroes during the American Revolutionary War. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Horse Guards Road Military Reservation.

Parking fees are in effect from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. The park is located off Connecticut Route 272, five minutes east of the intersection of Routes 272 & 54. The park entrance is via CT 272, just west of the intersection of Routes 272 & 54. Entrance sign showing direction of Horse Guards Road. View looking south shows the parking lot, campground, and lake. Camping loop with view of Bear Mountain. Picnic area overlooking Lake Lubbers. Hiking trail ascends Bear Mountain. Footpath leads to the summit of Mt. Blue. Summit of Mt. Blue overlooks the campground, picnic area, and lake. Path descends to the opposite side of the peak. Path continues down the slope to intersect with yellow trail.

Yellow trail climbs steeply to meet red trail at peak of Bald Mountain. Red trail loops around the base of Peak Mountain. Base of Peak Mountain shows campsite, picnic area, and footpath descending to meeting point with yellow trail. Yellow trail descends to meet green trail below Meeting House Hill. Green trail loops around back of Meetinghouse Hill. Green Trail meets blue trail at bottom of hill. Bottom of the hill shows a footpath continuing straight ahead to meet pink trail. Pink trail climbs steeply to meet brown trail. Brown trail loops around top of Pine Mountain.

Top of Pine Mountain shows a footpath climbing steeply to meet purple trail. Purple trail descends to meet orange trail. Orange trail loops around the lower right corner of Peak Mountain. Lower right corner of Peak Mountain shows a footpath continuing down the slope to meet red trail. Red trail loops around the upper left corner of Peak Mountain. Upper left corner of Peak Mountain shows the footpath continuing down the slope to meet yellow trail. Yellow trail descends to meet green trail. Green trail loops around back of Meetinghouse Hill. Green Trail meets blue trail at bottom of hill.

Housatonic Meadows State Park

Address: 90 US-7, Sharon, CT 06069
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Housatonic-Meadows-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-927-3238

Housatonic Meadows State Park is a state park in the town of Derby, Connecticut. The park was once the estate of Frederick A. Emerick, who built up an extensive nursery business that made him one of the most prominent figures in the early 20th century. Since 2011, the park has been operated by the nonprofit Friends of Housatonic Meadows, led by president Diane Galvin. As part of their restoration efforts, the group has worked to return some areas to their original condition while trying to maintain others in a more modernized state. Areas include landscaping, buildings, parking lots, roadways, and even planted trees. To date, about 200,000 plants have been placed throughout the park. Restoration work continues around the clock, 365 days a year.

There are picnic tables and grills scattered throughout the garden area. Parking is available along Mansfield Grove Road. The park includes walking trails, equestrian paths, boat launches, and playgrounds. Dogs are permitted, however they must be kept on a leash at all times. No animals are allowed in the gardens or on the hiking trails. Horses may only be brought onto the trail between May and September.

Humaston Brook State Park

Address: Newton Road, Litchfield, CT 06776
Website: https://explorect.org/humaston-brook/
Phone Number: 860-567-5694

The park’s 1,500 acres include a large pond for fishing and ice skating as well as woodland paths for hiking and biking.

Seasonal trail offerings include a bike path from October through mid-May, when bikes are allowed only southbound on certain sections; and a paved multi-use pathway around the lake during summer months. From May through September there is also a seasonally staffed campground which has 140 campsites including 30 electric sites. The campground opens and closes with a fall/spring schedule.

To accommodate the various schedules, tent and trailer sites do not open until late April and close at the end of September. Reservations can be made online or over phone. Prices range from $20 per night for a regular site to $30 for an electric site. Humaston Brook State Park is one of eleven state parks due for major renovations beginning 2022. Plans call for upgrading services and amenities at many of the parks, including expanding parking, improving accessibility at restrooms and playgrounds, adding new picnic areas, updating camping facilities, and installing wireless internet access hubs. The plan is for all parks to receive improvements by 2023 at the latest. 

Hurd State Park

Address: 74 Hurd Park Rd, East Hampton, CT 06424
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Hurd-State-ParkPhone
Number: 860-526-2336

The park’s main feature is its 535-acre lake with swimming beach and boat launch, which was built during the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It is located off Route 54 at the end of an access road that has parking for about 100 vehicles. There are picnic areas on both sides of the park road, as well as a campground with tent and trailer sites. A causeway extends across part of the lake, allowing motorized boating without causing damage to the lake bed.

The park is used primarily for non-motorized watercraft, including canoes, kayaks, sailboats, rowboats, and paddle boats. Boats are launched into Lake Naraneka, whose dam allows enough water flow to support some small power generation projects. No gasoline motors are allowed on the lake, so electric motors provide all the power needed. Kayakers use two loops of flat ground near the campsite to portage around fallen trees and other obstacles. Two CCC-built bridges carry roads over waterways. One spans the narrow channel between Sassafras Island and Long Island, connecting the north bank of the river with the east bank of the lake. This Sassafras Street bridge is made of three large stones encased in concrete.

The park includes a campground with tent and trailer sites, modern restrooms facilities, and a sanitary dump station. It provides services for overnight stays, with hot showers available year round. Outhouses are provided in the campground area. Toilets and garbage bins are placed along the perimeter of the campground loop, accessible via short trails. The park also features a group camping facility accommodating up to 50 people, four miles of equestrian trails, picnicking facilities, playground equipment, and volleyball courts. The park’s hiking trails lead past restored wetlands, open meadows, mature forest patches, wetland borders, and woodlands. Some trails cross paved roads, while others skirt lakes and rivers.

Indian Well State Park

Address: 1 Indian Well Rd, Shelton, CT 06484
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Indian-Well-State-Park
Phone Number: 203-924-5907

The park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Indian Well State Park-Emmons Farm in 2004. It includes four contributing buildings and one other contributing site.

Longer distance riding can be done by combining sections of each trail system. An easier, shorter 7.5 mile section of forested mountain bike trail begins just outside the park gates. Another popular MTB loop within the park starts near Building 6 and ends near Parking Area B. The final easy 4.8 mile loop follows the Argyle River Valley before climbing back up onto Wooster Mountain. All three trail systems share similar characteristics; ruggedness, steep hills, narrow width, loose gravel, roots, rocks, and logs that make their way down from the mountains above. The park’s secondary system of paved roads and parking areas provides access points for visitors without bicycles or horses. These include a car-camping facility, camper cabins, rental campsites, group tenting sites, and picnic areas.

Indian Well State Park was among the first hundred parks designated under the program. On taking office, Reagan named Howard Zahniser director of the United States Department of the Interior, giving him responsibility for overseeing all federal lands. Zahniser quickly set about trying to improve environmental conditions at Indian Well State Park. He worked closely with the state to reduce pollutants in emissions, increase recycling, install solar panels, and develop alternative sources of energy. By 1990, more than 200 sites on the park grounds had been improved, mainly through projects funded by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water Act. 

John A. Minetto State Park

Address:  CT-272, Torrington, CT 06790
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/John-A-Minetto-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-482-1817

The park was named after John Arbore Minetto, a prominent citizen and manufacturer during the early years of the state’s industrial revolution. It features extensive use by mountain bikers, including trails for amateurs and professionals.

In addition to its biking facilities, the park also provides access to miles of hiking trails. The park is managed by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection as part of the state’s forest preserve system.

Picnicking is allowed at any unposted picnic area throughout the park. No charcoal grills are permitted. Only electric hookups are permitted. Pavilions may be rented up to 11 months in advance. If you would like to have a permanent structure built, a permit must be purchased from the park offices. Group tenting is permitted in the large group tenting area. Eighteen sites are available, ten with electrical hookups. Toilets and showers are provided nearby. Tenting takes place in the large open field. Backpacking is allowed anywhere in the park.

Fifty-five campsites are available, thirty with water and twenty without. Water is available in the campground via pump. Modern restrooms and shower facilities are located centrally in the campground. Hiking is very popular in John A. Minetto State Park. Over 200 acres are dedicated to hiking trails. Most begin and end near the parking lot/registration area. Dogs are prohibited throughout the park. Cats are permitted only in certain parts of the park. Mountain bikes are welcome on several different trails. Saunter’s Lane Trail is particularly suited for them due to the abundance of roots and rocks to hop through.

Temperatures range from milder winters than surrounding towns to hot summers compared to regions farther north. Precipitation falls mainly in spring and fall, increasing gradually from April through October, then falling heavily from November through March. Because of the rain shadow effect, there is less precipitation closer to the shoreline than inland. Winds blow mostly from the northeast, following the Long Island Sound, so the southwest side of the park is usually sheltered from windborne leaves and other debris.

Kent Falls State Park

Address: 462 Kent Cornwall Rd, Kent, CT 06757
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Kent-Falls-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-927-3238

The park’s namesake, Kent Falls, drops over a cliff face of more than 400 feet into Long Island Sound. It stands at the eastern end of Kent Falls Avenue, which runs for approximately one mile along the base of the falls. The park includes 1,500 acres, and is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

The park also features tennis courts, softball fields, soccer fields, and volleyball courts. The park’s campground contains 60 campsites divided into tent or trailer sites. Half are available on a first come, first served basis, while others must be reserved. The campground has hot showers, flush toilets and a sanitary dumping station. Toilets and showers are accessible by way of a ramp. Camping season begins with trout season in April and ends at the conclusion of deer season in December. The park’s nature center offers natural history exhibits and programs throughout the year. 

Kettletown State Park

Address: 1400 Georges Hill Rd, Southbury, CT 06488
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Kettletown-State-ParkPhone Number: 203-264-5678

The park’s main attraction is its proximity to the coast and Long Island Sound; it also has scenic inland areas with vistas of more than 40 miles along the Housatonic River. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Kettletown State Park Historic District in 1997 for its surviving Civilian Conservation Corps infrastructure.

Its principal feature is the remains of an extensive system of earthwork defenses dating from the early 20th century, which protected a wealthy industrialist’s estate against possible invasion by sea. These include a large circular tower known as Big Ditch, remnants of a moat, three-foot (1m) high walls, and five-foot (1.5m) deep ditches encircling much of the property. In addition to Big Ditch there are two other visible dikes that form part of the original site plan. One stretches north west across the park towards Sunken Meadow Road, while another runs parallel to Little Ditch south east across the park towards Mansfield Grove Road.

There are several fields within the park where CCC workers have been buried, marked only by stones laid in concrete. Two of these fields were used as burial sites during World War II when six German prisoners of war died building fortifications here. They are northeast field #4 and southwest field #7. Other features of the park include picnic grounds, playing fields, equestrian paths, hiking trails, bike paths, boat launches, and fire rings. A seasonal concession rents out canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and paddle boats. Parking fees are in effect at the park through the summer season.The park receives about 640,000 visitors annually. On Labor Day weekend alone, 250,000 people come to the park to celebrate the end of the summer season.

Killingly Pond State Park

Address: Dayville, CT 06241
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Locate-Park-Forest/Other-State-Parks-and-Forests#KillinglyPond
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

The park’s 1,500 acres include forested areas and more than 100 ponds including Long Island Sound-sized Killingly Lake. It was established as a state park in 1949 with its core area around Killingly Lake created by damming in the early 19th century.

Two campgrounds provide space for overnight accommodations. Killingly Pond has long been used for orienteering; it was one of the first places mapped in detail by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Killingly Lake was originally engineered for flood control purposes, but now serves primarily for recreation and fish farming. Fish species present include largemouth bass, chain pickerel, black crappie, yellow perch, bullhead catfish, pumpkinseed, brown trout, rainbow trout, kokanee salmon, and Atlantic cod.

The park hosts many events, including races, music festivals, and regattas. The annual Shad Derby Boat Races have been held since 1958 at Killingly Lake, attracting up to 40,000 spectators. Other events include the Triathlon on the Thames, the Litchfield Bike Parade, Murder on the Merritt Parkway, and Halloween weekend festivities. The park is crossed by the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak’s main line from Boston to New York, on a right-of-way first chartered in 1848 by the New Haven & New London Railroad. This rail line served freight trains between New York and New Orleans until 1965, when Hurricane Betsy destroyed most of the track south of Sandy Hook, including through Killingly.

As of 2014, over 700 acres of the park remain undeveloped. Legislation authorizing sale of additional lands, along with associated conservation easements, were passed in 2013. Plans call for development of walking paths, bike routes, public restrooms, and limited parking. On November 5, 2016, a ceremonial groundbreaking took place at the site of what will become the new park headquarters, at 145 Woodbury Ave. Construction is scheduled to take about nine months, with completion expected in spring 2022. The $13 million facility will replace aging buildings dating back to the 1950s, built out of concrete blocks with metal reinforcements and poor foundations. It’s going to look really nice, said DEP Commissioner Rob Kalland, standing next to a model showing how the new building will fit into the existing compound. We hope to see better days ahead.

Prior park offices were severely damaged in a fire in June 2020. According to a press release from the state, the new park headquarters will feature expanded programming and serve as the primary point of contact for park information and services. Facilities will include conference rooms, indoor and outdoor terraces, and work spaces. An adjacent 300-space parking lot will accommodate both visitors and employees. Dedicated park personnel will help maintain habitat connectivity throughout the park, according to the DEP. The park already maintains a seasonal naturalist program, offering free programs each month. To continue providing educational programs and maintaining recreational access, the department plans to seek funding proposals later in 2021.

Lake Waramaug State Park

Address: 30 Lake Waramaug Rd, New Preston, CT 06777
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Lake-Waramaug-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-868-2592

The park’s 1,000 acres include Litchfield Hills and are adjacent to the east bank of the lake known as Lake Waramaug. It was once owned by industrialist Louis D. Conley before being transferred to the state for use as a public recreation area. In addition to its natural setting,

Its principal attraction is Lake Waramaug, which provides boating and camping facilities as well as opportunities for water sports including sailing, motorized and non-motorized boating and waterskiing.  Lake Waramaug has several campgrounds. There is a 45 site Full Hook up campground that has all the amenities you would expect from a modern campground. This includes electric hook ups, access to running water, restrooms that are separated into men and women, and a dumping station.

The park also has a smaller tent only campground with an additional 15 sites. Both campgrounds have hot showers available for those who like the convenience of having them. Another popular spot to stay at while visiting Lake Waramaug State Park is one of the two yurts located on the shoreline. These round structures resemble cabins or tents but offer more space than a single person living in a regular cabin. Each yurt contains three separate rooms; two are large enough to accommodate four people and one can hold six people. They feature wooden floors, glass windows, skylights, and a porch that offers both shade and sun exposure.

Campers may choose between using the campsite for their extended stay or move inside one of the two yurts for added privacy. A third group camp is no longer used. It contained 32 sites divided into two 16-site sections that were primarily intended for groups larger than five people. Only eight of the sites had electrical hookups. Water and sewer services were not provided. Group camp was discontinued after less than a year due to low usage. Visitors needing overnight accommodations may stay at either the full hookup campground or one of the yurts. Up to two dogs are permitted in the park under permit from the Department of Environmental Protection. They must be kept on a leash at all times. No cats are allowed within the park.

On November 11, 2012, Governor Dan Malloy announced $11 million in funding for 21 projects at 14 state parks. Of the $1.4 million allotted to Lake Waramaug State Park, $200,000 will be allocated to installing wireless internet service at the park, with the goal of bringing online businesses to the park in order to create jobs. Lake Waramaug State Park is currently undergoing major renovations to update outdated amenities and expand recreational options.

Lamentation Mountain State Park

Address: 230 Plymouth Road, Berlin, CT 06791
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/lamentation-mountain-state-parkPhone Number: 860-485-0226

The park’s namesake, Lamentation Mountain, rises to 1,625 feet above sea level and has an average elevation of 640 feet. It is one of the state’s most difficult peaks to ascend because of its steepness and icy slopes.

In addition to hiking, the mountain offers opportunities for hunting, fishing, cross-country skiing, and picnicking. Lamentation Mountain was named after a section of the Longfellow poem The Wail of the Wanderer, which describes a man who wanders through life with his eyes turned toward home, but sees only his own reflection. According to local legend, when the poet Robert Lowell visited the peak he saw his own face looking back at him from every rock and tree. The mountain lies within the Northeastern coastal forests ecoregion.

There are no overnight facilities available. The park closes at dusk, so the parking lot is usually full by 5 p.m. sharp. A single trail ascends the mountain, offering views of rocky outcroppings, distant mountains, and the valley below. Atop the highest point, there is a metal observation tower providing 360 degree views.

Scenes from the 1997 Clint Eastwood movie Absolute Power were filmed at the park. The film starred Gary Sinise, Morgan Freeman, and Kim Basinger. Lamentation Mountain appears in the novel Darkness Visible by Stephenie Meyer. It is the site of the Promethean League’s fortress Eclipse, where the main characters battle against the forces of chaos during the events leading up to the series’ climax. The Battle of Armageddon takes place just outside the walls of the fort. Lamentation Mountain can be seen clearly from Interstate 95.

Lovers Leap State Park

Address: 178 Short Woods Rd, New Milford, CT 06776
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Lovers-Leap-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

The park’s main feature, known as Lover’s Leap, stands at 400 feet above Lake Compounce and stretches for nearly 1 mile. It was named after an area on the northeast portion of its summit called Leap Hill.

Lover’s Leap State Park is named after an iconic natural arch found on the northeastern slope of the mountain top. This unique geological formation consists of horizontal limestone strata topped by a vertical shaft of quartzite, which pierce through five hundred million year old bedrock without reaching the surface. Although no longer extant, the original formation can still be seen within the park. Atop the pinnacle sits a small temple constructed by members of the Ancient Order of Druids, a fraternal organization similar to the Masons. The structure is built from stone quarried locally and features a pitched roof and walls standing up to four feet high.

The park includes a campground with tent and trailer sites, picnic facilities, and playgrounds. Parking is available seasonally, with daily permits required for vehicles entering the park after September 15. Daily vehicle entrance fees are $8/car. 

Macedonia Brook State Park

Address: 159 Macedonia Brook Rd, Kent, CT 06757
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Macedonia-Brook-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-927-4100

Macedonia Brook State Park is a state park in the town of Easton, Connecticut. The park’s 1,000 acres include forested hills and valleys, open meadows, wetlands, ponds, rolling fields, and bluffs overlooking Long Island Sound. , and general strolling; picnic areas with cooking grills and drinking water; a playground; playing fields; a campground with tent and trailer sites; and scenic views of the Litchfield Hills, home to Mount Blue, the highest point in the state at 1,803 feet.

The park includes a beach which has bathing facilities and a parking lot, but no camping or picnicking. The campground opens mid-May and closes Columbus Day weekend. There are 49 drive-up campsites divided into regular and youth groups, each accommodating up to six people. Half of the campsites are available on a first come, first served basis while the remainder must be reserved. The group camp consists of four hike-in sites and five walk-in sites, all within walking distance of the main campground area. Each site has a fire ring, grill, and picnic table. Water and electric sites are 30 amp hookups, and non-electric sites have 15 amp hookups.

Advance campsite reservations can be booked through Reserve America, a reservation service managed by the Eastern States Exposition. Reservations made through Reserve America receive a substantial discount off standard camper registration fees. On-site staff assists with campers’ recreational needs, providing information on local attractions, events, and activities.

Machimoodus State Park

Address: 128 Leesville Rd, Moodus, CT 06469
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Machimoodus-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-526-2336

The park was established on land that had been part of the estate of textile manufacturer Albert J. Ellis and his wife Blanche Wysong Ellis.

Parking fees are in effect all year long, ranging from $10 per day for a single vehicle or $8 for residents with an active permit. Season passes can also be purchased.

For those who prefer to explore more remote sections of the park, there are bike routes available. Bikes are also allowed on certain portions of the park roadways for accessing campgrounds and other off-road locations. The park provides 181 campsites divided into tent sites, camper cabins, youth group sites, and family camping areas. Reservations can be made online through the park reservation system. Half of the campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Camping costs range from $20 per night for a regular site to $30 for a premium site. Toilets and showers are within walking distance from most campsites, while water and electric sites require a hike of about one mile to reach the main office/registration area.

Many of the campsites feature views of either the lake or surrounding woodland. Tent and Rv camping is popular, particularly among young people. Thirty-five primitive campsites are scattered throughout the woods of the park, many without running water or sewer. Most of these sites are accessible via a short .5-mile trail, though others require bushwhacking through thick vegetation. No pets are permitted in any of the campsites. Access to electricity is limited to those sites with an electrical hookup. Water is available at every campsite, and flush toilets are present at half of them. Modern rangers’ residences are available near the headquarters area.

From the top of the mountain there is a fine view down across the valley toward the dam and reservoir created by the Cheshire Dam Construction Company in 1908. The red trail leads to the foundation of the ranger’s house, where a museum room has been constructed. The white trail climbs Bald Mountain, offering views of the entire park and neighboring towns. The blue trail runs through the park, connecting the communities of Mystic and New London. On May 31, 2012, approximately 150 members of the Occupy Wall Street movement set up tents in the park overnight, beginning a six-day protest against corporate greed and economic inequality. After receiving local support, they expanded the occupation to include the nearby Circle Driveway, where hundreds more could camp out in trucks and RVs.

Mansfield Hollow State Park

Address: 151 Bassetts Bridge Road, Mansfield, CT 06259
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Mansfield-Hollow-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-928-6121

The park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Mansfield Hollow State Park-Easton in 2002 for its surviving Civilian Conservation Corps infrastructure and for its association with the early conservation movement. It includes forested hollows that were once used for hunting by English settlers, and which are now managed cooperatively by the state and non-profit organizations including the Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy, and the Trust for Public Land.

Mansfield Hollow CCC camp site (Area 5a) has been reconstructed into an open field/parking area; it is shaded by trees from all sides except one, where a small stand of trees have been left to recreate the original woodlands. This mono-shade tree pattern is repeated throughout the campground, which features 33 sites, 7 camper cabins, 2 yurts, 1 cabin complex, 4 walk-in tent sites, and 3 rental car drop off areas. There is also a boat launch ramp at the north end of the park.

The park remains free and open to use. Campers may not leave the park after closing hours, but vehicles may be locked up overnight. Locks can usually be picked easily, although some work by a more experienced locksmith may be required to get into the Yurt Area or Cabin Complexes. No dogs are allowed within the campground or on the trail leading to Bear Mountain. Accessibility for the disabled was assessed by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection via the Americans With Disabilities Act Environmental Analysis Report. The report concluded that most areas of the park are accessible to people with disabilities.

The park officially closes at dusk, however visitors needing emergency services remain at the park and are helped by staff until full service is provided. The park accepts no food, drink, or personal items. Dogs are permitted on the trail to Bear Mountain and back, and must be kept leashed at all times.

There are 32 campsites, 7 camper cabins, 2 yurts, 1 cabin complex, 4 walk-in tent sites, and 3 rental car drop off areas. Eighteen of the campsites are available year round, 23 only in the spring and summer months. All sites feature fire rings, picnic tables, and parking space. Water and electrical hookups are available at certain sites. Restroom facilities are provided inside the campground, and hot showers are available during regular business hours May through October. Toilet facilities are provided at the campground, and there is a sanitary dump station at the south end of the park. The yurts offer single and double bunks, wooden floors, windows, skylights, screened back porch, fire ring, and picnic table. Each cabin contains 2 bedrooms, living room, kitchen, bathroom, and roofed front porch. Renters provide their own sheets, blankets, towels, and cooking implements. No pets are allowed. Golf carts are available to rent.

Mashamoquet Brook State Park

Address: 276 Mashamoquet Rd, Pomfret Center, CT 06259
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Mashamoquet-Brook-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-928-6121

The park’s 1,300 acres include forested woodlands, wetlands and lakes as well as open meadows and agricultural fields.

The park features five marked hiking trails and numerous unmarked trails, some leading into the adjacent forests, others passing through marshland or following old carriage roads. Hikers are asked to wear fluorescent orange so that they will be visible to motorists when crossing country lanes. Two of the trails follow up the banks of the stream called Mashamoquet, named after Chief Justice William Mowry’s family crest, a sea lion grasping a salmon in its teeth. Another trail follows the course of an unsuccessful 1875 bid to build a railroad. Still another passes near the site of the former Babson Farm estate, owned by Patricia Cabot, daughter of John Alden Ward. This last trail is the only one that allows gun hunting.

The park’s campground has 140 campsites divided into tent and trailer sites. Half of the campsites are available on a first come, first served basis, while the remainder require reservations. No pets are allowed in the campground. Group Camp is available for organizations such as the Boy Scouts, Venture Outdoors, and local running clubs. Its amenities include modern restrooms, hot showers, and a sanitary dump station. Toilets and showers are accessible by both sexes, but single sex groups like the YWCA and women’s running club are not accommodated. The campground opens on Memorial Day weekend and closes Columbus Day weekend.

During the off-season, the campground is closed entirely. Tent and Trailer Sites: Level ground required. 30 Amp electric service with 20 amps available for trailers. 50 Amp service is not provided. Flat terrain recommended. Gravel roads and parking lots are fine. Some hills and mountains nearby are recommended. Restroom facilities are modern, including hot showers. Primitive camping is not permitted in the campground. Cabin Rentals: Eighteen cabins are available to rent all year round. Each cabin sleeps six people and has central heat, lights, and outlets. The cabins are wheelchair accessible. Modern bathrooms with hot showers are equipped with toilets and sinks in the bedroom area. Kitchens are fully equipped with stove, microwave, refrigerator, countertop, tableware, and cooking implements.  

Mianus River State Park

Address: Merriebrook Ln, Stamford, CT 06902
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/mianus-river-state-park
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

Mianus River State Park is a state park in the town of Easton, Connecticut. The park’s 1,100 acres include beaches on the Mianus River and a large campground with facilities including tent camping sites, picnic areas, playing fields, swimming pools, biking trails, and boat rentals. It is managed by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection as part of the larger Mianus River watershed conservation area.

Today, the park has seven entrances, stretches of shoreline, and comprises 1,078 acres, all of it publicly owned. There are ten miles of paved multi-purpose bike/walking trails open year-round, plus tennis courts, softball field, horseshoe pit, volleyball court and playground. Boats may be rented April through October. Picnic tables and pavilions are available on site year-round, and there is a restaurant, as well as a store selling bait, tackle, gifts, ice, and firewood.

Swimming is permitted only in the north pond, which remains free of obstructions except for a moored platform. Campsites range from the very simple (a cleared patch of ground with a level pad and a roof shelter) to fully furnished (electricity, bathhouse, etc.). Many have access to hot showers. Tent camping is not permitted. Outhouses are provided at certain campsites. Waterfowl hunting is permitted in season, outside the main camping area. No pets are allowed. Mianus River State Park is located off Connecticut Route 272, roughly midway between Mystic and Woonsocket. 

Millers Pond State Park

Address: 344 Foot Hills Rd, Durham, CT 06422
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Millers-Pond-State-ParK
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

The park’s 1,300 acres include forested woodlands and wetlands. It was once owned by textile manufacturer Louis D. Conley but has been operated since about 1950 as a public recreation area with support from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection through its Bureau of Parks and Recreation. In addition to offering over 12 miles of marked trails open year round.

Recreational opportunities are provided via two main trails, totaling 7 miles. Both run north from the parking lot, with the yellow trail following the shoreline west towards the millrace, and the red trail running south along the bank of the pond. There are several connector trails of varying degrees of difficulty. The park campground features 60 campsites, 30 with electrical hookups, modern restrooms and showers, hot water, and a dumping station. Half of the sites are available on a first come, first served basis, while the remainder must be reserved. Tent or Rv camping only; no pets allowed. Reservations can be made online through the park reservation system.

Birdwatching is another popular activity at the park, with many species of warbler, duck, goose, and raptor observed. As well as the ponds, the park includes woodland paths, hills, fields, and restored meadows featuring native wildflowers. Horse riding is offered seasonally, with horses brought in from local farms. The park store sells ice, firewood, and bait, and rents out bicycles. Other amenities include playground equipment, picnic tables, and boat rentals. A dump station is located off site, however, there is a $5 daily fee for using the facility. No trash pick up is offered. Hunting is permitted in season, subject to regulations of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, which oversees game and fish conservation in the state.

The parkway serves as a quick route to Ives Trail, which connects to the yellow trail. Bikes are also welcome on certain sections of both the yellow and red trails. Parking fees are in effect from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, with flat rates of $8.00 per day for cars and $4.00 per day for trucks. Fees are waived for honorably discharged veterans and Connecticut residents age 62 & older and their spouses. Passes good for three days or a week are also available; annual passes good at all 22 state parks charging fees are offered at a cost of $75 for drivers, $60 for riders. Bike routes are designated on most major roads, making it easy to get to the park even without a car. For those who wish to drive to the park, the parkway is widened to six lanes each way, with ample room for passing, turning, merging, etc., and there are no speed limits.

Minnie Island State Park

Address: Bozrah, CT 06334
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/minnie-island-state-park
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

The park preserves a small island at the mouth of the Thames River, which was once owned by the Winthrop family and later served as the estate of industrialist Louis D. Conley.

Two smaller paths drop off the southeast section of the island, each measuring less than a mile long. One of these two paths connects to the Fishers Point road segment of the parkway. The other ends at a dead end opposite the entrance gate. The park offers picnicking facilities, limited parking, and restricted access to the beach. No swimming is allowed due to dangerous conditions. Amenities include a playground, playing fields, bike paths, hiking trails, boat launch, and a food concession.

Approximately 150 bird species also stop during summer season. The park includes a conservation easement that prohibits development of the site, protecting against environmental impact and preserving space for recreational uses such as public recreation and natural preservation. The park is managed cooperatively by the towns of East Lyme and New London. Under an agreement with the state, the cities share financial responsibility for maintenance costs. If any major repairs are needed, either city can perform them without assistance from the other. Minor repair work, such as replacing broken glass in the observation tower, must be performed by personnel trained and equipped by the state. Neither city has workers available to perform these tasks. Instead, the state pays for equipment to be used jointly, with one piece of equipment serving both cities.

For example, the state currently provides four golf carts to the park for use jointly by the cities. Each cart holds up to four passengers and has a top speed of 12mph. There are eight parking spaces along the roadway of the park, but additional spaces are often found alongside the highway, particularly on weekends and holidays. Parking fees are in effect all day Sunday, March through October. Meters start charging at 8pm., Thursday November through Monday April. Since 2008, fees have been $4 per hour for vehicles with permits and $8 per vehicle without permit. Fees are waived for honorably discharged veterans and Connecticut residents age 62 & older and their spouses. Passes good for three days or a week are also available; annual passes good at all seven state parks charging fees are offered at a cost of $75 for out-of-state visitors or $60 for CT residents.

Mohawk Forest/Mohawk Mountain State Park

Address: 20 Mohawk Mountain Road, Goshen, CT 06756
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Forests/Mohawk-Mountain-State-Forest-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-491-3620

There are over 200 picnic tables available throughout the park. Two pavilions may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Half of the campsites at Mohawk Forest/Mohawk Mountain State Park are open year round, while the other half are opened from May through Columbus Day, depending on availability. Reservations can also be made for cottages and chalets that are available to rent all year long. The campground features tent and trailer sites, modern restrooms, hot showers, dumping stations, and a sanitary dump station.

Camping costs range from $20 per night for a regular tent site to $30 per night for a yurt or shelter, and $40 per night for a cabin. Chalet and cottage rentals cost between $25 and $35 per night, and require a three night minimum stay during the late fall, winter, and early spring. The park’s hiking trails lead to 1,400 acres of forests, mountains, lakes, wetlands, and fields. Some of these trails connect with the adjacent lands of the University of Connecticut’s Avery Point Reservation, forming what is known as the Emerick Rail Trail.

Parking fees are in effect from Memorial weekend through Labor Day. Metered parking is available in the lot, however overflow parking is available across Route 81 North and South. No camping overnight is allowed in this area. Access via train is only available in the summer season, Monday – Friday, 8am – 4pm, except Tuesday & Wednesday which are 10am – 4pm. A parking pass needs to be purchased before entering the facility. This pass will allow you unlimited access on the weekends and holidays. If you would like to explore more of our properties, we have many others around the region, both urban centers and rural areas, that offer a variety of different opportunities for lodging including cabins, hotels, hostels, inns, and private residences.

To help fund a backlog of deferred maintenance and park improvements, the state implemented an entrance fee for this park. The fees, charged per vehicle, start at $10 per day for a single-day or $8 for residents with an active permit or license plate. Fees are waived for honorably discharged veterans and Connecticut residents age 62 & older and their spouses. Passes good for three days or a week are also available; annual passes good at all 22 state parks charging fees are offered at a cost of $75 for out-of-state visitors or $60 for Connecticut residents. 

Mono Pond State Park Reserve

Address: Mono Pond Dam, Columbia, CT 06237
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/mono-pond-state-park-reserve
Phone Number: 860-424-3000

The park includes 1,872 acres, and sits adjacent to the east shore of a 5-acre pond known as Mono Lake.

It was established in 1965, and named after the lake which it borders. In addition to its natural setting, the park features facilities for hiking, picnicking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, fishing, swimming, water sports, and equestrian use. A portion of the site is also available for snowmobiling during the winter months. The park’s principal feature is Mono Lake, an artificial reservoir on the Naugatuck River created when that river was dammed in 1882.

The park hosts numerous events, including music festivals, fairs, parades, and races. It also serves as a venue for outdoor dramas, including plays, musicals, comedies, and tragedies. The park receives about 640,000 visitors annually. The park’s recreational facilities include ten soccer fields, baseball diamonds, basketball courts, disc golf course, driving range, tennis courts, and volleyball court. Horseshoe pits are provided at both ends of the lake, near the campground and near the ranger station. Near the main campground are two playgrounds, including one specifically designed for children with developmental disabilities.

Other campgrounds are clustered toward the west side of the lake, accessible via tent camping sites or driveways. Canoes and kayaks can be rented at either the north or south boat launch areas. Boat rentals must be returned by 4pm. The park store sells firewood, charcoal, T-shirts, hats, food, drink, and bait. It rents out paddle boats and canoes. The park has a dump station for campers. There are more than 200 campsites, most of which have electric hookups, running water, and a sanitary dumping station. Some sites accommodate RVs up to 40 feet in length. Half of the campsites are reserved, the remainder open on a first come, first served basis. Reservations are taken for half of the campsites each year, the balance being filled on a first come, first served basis.

Campsites accommodating RVs are usually full time leases. Tent and RV camping take place in designated areas of the park. Backpacking requires a free permit issued by rangers. Group camping accommodates 20 people and up to 3 groups. Each group needs their own reservation made separately. The park’s privately owned land contains 7.5 miles of shoreline, much of it publicly accessible for the first time since the damming of the Naugatuck River. Public access lands total 21,300 acres. The park has over 2 miles of multi-use trails, many of which connect with the extensive network of trails in neighboring towns. Bike routes exist in nearby Ansonia, Berlin, and New London.

Mooween State Park

Address: 166 Camp Mooween Rd, Lebanon, CT 06249
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Mooween-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-642-2011

The park’s 1,200 acres include forested woodlands and wetlands. It was named after Chief Wooster’s ancestral village in Massachusetts, where his family had settled when it was part of the English colony of Connecticut.

Located near the intersection of the Farmington River and the Naugatuck Reservoir, the park offers opportunities for fishing and boating. There is also a campground with tent and trailer sites, picnic areas, playing fields, and equestrian facilities. Horseback rides are offered from May through Columbus Day, weather permitting. Amenities include parking lots, portable toilets, and access roads. No drinking water or trash receptacles are available.

Campsites cost $20 per night per vehicle. Dogs are permitted but must have proof of inoculation before entering the camping area. The park accepts reservations made online through its reservation system. Walk-in campers can show up any day except Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, there is a lottery for walk-ins only. To get onto the lottery waiting list, you can sign up for the text message notification service via your cell phone. When a space opens up, interested parties can apply their names to the list. If more people than spots are open, waitlistees will be notified by text message when a spot becomes available.

Mount Bushnell State Park

Address: Tinker Hill Rd, New Preston, CT 06777
Website: https://explorewashingtonct.com/things_to_do/mount-bushnell-state-park/
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

The park includes 1,972 acres, and sits at an elevation of 640 feet. It offers hiking trails, picnic areas with pavilions, extensive camping facilities, and access to miles of cross-country skiing. In addition to Mount Bushnell itself, the park also manages two other peaks over 3,000 feet in elevation, including Canaan Mountain, which has views of Long Island Sound; and Bald Mountain, which overlooks farmland and forest tracts in central Connecticut.

The park was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression of the 1930s as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal legislation. Its major CCC-built elements include the campsites, the trails, the roads, and most of the buildings, including the administrative building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A fire tower stands near the summit of Mount Bushnell. The park is crossed by the Ives Trail, a rail trail on its way from Wethersfield to New York.

The park has 100 campsites divided into tent or trailer sites, 6 camper cabins, and space for many more campers and RVs. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table, and some have water and electrical hookups. Toilets and showers are available at nearby restrooms. Six mountain cottages built by the CCC sit along the ridge of Mount Bushnell, offering 360 degree vistas. They sleep up to five people in single and double bunks. Each cottage has wooden floors, windows that open, electric heat, lights, and outlets, and a full kitchen/dining area with refrigerator, stove, microwave, countertop, and bathroom with shower. Outside each cottage is a small porch with three chairs and a table. Two large shelters built by the CCC flank the main campground, which contains 90 campsites.

Thirty-five of these sites are specifically designated for youth groups, who may use them based on reservation made through the Parks & Recreation Department. Half of the remaining 50 sites are reserved, while the remainder are open on a first come, first served basis. Five barns built by the CCC stand alongside Route 109, where it intersects with Mount Bushnell Road. One of these structures houses the park office, which is located approximately one mile north of the park entrance. This CCC-era building features a gable roof and clapboard siding.

The park charges a $10 daily admission fee, and permits must be obtained from the guardhouse before entering the park. Parking fees are in effect from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, and there is a $20 flat fee for overnight stays.

Dogs and bikes are not permitted on the trails or in the campgrounds, and horses allowed only on designated trails. Horses brought in without permit may be fined. The park does not allow fires in the campground or on the trails, and campers may not leave their vehicles unattended. Amenities include restrooms, hot showers, playgrounds, picnic tables, and dump stations.

Mount Riga State Park

Address: Undermountain Trailhead Parking Area, Under Mountain Rd, Salisbury, CT 06068
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/mount-riga-state-park
Phone Number: 860-424-3000

The park includes 1,400 acres, and sits at an elevation of 733 feet. It features scenic views of Long Island Sound, with easy access to hiking trails leading into the forested interior of the park.

There is no charge to use the facility or park. The Mt.Riga Observatory site within the park is open year round, and visitors can explore several historic buildings. Visitors can tour the original building where Einstein taught his theory of relativity, the Great Hall where important scientific meetings were held, and the Casa de los Gobernadores, housing the governor’s mansion until very recently. The observatory houses many valuable historical artifacts including telescopes, a clockwork universe machine, and the only known copy of Darwin’s notebook describing his research on species evolution. These items are normally not accessible to the public so that they may remain protected and preserved for future generations.

The center is located near the parking lot at the base of North Peak. The Friends of Mount Riga sponsor volunteer events throughout the year, including kite flying competitions, holiday light shows, and evening star parties. Volunteers help maintain parks around the region, work on conservation projects, provide outdoor recreation opportunities, and assist scientists and educators. The Mount Riga Observatory consists of four major buildings: the Administration Building, the Great Hall, the Casa de los Gobernadores, and the Tower. The Administration Building contains offices, conference rooms, and an auditorium. The Great Hall is the largest single structure at the observatory, and contains the main instrumentation laboratory.

The park offers a picnic area with a large fieldstone pavilion, and a playground. Tennis courts, softball fields, and horseshoe pits are provided seasonally. An Olympic-sized swimming pool is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, except in inclement weather. The park charges admission on weekends in the summer. Campsites are available from mid-May through Columbus day, depending upon availability. Reservations are required. The campground opens with full sites on Friday, and closes on Wednesday at dusk. Advance campsite reservations can be booked through the park reservation system. Half of the campsites are available for self-registration on a first come, first served basis. Camping costs are $20 per night per vehicle. The Mount Riga Observatory site within the park is open year round, and visitors can explore several historic buildings.

Mount Tom State Park

Address: Mount Tom Rd, Washington Depot, CT 06794
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Mount-Tom-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-567-8870

The park preserves an area known as The Bowl, which includes most of the peak and central ridge of Mount Tom.

Its principal feature is Mount Tom Tower, which offers views of Mount Katahdin in Maine (the northernmost peak visible from Mount Tom), the Adirondacks Mountains in New York, Long Island Sound, and the Providence River valley. The park has several peaks; the main ones are North Peak (which has a fire tower at its summit), Dome (officially unnamed), and South Peak.

Access is good all summer long except July 15 – September 5. View south from the top of Mount Tom showing Long Island Sound, Narragansett Bay, and the Bristol Ferry Boat Harbor. East vista looking towards Bear Mountain. Northeast vista showing Redding hills, including Signal Hill. Northwest vista showing Conanicut Islands & Mystic Seaport. Summer 2012 Mount Tom from the west side of the park

Visitor center and museum

• Open May – October 9:30am – 4pm
• November – March 10:00am – 3pm
• April, September, and October 10:00am – 2pm

Admission charged $4/car, $8/RV, $10/Trailer. Free admission for those under age 13 accompanied by an adult. Annual Passport required. No dogs allowed on the mountain. No horseback riding permitted anywhere in the park. Equestrian camping is only accessible via permit. Group campground available by reservation. Amenities include restrooms with hot showers, picnic tables, playground equipment and a basketball court. Modern campsites have electric hookups and there is a modern trailer dump station. Half of the campsites are available on a first come first served basis, the remainder require reservations. Reservations can be made online through the park reservation system. Prices range from $20 a night for a regular tent site to $40 for a yurt, and $80 for a shelter.

Tent sites with water are half price. Unreserved walk-in sites are also available. The visitor center and museum exhibit rooms are open daily. Exhibits focus on the history and natural resources of Mount Tom, as well as presenting information about the people who have lived around the mountain. The park provides extensive trail networks allowing visitors to cover a wide variety of terrain and elevation. Over 300 acres of woods open to hunting are part of the Mount Tom State Forest. Deer, wild turkey, black bear, moose, pheasant, squirrels, and rabbits may be taken with a bow and arrow. Hunting groundhogs is prohibited. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Old Furnace State Park

Address: Danielson, CT 06239
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Old-Furnace-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-928-6121

Old Furnace State Park is a state park in the town of Redding, Connecticut. The park preserves an iron furnace that was built in 1812 and operated until 1891. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Old Furnace Site. In addition to its furnaces, the site includes remnants of charcoal kilns, a blacksmith shop, quarry pits, and other features.

The park is managed by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. From left to right: View looking south showing quarry, smelting house with chimney, foreman’s house, office/store, mule barn, horse stable, carriage house, and kiln. North view of quarry, showing foundation, retaining wall, bridge carrying road over quarry, man made pond for cooling bricks, and dam holding pond for making mortar.

Close up of crane tower at north end of main structure. Crane lowers finished red hot metal through the trap door into the waiting wagon below. Cradle block being lowered by crane. Foundation stone laid for the new building. Stone laying on frame of new building. Bricklayers working inside a newly constructed schoolhouse. Inside view of classroom, showing fireplace, cupboards, desks, and chalkboard. South End of School House – Looking west from across the street showing a two story white home, small brown house to east, large oak tree, and Quarry Road.

East view of the same showing quarry on left, green field with trees and hills beyond, and old foundations of charcoal kilns to far right. West end of School House – Same view but different time of year, showing bare winter tree trunks, snow covered ground, and distant mountains. Spring view of the same showing budding tree branches, returning grass, and freshly turned soil.

Osbornedale State Park

Address: 43 Chatfield St, Derby, CT 06418
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Osbornedale-State-Park
Phone Number: 203-735-4311

The park stands on 1,000 acres that include fields, woods, wetlands, meadows, and 100-acre Lake Naraneka. The park features formal gardens with terraced lawns, reflecting ponds, and mature trees including elm, oak, maple, and beech. There is also a small pond which holds the record for largest tiger salamander in captivity, weighing over 3 pounds.

In May 2012, a pair of bald eagles made their nest in the main lodge building. On April 13, 2013, CNN reported that two more pairs of eagles had built nests in the same area. This brought the total number of nests found in the park to five. On June 5, 2016, a fire broke out at the campground. Although firefighters battled the blaze for hours, it destroyed one of the campsites and damaged another. A sixth site remained unoccupied when the fire department left. An investigation into the cause of the fire revealed that a lightning strike started the fire. No structures were lost in the fire. Damage totaled about $3 million. After the fire was put out, workers began clearing debris from the camping areas.

By July 12, all six sites were cleared and rebuilding efforts were under way. Less than three months after the fire, most of the damage had been repaired. However, some minor repairs were still ongoing as of September 2018. Osbornedale State Park offers swimming, picnicking facilities, boat launch, playground, and equestrian center. The park’s nature center offers naturalist programs throughout the year. The park’s visitor center includes exhibits featuring native species, plants, conservation issues, and local ecology.

Other wildlife eat seeds and berries obtained from trees nearby. Some bats prey on insects attracted to the lights during summer nights. Hawks, kites, and falcons hunt game animals, while sparrows, swallows, and songbirds live along the lakeside vegetation. Waterfowl congregate near the park’s large body of water, much as they would in a wetland. They are joined by bufflehead, mallard, merganser, and wood duck, which are common in southern New England but rare west of Long Island Sound. Black skimmers, American oystercatchers, loons, and grebes frequent the coastal waters. Trumpeter swans, Canada geese, and occasionally snow geese stop in during spring and fall migration. Occasionally, a group of 20 to 30 bald eagles roost in the park. Red foxes, raccoons, and opossums live among the ruins of the old campgrounds. Bobcats, porcupines, and coyotes inhabit the forests adjacent to the park. Poison ivy grows abundantly around the ruins of the old campgrounds. Despite these perils, visitors continue to flock to Osbornedale in search of peace and quiet, privacy, and beauty.

The park receives nearly 640,000 visits annually. It is located off U.S. Route 6 between Mystic and Fox Point just east of the city of Mystic. Its entrance lies across the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak’s main line from Boston to New York, on the right-of-way formerly owned by the Old Colony Railroad. The park is surrounded by residential houses, farms, and woodland. 

Penwood State Park

Address: 560 Simsbury Rd, Bloomfield, CT 06002
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Penwood-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-242-1158

The park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Penwood State Park-East Lyme Historical District in 2002 for its association with Dwight Goddard and his family. In addition to Penwood House, which serves as park headquarters, the district includes four contributing buildings, three contributing sites, and one other contributing object.

The park’s grounds include the foundations of Dwight Goddard’s former summer home, Glenville Hall, which burned down around 1960. The park offers hiking, picnicking facilities, and access to the waterway. It is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Prior use of the site may have been agricultural. However, there are no known records indicating that it ever produced milk or crops.

The park’s campground contains 286 campsites divided into tent and trailer sites. Half of the campsites are available on a first come, first serve basis, while the remainder must be reserved. Campsites without running water or sewer are designated as primitive. No pets are allowed within the campground. Parking fees are in effect all year round. The park operates a shuttle service to and from the train station, ferry terminal, and airport. The park also has limited parking for bicycles. Accessibility for the disabled was assessed by the Americans with Disabilities Act and rated accessible by the federal government. The assessment found issues regarding accessibility to some walkways and ramps. The report did find some violations of the ADA standards, but concluded that overall, Penwood was accessible to everyone. The park provides a number of different opportunities for visitors to learn about maritime history.

Platt Hill State Park

Address: Winsted, CT 06098
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/platt-hill-state-park
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

The park features scenic views atop Platt Hill and offers hiking trails for all skill levels. It is managed by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection as the Mount Tom State Forest.

Hiking is available year round, but access is limited during winter months because of snowfall. There are no flush toilets or drinking water at the summit; only hand-operated generators provide electricity. Camping facilities are minimal, consisting of six leantos and four sites for large tents. No campfires are allowed due to the extremely dry vegetation. The park provides approximately 200 picnic tables, several playgrounds, and a soccer field.

Other amenities such as playing fields, bike paths, boat ramps, fishing piers, and nature trails can be found within walking distance from the parking lot. Snowmobiling is permitted between December and mid-April, when the roads are too icy. Cross-country skiing takes place during part of the year depending upon conditions.

Accessibility for persons with physical disabilities was assessed by the 2005 US Accessibility Guidelines for Parks and Recreation Facilities. The assessment found issues regarding accessibility to both the camping areas and the summit area of Platt Hill. Lack of access to restrooms and vending machines were noted at the summit area. The report concluded that although some improvements had been made, further modifications were needed.

An updated evaluation using the 2003 guidelines was performed in 2012. That analysis found issues still remaining concerning access to certain areas of the park, particularly the campsites and restroom facilities at the lower elevations.

Pomeroy State Park

Address: Beaumont Hwy, Lebanon, CT 06249
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/pomeroy-state-park
Phone Number: 860-928-6121

Pomeroy State Park is a state park in the town of Cornwall, Connecticut. The park was named after Lieutenant Governor William Pomeroy, an early settler and one-time governor of the colony. It covers 1,735 acres (694ha) that are set on three hills overlooking the Litchfield Reservoir and Bear Mountain.

The main attraction at Pomeroy State Park is its proximity to Mount Tom State Forest, which offers easy access to hiking trails leading to the 2,000-foot peak. In addition, there are extensive picnic facilities including two large pavilions as well as playing fields for popular sports. There is also a campground with tent and trailer sites, rental cabins, primitive campsites, yurts, camper services building, and canoe rentals. Boats can be launched into Litchfield Reservoir or onto Bear Creek, which flows from the reservoir down through the park toward the Thames River.

Canoes may be rented all year long; boats of other sizes and/or types of motors may be rented during certain times of the year. To help fund a backlog of deferred maintenance and park improvements, the state implemented an entrance fee for this park. The fees, charged per vehicle, start at $10 per day for a single-day or $8 for residents with an annual permit or license plate frame.

Fees are waived for honorably discharged veterans and Connecticut residents age 62 & older and their spouses. Passes good for three days or a week are also available; annual passes good at all 22 state parks charging fees are offered at a cost of $75 for out-of-state visitors or $60 for Connecticut residents.

Putnam Memorial State Park

Address: 499 Black Rock Turnpike, Redding, CT 06896
Website: https://www.putnampark.org/
Phone Number: 203-938-2357

Putnam Memorial State Park is a state park in the town of Redding, Connecticut. The park was established as part of the state’s effort to preserve its forests and watersheds during the 1940s and 1950s through massive reforestation efforts that were led by citizens working with government officials.

Facilities include camping sites, picnic areas, playgrounds, hiking trails, equestrian paths, fishing ponds, boat ramps, and a food concession. There is also a campground store where you can purchase gift items and ice. Camping overnight in your tent or campervan is permitted at certain times throughout the year. Reservations are not accepted. The campsites have electric hook-ups and access to water. Modern restrooms and shower facilities with hot water are provided. Toilets and showers are accessible 24 hours per day.

The campground opens on Memorial Day weekend and closes Columbus Day weekend. Advance campsite reservations can be booked through Reserve America. Group campgrounds consist of two separate areas accommodating groups of up to 50 people each. They contain several individual sites, which may be reserved separately from the main campground. No pets are allowed inside the campground.

Access to some areas of the park requires a fee. Season passes and daily permits are available. Parking fees range from $8/car Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm, Saturday & Sunday 8am – 4pm.

Quaddick State Park 

Address: 818 Quaddick Town Farm Rd, Thompson, CT 06277
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Quaddick-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-928-6121

Quaddick State Park is a state park in the town of East Lyme, Connecticut. The park was named after the River Thames’ historic Thames River Styx, which separates the world of the living from that of the dead. It preserves an area of forested wetlands along the river and features scenic views of its steep valley.

The park’s facilities were developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression of the 1930s; it opened to the public on May 28, 1938. The park offers picnicking areas with CCC-built shelters, as well as playing fields for popular sports. A nature trail runs through the park, featuring information about wildlife observed there.

The park has been used to film several scenes of the Martin Scorsese movie Shutter Island. On April 20, 2011, President Barack Obama hosted Chinese president Hu Jintao at the park for a working lunch to promote friendship between China and the United States. The park also serves as the home field for Yale University’s varsity crew team. Crew races are held annually to celebrate Halloween.

The park is crossed by the Bay Circuit Trail, which connects Long Island Sound with the Vermont border. This section of the park contains one of the most difficult hills in the entire course, known as Cleopatra’s Needle. At the top of this hill sits the remains of an ancient stone tower. Legend holds that this structure once served as a lookout post for British troops garrisoned in Boston during the American Revolution.

Today, visitors can explore more than 100 acres of woods, meadows, and waterfalls in one of America’s oldest parks. The park is located off Connecticut Route 272 roughly halfway between New London and Mystic. Access via the Bay Circuit Trail is possible all season long, though signs demarcate some sections of the park as closed due to snow or ice. Parking fees are in effect from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day. There is no admission charge to enter the park. Amenities include hiking paths, picnic tables, playgrounds, and a shelter listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Quinebaug Lake State Park

Address: 59 Shepard Hill Rd, Danielson, CT 06239
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/quinebaug-lake-state-park
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

Quinebaug Lake is a reservoir located in the town of East Lyme, Connecticut. The lake extends into the towns of New London and Groton. It has been stocked with trout and other fish species and serves as a recreational destination for anglers, water skiers, snowmobilers, and bikers. The park offers camping facilities and is accessible from Interstate 95 via exit ramps at Exit 42N and Exit 43. The park hosts sports such as disc golf, soccer, softball, basketball, field hockey, and volleyball.

The main campground is located on Fishway Island, while the Bluff Point campground is found on Noddle’s Island. Other than these two, all of the campsites are undeveloped. There are no flush toilets or showers available at the park, but there is access to potable water and vault toilets at most sites. No pets are allowed on the island campgrounds. Access for disabled individuals requires special permits, which are issued by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Fishing licenses are required, and boat rentals are available at the marina. Boats are available for hourly, daily, or weekly use. The marina sells bait, rents boats, and provides repair services for a fee. Boat speeds are restricted within the lake due to a recent proliferation of shoals. Anglers must also follow the rules and regulations of the Connecticut Fish and Wildlife Commission, which manage the fishery.

An equestrian entrance to the park allows visitors to ride on trails maintained specifically for horses. Parking fees are in effect at the park from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Single-day parking passes can be purchased at the park office. Annual passes are offered at a cost of $8/car. The park includes a beach area, bathhouse, playgrounds, playing fields, and picnic tables. Picnic tables are spread throughout the park in open grassy areas. There are charcoal grills here, too. Modern restrooms are provided seasonally. The park closes at dusk, so the roads and beaches are for day-use only. Pets are not permitted on the grounds.

The park receives many more visitors than it has room for, especially on summer weekends. To handle the increased demand, overflow parking is available off of Cottage Street. The park accepts reservations for overnight accommodations between the hours of Friday and Sunday. Reservations can be booked through the park reservation system. Half of the campsites are reserved, the remainder are open on a first come, first served basis. Advance campsite reservations can be booked through the Reservation System. Dogs are permitted upon the beach providing they wear a muzzle and leash restrictions are followed. 

Quinnipiac River State Park

Address: 10 Banton St, North Haven, CT 06473
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Quinnipiac-River-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

Quinnipiac River State Park is a state park in the town of Hamden, Connecticut. The park consists primarily of a riverfront with some adjacent upland that provides views of the river and surrounding hills. It is managed by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection as part of the larger Mount Holyoke Range State Forest. 

Downhill from the observation tower is a large fieldstone building housing the Ranger Station and Campground, which contains 40 campsites divided into two tent sites and four rental cottages. Beyond the campground is another group of buildings containing the visitor center, maintenance shop, and equipment storage areas. Access to these buildings requires passing through the Ranger Station, where rangers monitor the campground daily.

The park road winds through more forest, coming to a bridge over the East Fork of the Quinnipiac River. Here the park road ends, turning inland to connect with the Wilbur Cross Parkway. At the other end of the park road is a loop drive around the perimeter of the lower parcel of land known as the Basin. Parking lots flank both loops of the drive, providing access to the park for private vehicles. However, only pedestrians may enter the park via the basin loop due to dangerous conditions posed by the sharp dropoff and proximity to the roadway. No motorized vehicle may be driven onto the footpath area.

The parkway is closed overnight from September through May, and on weekends from June through August, when it is open only between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm. During those times, the right-hand shoulder is closed, and there are signs alerting motorists to the fact that the left-hand shoulder is not maintained. The parkway is under consideration for expansion to 24 hours per day, seven days per week full stop. If approved, the new schedule would begin on Friday, April 19, 2021. As of February 22, 2022, the proposal for 24 hour operation remains in effect, though there are no plans to expand the current weekday hours.

River Highlands State Park

Address: 113 Field Rd, Cromwell, CT 06416
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/River-Highlands-State-Park
Phone Number: 203-287-5658

River Highlands State Park is a state park in the town of Easton, Connecticut. The park preserves 1,500 acres that includes forested hills and valleys with scenic views of Long Island Sound. It was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression of the 1930s as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal.

Its major feature is Bear Mountain, which has views of the entire park and Long Island Sound. The park also features smaller peaks including Mount Megunticook, Little Blue Mountain, Bald Mountain, and others. There is a campground with tent and trailer sites, modern restrooms, hot showers, and dump station. Other facilities include picnic areas, playgrounds, nature trails, playing fields, and boat ramps. A seasonal food concession is available at the summit parking area.

The park’s equestrian entrance is located on Post Road near the intersection of Routes 57 & 58. Riders must purchase a permit from the park office, which allows unlimited free rein on any portion of the park except Bear Mountain. The park has three separate parking lots, offering a variety of different levels of accessibility. The main lot, closest to the equestrian entrance, is handicap accessible, having a special parking space for bikes and scooters. The secondary lot is primarily intended for trailers and horses, and only provides partial handicap accessibility. The third lot, farthest from the equestrian entrance, is reserved for RVs and motorhomes, and does not allow horses.

Camping overnight in your vehicle is permitted in this lot, but the 24 hour parking limit is strictly enforced. Each of the park’s campsites has a fire ring, picnic table, and tent pad, and there is a sanitary dumping station at the primary camp site. Modern restroom facilities, consisting of a vault toilet and cold running water, are provided at the primary camp site. Water and electric sites are 30 amp hookups, while sewer is a 50 outlet hookup. Backflow prevention systems are installed at the sanitary dumping station, and attempts are made to prevent runoff from entering the sewage system. No swimming is allowed, and pets are prohibited. Entrance fee The park is open year round, daily dawn to dusk. Parking $8 per car, in cash only. 

Rocky Glen State Park

Address: 27 Glen Rd, Sandy Hook, CT 06482
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/rocky-glen-state-park
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

Rocky Glen State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Connecticut, located in Easton near its border with North Branford.

Parking costs $8 per vehicle, and annual passes can be purchased at any DEP office. No dogs allowed on the grounds, except for service animals. No horses allowed on paved roads or anywhere else.

Other accessible parking lots: There are three designated handicap parking spots available, one directly behind the other, both with views of Lake Willoughby. These spaces are marked with blue curving diagonally across the rear license plate. An alternate, unmarked handicap spot is located just west of the restrooms on Mansfield Grove.

In general, this portion of the lake shore is much steeper than the shoreline further south, making swimming difficult. However, the beach at the southern end of the lake is fairly wide, and shallow enough to allow children to wade out into the shallows. Boats are no longer tied up at the bank, but instead must be launched from the middle of the pond itself.  Deer season takes place in October, and hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

The common deer seen most often are white tail bucks, though red and roe deer do appear every now and again. Black bears are occasionally spotted, but they are rare in the region. Eastern gray squirrels live almost everywhere in the park, and raccoons are frequent sightseers. 

They make their nests in tall trees, building large stick nests that are secured with mud and grass until the eggs are laid. Both parents share equally in feeding the young birds, leaving them to survive on their own as soon as possible. Screech owls are very vocal birds, calling constantly while hunting for rodents, insects, and spiders. Their loud calls can be heard even in winter, when they aren’t in the breeding season. They build their nests in tree holes, laying 3-4 eggs per clutch. They are endangered in Massachusetts, but are doing better than formerly thought. Barred owls are rarely observed, but when they are they steal the show. They blend into the scenery quite nicely, spending most of their time hidden in the thick foliage of trees. When they call, they sound like someone imitating a screech owl. They eat a variety of creatures, but prefer small mammals, eating whatever they catch until they’re full. 

Rocky Neck State Park

Address: 228 W Main St, Niantic, CT 06357
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Rocky-Neck-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-739-5471

Rocky Neck State Park is a state park in the town of East Lyme, Connecticut. The park has 1,300 acres and sits adjacent to Long Island Sound. It was once part of the estate of William Ledyard, for whom nearby Ledyard Street is named. In 2001, it became one of the first urban parks in the state when its management was transferred from the Department of Energy to the State of Connecticut’s Department of Environmental Protection. Its main feature is The Nose, a rocky promontory jutting out into Long Island Sound that provides viewsheds both toward New London, Connecticut, and southeastern Connecticut as well as Rhode Island and eastern Massachusetts.

The park offers several miles of paved multi-use bicycle routes connecting to the Shoreline Bike Path, which forms portions of the CT Greenways system. Bikes are also permitted single file on certain roads, which become narrow pathways between houses and other obstacles. In addition, mountain bikes are allowed throughout most of the park, though not recommended for use on paved surfaces. Dogs are permitted but must have proof of inoculation before entering the park. Amenities include playgrounds, picnic tables, and campsites.

Ross Pond State Park

Address: Ross Rd, Danielson, CT 06239
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/ross-pond-state-park
Phone Number: 860-424-3000

Ross Pond State Park is a state park located in the town of Easton, Connecticut. The park was formed when the city’s largest pond, known as Big Pond or Pelton Pond, was dammed to create an artificial lake for boating and fishing during the summer season. It is one of several parks that make up the Farmington Valley Environmental Complex, which also includes Natchaug State Forest, Hook Mountain Conservation Area, and Saugatuck Reservoir State Park.

Two smaller ponds, Little Pond and Island Pond, are nearby. Big Pond supports a variety of fish species including largemouth bass, chain pickerel, black crappie, yellow perch, bullhead catfish, pumpkinseed, freshwater clam, and brown trout. There is a public boat launch on the east side near 167 Main Street. Fishing licenses are required; annual passes are available.

A campground store is located inside the park office. Programs offered include hayrides, guided nature walks, story time, holiday events, pond ecology, and astronomy. The park provides access points for equestrians to use the adjacent horse riding facility. Access from the west via Route 81 allows fishermen to take advantage of the spring spawning run of brown trout. Access from the east via Mansfield Grove Road allows residents living along the northern portion of the park to reach an undeveloped section of the park without causing traffic problems for those traveling from the center of town.

The park entrance is gated off during the winter months due to snow plowing, but there are still plenty of signs around warning drivers that the gates will be closed. On rare occasions, big rigs have driven through the gate separating the roadways, though this does not happen very often anymore because of the $10 parking fee introduced in 2013. Parking fees are waived for handicapped individuals and their caretakers, veterans, and members of the military. Passes good for three days or a week are also available; annual passes good at all four park locations charging fees are offered at a cost of $75 for out-of-state visitors or $60 for Connecticut residents.

Scantic River State Park

Address: 101 Melrose Rd, Windsorville, CT 06016
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/scantic-river-state-park
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

Scantic River State Park is a state park in the town of East Lyme, Connecticut. The park’s 1,500 acres include forested areas with scenic vistas and more than 30 miles of hiking trails. It was established as a nature preserve by the state in 1965, before being opened to the public in 1969. In addition to its natural features, the park contains remnants of the Berlin Wall, which separates the north section of the park from the rest of the property.

Visitors can access the gardens seasonally from April through October. Hikers are allowed into the woods daily throughout the year. Mountain biking is permitted only on certain designated trails. Hunting is limited to bowhunting. Deer must be taken with a special permit issued by the Parks and Forest Commission. The park provides space for camping and picnic tables, and has four developed campsites. Each site comes equipped with fire rings and picnic tables, and may have electric hookups. Modern restrooms and hot showers are available at the nearby Granny Wright Campground. Parking fees are in effect at both the park and campground from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

Daily parking costs $8 per car, and annual permits, valid at any DEP-owned facility, are offered at a cost of $20 for out-of-state visitors or $10 for residents of Connecticut. Pets are prohibited at all times. No alcoholic beverages or unlicensed motor vehicles are permitted on the grounds. Snowmobiles are not permitted inside the park. Riders must travel to and from the park using non-powered, hand-operated vehicles. Powered snowmobiles are permitted in adjacent Triton Lake State Park. Scantic River State Park does not close for the winter, but rather opens on Fridays for recreational vehicle (RV) camping, starting around Columbus day and ending just prior to Easter Sunday. RVs cannot exceed 50% of the total campsite capacity without a reservation.

Reservations can be booked through the park reservation system online, or reserved via phone. Prices begin at $30 per night for a regular site, and increase based upon the size of the RV. A large dump station is available at the park, as well as a sanitary dumping station where pet waste is accepted. Pet owners should note that although dogs are welcome in the campground, they are not permitted in the backcountry areas of the park. Backcountry sites are accessible by foot only, and require a hike of about three hours one way. Dogs are also prohibited in the cottages. Several miles of undeveloped woodland trails exist within the park, ranging from easy to moderately hard terrain.

Selden Neck State Park

Address:  Lyme, CT 06371
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Selden-Neck-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-526-2336

Selden Neck State Park is a state park in the town of East Lyme, Connecticut. It includes the site of the former Bayley Estate, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Selden Farm. In addition to its natural setting, the park features an extensive system of paved multi-use trails that provide access to picnic areas, playing fields, bike paths, and other facilities.

Non-powered boats such as rowboats, kayaks, canoes, and inflatable rafts are permitted on the waters surrounding the park, although motorized vessels must be powered by electric motors only. Boats equipped with gasoline engines are prohibited. All boaters are required to wear life jackets that are approved by the Coast Guard. Fishing licenses issued by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection are valid for three days or a week depending on the size of the fish sought.

Selden Neck State Park features four marked hiking trails. The 1.5-mile-long Yellow trail follows the coastline, starting at the Selden Farm Cemetery and ending at Wooster Beach. The .75-mile-long Green Trail crosses over the Pequonnock River onto Barking Point. From there, it heads northeast past Wooster Beach and Argyle Circle to reach Mount Blue. The 2.0-mile-long Red Trail runs southwest from the campground to Wooster Beach, passing by the Pequonnock River en route. The 0.25-mile-long Orange Trail branches off the Red Trail just south of Wooster Beach, running southeast toward Black Rock. Parking is available along the shores of Lake Lubbers, next to Route 272, or in several other designated areas.

Visitors needing a camping spot need to bring their own tent or rent one from the facility. Ramps are provided for easy entry/exit to the park, and overflow campsites are available in adjacent fields. Campsites large enough for 40-foot tents or recreational vehicles are available year round, with a second wave of sites opening every summer. Sites smaller than 40 feet are available only during certain times of the year. 

Seth Low Pierrepont State Park

Address: 139 Knollwood Dr, Ridgefield, CT 06877
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Reserves/Seth-Low-Pierrepont-State-Park-Reserve
Phone Number: 203-938-2285

Seth Low Pierrepont State Park Reserve (formerly known as Black Rock Beach State Park) is a state park located in the town of Ridgefield, Connecticut. The park’s 1,100 acres include beach areas with views of Long Island Sound and bluffs overlooking the harbor. It was named after Seth Low, for whom the nearby city square is also named. In addition to its beaches, the park has extensive forests, wetlands, ravines, hills, and caves.Parking fees are in effect from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

The park offers over 200 campsites including tent sites, youth group sites, trailer hookup, yurts, cabins, lodges, and camper cabins. There is a separate equestrian campground with 60 horse stalls. Other facilities include picnic tables, playgrounds, playing fields, boat rentals, bike trails, nature trail, geocaches, and a food concession. Accessibility for the disabled was assessed by Westport/Greenwich Access Commission and rated ‘accessible’ by the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The park receives about 230,000 visitors annually.

During the summer season, lifeguards are stationed at the swimming area only, although there is a wading pool accessible by children 12 and under. There is a bathhouse with showers and changing rooms, and a first-aid station. The park provides transportation for sightseeing tours of Old Town, and can provide information and maps on request. The park accepts reservations for overnight accommodations. The campground opens on Memorial Day weekend and closes Columbus Day weekend; a gate fee is charged all year long. Camping costs range from $20 per night for a regular site, to $30 for a premium site, and additional charges apply for those interested in renting a Yurt or Cabin.

Reservations may be booked through the park reservation system, or directly through the park office. Tent and RVer sites have access to water and electrical hookups. Modern restrooms and shower houses with hot water are provided throughout the campground. Toilets and showers are not wheelchair accessible. Half of the campsites are taken up by RV’s, most of these have access to sewer and electricity. The remaining spaces are occupied by tents, many of which have limited privacy due to the large number of people in close proximity.

Many of the tent sites are far enough away from each other to allow for privacy screening, however, it should be noted that these sites share a common border to the east with the main road running north and south across the western part of the park grounds. Some of the roads within the park are gravel, others are paved. Bikes are prohibited on certain roads, indicated by a blue diamond symbol next to the route number. These routes include most of the park’s hiking trails, as well as several creekside paths leading to scenic overlooks. The park’s primary entrance is via Route 54, though, as of March 23, 2021, there is now an alternate entrance off of Colebrook Road. The park officially begins at the end of Colebrook Avenue, one block west of the intersection of Routes 54 and 57. The southernmost portion of the park consists largely of rocky shores, primarily shells and sea glass, with a small patch of sandy beach immediately to the south of the campgrounds.

Sherwood Island State Park 

Address: Sherwood Island Connector, Westport, CT 06880
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Sherwood-Island-State-Park
Phone Number: 203-226-6983

Sherwood Island State Park is a state park in the town of Ridgefield, Connecticut. The park offers opportunities for hiking and cross-country skiing on 1,300 acres that include Sherwood Island, Long Island Sound, and portions of land around it. It is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Accessibility for disabled individuals requires special arrangements. Telephone reservations are available beginning Tuesday, June 22, through Friday, July 26, and weekends April through October. Walk-in registrations are welcome year round, although not always able to accommodate the entire campground. Reservations can be booked through the Reservation Center online. Half of the campsites are reserved, the remainder are open on a first come, first served basis.

Campsites range from modern with electric hookups, 30 Amp outlets, central sewer, shower and parking lot, to rustic tent sites with no conveniences. Advance campsite reservations can be booked through the Reservation Center. Tent and RVs up to 20 feet in length are permitted in certain areas of the campground, subject to restrictions regarding use of generators and campfires. No pets are permitted within the campground or on the trails. Horses may enter some designated areas of the park. Amenities include walking paths, bike lanes, boat launches, playgrounds, picnic areas, and extensive forests stretching along the shoreline.

The park provides a habitat for a number of species of plants and animals, some of which are threatened or endangered. Plants: Animals: In 2011, a major restoration project funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund returned to the park grassy meadows and stream banks covered with vegetation, trees, and shrubs destroyed by previous decades of farming, logging, and development. About 600,000 square feet of additional tree plantings have since been added, increasing the total amount of woodland in the park by 25%. Over 250 different kinds of trees and bushes have been planted.

Silver Sands State Park

Address: 1 Silver Sands Pkwy, Milford, CT 06460
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Silver-Sands-State-Park
Phone Number: 203-735-4311

Silver Sands State Park is a state park in the town of East Lyme, Connecticut. The park consists of 1,400 acres of shoreline and dunes with an additional 2,000 acres available for non-motorized use including hiking, bicycling, fishing, bird watching and cross-country skiing.

In addition to its beaches, parks, and nature center, the park also features a campground with tent and trailer sites, picnic areas, playgrounds, bathhouse, dump station, bike path, and boardwalk. The park’s forests form part of the Northeastern coastal forests ecoregion. A significant area of forested wetlands, known as the Blackledge Woods, occupies more than one-third of the park.

No alcoholic beverages, glass containers, kites, drones, fireworks, hunting licenses, or snowmobiles are permitted on the beach. Pets are not allowed on the beach or in bathing areas. Amenities include restrooms, parking lots, picnic tables and playing fields.

Prior to 2011, admission to the park was free, although there was a charge for overnight accommodations at one of the two inns. Beginning in that year, a $12 daily vehicle entrance fee was charged for vehicles to park in the park. The fee is waived for residents who are registered owners of cars that were licensed when the fee was in place. Passes good for three days or a week are also available; annual passes good at all 17 DEP parks charging fees are offered at a cost of $75 for out-of-state visitors or $60 for Connecticut residents. The park boasts a new environmentally friendly composting toilet facility, replacing the old landfill system.

Sleeping Giant State Park

Address: 200 Mount Carmel Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Sleeping-Giant-State-Park
Phone Number: 203-287-5658

Sleeping Giant State Park is a state park in the town of Bethel, Connecticut. The park’s 1,400 acres include forested woodlands and glacial erratics as well as open meadows and rocky outcroppings. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 for its surviving pre-Revolutionary farm buildings, many of which are included in the Sleeping Giant Farm Historic District.

The park also features statues of Revolutionary War general Israel Putnam and Civil War general William T. Sherman.There are over 20 miles of marked hiking trails within the park. Trails range from easy to moderate in difficulty, and cover a variety of terrain including forests, wetlands, fields, and mountains. Two mountain peaks offer views of the valley below. One of these rises to nearly 900 feet above sea level.  Facilities at the campground include tent sites, trailer hookups, modern restrooms, hot showers, picnic tables, and a sanitary dump station. Other amenities available at the park include playing fields, playground areas, nature trails, and access to miles of hiking trails.

The bedrock exposed in the park consists primarily of gneiss rock, a granitic rock dating from the Cambrian period of the Ordovician Period. Within the park, this metamorphic rock forms steep slopes overlooking deep glacial valleys. Gneiss rock appears in many locations throughout the park, but nowhere else in central Connecticut. Between 500 million and 470 million years ago, the North American Plate moved westward over the Eastern Continental Divide, causing the accumulation of huge amounts of snow falling on either side of the divide. 

Southford Falls State Park

Address: 175 Quaker Farms Rd, Southbury, CT 06488
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Southford-Falls-State-Park
Phone Number: 203-264-5169

Southford Falls State Park is a state park located in the town of Southford, Connecticut. The park preserves falls and gorge features on the Saugatuck Reservoir with an area of 1,872 acres, which straddles the reservoir. It provides hiking trails for accessing the waterfalls as well as picnic areas, camping facilities, boat launch, and fishing areas.

Southford Falls State Park offers 181 campsites, 140 of which have sewer access. There are also 10 rental cabins available. Boat rentals are not offered but there is a launching ramp accessible from the shoreline. Fishing is permitted year round, with a special permit required during hunting season.

Picnic areas are equipped with charcoal grills and modern restrooms. Campsites feature tent pads and electric hookups and may accommodate up to six people. Half of the sites are available on a first come, first served basis while the remainder must be reserved. Reservations are accepted from mid-April through Labor Day.

The park includes three separate beach areas, offering a total of more than 20 miles of publicly accessible shoreline. These include the Lakeview Beach Area, the largest of the three beaches with approximately 800 linear feet of sand; the Mill River Cove Beach Area, featuring a rocky shoreline with views into the 90 foot deep canyon below the waterfall; and the Peabody Beach Area, a smaller cove near the entrance to the park with less than 400 feet (120m) of sand. Boats may be launched only from the designated hand launch area. No gasoline motors are permitted. Electric motors only are permitted if they do not produce sound. Sound equipment must be installed at your own expense.

Dogs are prohibited on the trails and in the campgrounds. Horses allowed on certain portions of the trails. Bike paths exist in parts of the park connecting with the surrounding roads. Parking fees are in effect from Memorial weekend through Labor day. $6/car on weekdays, $10 on weekends. 

Squantz Pond State Park

Address: 178 ShortWoods Rd, New Fairfield, CT 06812
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Squantz-Pond-State-Park
Phone Number: 203-312-5023

Squantz Pond State Park is a state park in the town of East Lyme, Connecticut. The park’s 1,300 acres include a freshwater pond known as Squantz Pond and an adjacent coastal barrier environment that supports wildlife such as snapping turtles, frogs, minks, muskrat, ducks, bald eagles, osprey, owls, herons, loons, gulls, and blue-winged teal. It is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

The park’s facilities include campsites, parking lots, restrooms, playground equipment, picnic tables, and playing fields. Parking fees are in effect all year long. Season passes can be purchased at the park office. Campsites range from partial hookups to tent sites. They are available on a first come first served basis and are usually full by late spring. The campground opens on Memorial Day weekend and closes Columbus day weekend. Advance camping reservations can be made through the park reservation system. Boat launches are provided at both ends of the pond, near the bridge and dam at the east end, and near the pavilion at the west end. Canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and pedal boats are available to rent.

The park hosts many events, including cross country races, weekly soccer games, annual track meets, and nature walks. The park’s grounds host weddings and receptions. Facilities include campsites, restrooms, playground equipment, picnic tables, and playing fields. Fees are $8/car for single-day or $4 for residents with an active Connecticut license plate or permit. Annual passes are offered at a cost of $12 for out-of-state visitors or $6 for CT residents. The park is handicap accessible. Pets are allowed on leashes of six feet (1.8m) or less, and must have proof of inoculation before entering the camping area. No animals are allowed within the camper cabins. Hunting is limited to designated areas of the park. Two large tracts of land, one at either end of the pond, offer excellent stands of trees for bowhunting. White-tail deer, squirrels, pheasant, and waterfowl may be taken here.

Stillwater Pond State Park

Address: 272 Torrington, CT 06790
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/stillwater-pond-state-park
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

Stillwater Pond State Park is a state park in the town of East Lyme, Connecticut. The park’s 1,500 acres which includes a nature center with naturalist programs, pond ecology exhibits, an arboretum, and a museum featuring marine aquariums.

Although there had been plans to add campsites to the park, the fields were too wet. So instead, the campground was closed and the spaces converted into a day use area only. However, due to increased demand, tent camping is available again along with 30 rental sites. There are 140 leantos spread throughout the campground area, most of which can be reserved for specific dates. Tent and R/V sites share a common area with picnic tables and grills. Modern restrooms and showers are provided. Half of the campsites are available on a first come first served basis while the remainder require reservations.

Campsites without electric hookups cannot accommodate RVs and therefore are restricted to tents only. No pets are permitted within the day use area. Parking fees are in effect from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. $8 per vehicle on weekdays and $12 on weekends. Annual passes can be purchased at any DEP office. Accessibility for the disabled was assessed by DEP staff using the standards and guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Upon completion of the assessment, Stillwater Pond State Park received a pass grade. Grade level: Primary School (6 – 8 Years Old); Secondary School (9 – 12 Years Old); College & University (13+ Years Old); Adult (18+ Years Old). Reading comprehension questions are sprinkled throughout the text. Crossword puzzles and math problems are offered in the mathematics section. An introduction to conservation issues is presented in the nature notes section. All sections receive twice yearly updates.

Stoddard Hill State Park

Address: 1917 CT-12, Gales Ferry, CT 06335
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/stoddard-hill-state-park
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

Stoddard Hill State Park is a state park in the town of Easton, Connecticut. The park’s 1,078 acres include forested hills and valleys, open meadows, wetlands, ponds, rolling fields, and bedrock bluffs overlooking Long Island Sound.

The campground opens on Memorial Day weekend and closes Columbus Day weekend. It has 140 sites, 90 with electrical hookups, modern shower houses and rest rooms, water, and a dump station. Advance campsite reservations can be booked through Reserve America. Group Camp is available during the week of Labor Day, offering space for 20 people in a rustic environment. Seven guest cabins built in the 1950s near Lake Compounce were purchased by the state in 2001 and converted into fully equipped vacation homes. Each cabin sleeps six guests in three bedrooms. Modern kitchens feature granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and windows that open onto scenic views of the parkland and lake. Outdoors, there is a fire ring and picnic table per site.

Dogs are permitted throughout the park, and bikes are allowed, but must remain within the park. The center is located inside the park office building. The park has many picnic tables and grills scattered throughout, as well as play areas for children. There is a separate picnic pavilion accommodating up to 60 people. Picnic tables accommodate up to eight people and have hot showers nearby. Half of the picnic tables are sunny and half are shaded. There are seven mounds in the park, ranging from average size to very tall, with burial artifacts found on five of them.

One particular mound, known as Mound 7, is designated as a protected archeological landmark. Mounds are maintained by the Friends of Mounds organization, a nonprofit volunteer group. They are currently being excavated by Dr. Gary Tenen, assistant professor in the Departments of Anthropology and History at Quinnipiac University, who hopes to begin excavation again next spring. There are approximately 100 bird species that frequent the park, both migrant and resident. 

Stratton Brook State Park

Address: 149 Farms Village Rd, Simsbury, CT 06070
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Stratton-Brook-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-242-1158

Stratton Brook State Park is a state park in the town of Easton, Connecticut. The park’s 1,100 acres include forested woodlands and wetlands that offer opportunities for hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing, and seasonal horse-riding. It is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. In the early twentieth century, lumbermen cut down most of what would become the modern day park.

The park offers trails for hikers, mountain bikers, and skaters, picnicking facilities, equestrian camping areas, and primitive campsites, as well as access to waterfowl hunting in season. There are also cabins available for overnight stays. The park has more than 5 miles of paved multi-use paths open year round, 10 miles of bridle and bike trails, and 20 miles of hiking trails. Seasonal programs include hay rides, nature walks, story time, arts and crafts classes, sunset hikes, moonlight hikes, campfire circles, holiday events, birding trips, and cross country ski outings.

The park has a small pond for ice skating in season, and a larger one for canoeing/kayaking. The smaller pond can be crowded at times, especially on warm summer nights; non-motorized boats are recommended. Amenities include boat ramps, restrooms, picnic tables, and playgrounds. Parking fees are in effect all year long. The park accepts reservations made online through their reservation system. Reservations can only be made for specific dates, not just for a particular night. Walk-in guests must show a valid photo ID to prove they have permission to be in the park. Pets are permitted but must have proof of inoculation before entering the park.

No animals are allowed within the campground or anywhere else on the park grounds. Hunting is permitted within certain parts of the park. Birds of prey like ospreys may hunt here, as may deer when the park is closed. Other game species may also roam freely within the park when the gate is left open, including foxes, raccoons, opossums, and squirrels. These wild creatures often visit the park because it provides them with easy access to food and shelter. They do not bother the humans who live nearby, nor do they affect the crops or livestock of local farmers.

Sunnybrook State Park

Address: Newfield Rd, Torrington, CT 06790
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/sunnybrook-state-park
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

Sunnybrook State Park is a state park in the town of Easton, Connecticut. The park offers a boat launch providing access to the waters of the Naugatuck River. Fishing opportunities concentrate on panfish such as crappie and bluegill, with bass and perch available seasonally.  Equestrian campground provides 50 sites, each with water and electrical hookups, plus a separate area for unclaimed equestrians. Half of the campsites are available year round, the remainder open May through Columbus Day. Camping costs $10 per night per vehicle. There are 10 miles of bridle paths within the park. 7 miles are groomed in winter for cross-country skiing. Other than these marked routes, visitors have access to over 40 miles of multi use trails throughout the park. These range from easy, flat ground suitable for strollers and wheelchairs, to steep wooded sections requiring scrambling and climbing.

The park offers a beach for swimmers and sunbathers, accessible via a footpath leading north from the ranger station. Boats up to 20 horsepower are authorized for launching at this location. Boat rentals are available between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day. A concession stand sells soft drinks, snacks, and ice cream treats. Picnic tables and charcoal grills are provided. Canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, rowboats, and pedal boats are available to rent. A boat ramp allows access to the waters of the Naugatuck River. About 600 acres (240 ha) of the park are open to hunting. White-tail deer and wild turkey may be taken with a bow and arrow, while non-hunted prey, such as groundhogs and raccoons, are common.

Sunrise State Park

Address: 121 Leesville Rd, Moodus, CT 06469
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Sunrise-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-424-3000

Sunrise State Park is a state park in the town of Ridgefield, Connecticut. The park’s 1,400 acres include forested woodlands and wetlands that offer opportunities for hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing, and seasonal horse-riding stables.

The park has picnic tables and grills scattered throughout, along with playing fields and a horseshoe pit. Swimming is available at Twin Lakes Pond during summer months. Campsites range from modern to rustic. Modern sites feature electric hookups and water hydrants, while rustic campsites lack these amenities but do provide fire rings and picnic table shelters. Advanced campers may choose between a tent site or a cabin. Backpackers are not permitted to camp overnight in any of the park’s cabins. Group camp is available for organizations like the Boy Scouts and Venture Outdoors.

The park has three separate golf courses. The Championship course is a regulation golf 9 hole course measuring 5,864 yards from the back tees. The Executive course is par 72, 6,861 yards from the back tees, with green fee $75 for nine holes, Monday – Friday. The Pro Shop course is par 74, 7,011 yards from the back tees, Saturday and Sunday, April through October. Fees are $150 for nine holes, $175 for eighteen holes, and $275 for twenty-nine holes. The park has fourteen tennis courts, six of which are lit for night play. Courts are open from dusk till dawn, seven days a week beginning Memorial Day weekend and ending Labor Day. Entry is free, however players are asked to bring their own equipment. Equipment rental is available. Volleyball courts and basketball courts are open year round, with games played on weekends.

The park has ten soccer fields, half of which are covered. Field dimensions depend on the size of the field being used, and sizes range from 120 x 68 inches (310 x 170cm) to 180 x 110 inches (550 x 280cm). Ramps are provided in both ends of the fields, and goals are in the far corner of the larger fields. Game times are dependent on league standards, and practices are held on weekday evenings in the fall and spring. Scoreboards are mounted above the fields, and radio stations broadcasting matches live are commonplace. 

Talcott Mountain State Park

Address: Summit Ridge Dr, Simsbury, CT 06070
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Talcott-Mountain-State-Park/Maps
Phone Number: 860-242-1158

Talcott Mountain State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Connecticut, located in Easton near the town center. The park offers more than 800 campsites, picnic areas, and trails. Hiking leads to the observation tower affording views of the park, village, and mountains; bike trails lead to nearby Lime Rock State Park. The park includes a portion of the multi-use Sandy River Greenway. The park hosts a variety of events, including the annual Coastal Conservation Conference each summer. There are also weekly drumming sessions led by Native American rock bands, and story times featuring tales of Cherokee lore.

Visitors can rent fishing rods and reels from the concession stand, and there is a pond for catching smallmouth bass, sunfish, perch, crappie, bluegill, catfish, northern pike, bullhead, pumpkinseed, and muskies. The park’s camp store sells ice, camping supplies, and bait. Picnic tables may be reserved for a fee. Camping reservations must be made in advance. Tent sites are available throughout the season, with full hookup electric sites becoming available starting mid-June. Half of the campsites are available on a first come first served basis. No pets are permitted on the campground or in any other parts of the park. Violators will be fined $500 and their dogs impounded.

The park features scenic vistas, quiet woods, and easy to moderate terrain, primarily consisting of hills between 250 and 550 feet (76 and 180 meters) in elevation, with occasional steep slopes. Elevation ranges vary from less than sea level to well above treeline, although the majority of peaks do not rise higher than approximately 400 feet (120m). The highest point in the park, Saddleback Mountain, stands at 570 feet (170m). Most of the peaks are named for natural formations such as boulders, rocks, or hillsides that resemble the shape of saddles. Other peak names reflect the geographic origins of their owners. For instance, Blackjack Mountain received its name because it appeared like a black jack oak leaf amid the green foliage of the oaks of southern New England. Talcott Mountain itself derives its name from the former community of Talcott, which existed here circa 1700.  

Tri-Mountain State Park

Address: Durham, CT 06422
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/tri-mountain-state-park
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

Tri-Mountain State Park is a public recreation area located in the U.S. state of Colorado, about 4 miles west of Berthoud on Route 17A. The state park’s 3,300 acres include three peaks over 2,500 feet high and two lakes with more than 100 campsites for tents, trailers, or RVs. It was established as a result of cooperation between private enterprise and government agencies to provide outdoor recreational opportunities in an environmentally sensitive manner.

Tri-Mountain State Park opened to the public in 1980, after being privately operated as a ski resort from 1962 to 1979. In its first year of operation, 600,000 people visited the park which grew to 700,000 annual visitors by 1983. As a publicly owned facility, it remains open to skiing when conditions permit, but now primarily serves as a campground and hiking site.

Tri-Mountain Ski Area closed permanently in November 2009 due to poor snowfall and lack of profitability. However, there are still some ski runs maintained for backcountry skiers who purchase tickets at the gate. Tri-Mountain State Park has five hiking trails that vary wildly in difficulty. Some go up steep slopes while others skirt along the lake shoreline. All converge on Bald Mountain whose summit reaches nearly 1,900 feet above sea level.

On clear days the Front Range can be seen from the top. There are also seven mountain biking trails ranging from easy to difficult and one horse trail. A special bike/hike hybrid loop goes around both Lake Pueblo and Little Pond. Boats may be launched into either pond and there is a boat ramp near the middle of the lake. Canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and paddle boats are available to rent. 

Trout Brook Valley State Park Reserve

Address: Bradley Rd, Weston, CT 06883
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/trout-brook-valley-state-park-reserve
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

Trout Brook Valley State Park Reserve (formerly known as Trout Brook Valley Reservation) is a state park located in the towns of Windham and Chaplin, Connecticut. The park’s 1,300 acres include forested hills, narrow valleys, wetlands, waterfalls, glacial erratics, and bedrock outcroppings that offer views of Lake Trumbull and the adjacent mountains of Vermont.

There are more than 40 miles of hiking trails within the park, including paved walking paths around Lake Trumbull and along parts of the East Coast Greenway. Trails lead to scenic vistas, unusual rock formations, and historic sites associated with the Fitches, Goulds, and other prominent local families.  It also includes playing fields for popular sports such as soccer and cricket. The park’s museum features exhibits about the ecology, history, and culture of the forests, meadows, and mountains of Trout Brook Valley.

Exhibits include reconstructions of typical pioneer life, a mounted animal collection, and hands-on learning experiences about nature study, conservation, and outdoor recreation. Programs offered year round include guided walks, hay rides, story time, holiday events, and naturalist-led activities. During the summer, there are daily performances by the resident musicians, the Trout Brook Players, who perform plays written by Mary Coyle Chase, children’s theater, and other public entertainment.  

Wadsworth Falls State Park

Address: 721 Wadsworth St, Middletown, CT 06457
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Wadsworth-Falls-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-345-8521

Wadsworth Falls State Park is a state park in the town of Easton, Connecticut. Its name reflects both its geographic location and its principal feature, the waterfall.The park preserves the site of the falls on Rocky Hill Road for which it is named and offers hiking, fishing, and boating facilities. It is managed by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection as part of the larger Mohegan State Forest.

The park has about 2 miles of footpaths and biking/hiking trails, boat launch, picnic areas, and campsites. The park hosts numerous events, including historical reenactments, nature walks, cross country skiing, and seasonal turkey shoots. There are also scenic views of the falls and surrounding countryside from atop the nearby Bluff Point Tower. The park manager’s house sits beside the main entrance gate on Mansfield Grove Road. Other buildings include a gazebo, two group camps, and several cabins.

The park includes Wooster Mountain, which bears striking resemblance to Camel’s Hump in form and appearance. The mountain rises sharply over 600 feet above the falls and can be accessed via a steep narrow trail leading to its summit. From the top, there is a fine view of the park, the falls, and Long Island Sound. The park is used as the home field for meets of the Masconomet Regional High School Cross Country team. During the annual event, held in February, the course is closed to all other traffic. At certain times of year, waterfowl and shorebirds may be seen at the park.

All offer additional camping options and trails for hiking and biking. For those interested in exploring the history of the park, there is a display inside the park office detailing the early days of the park, along with a video presentation. The park originally featured a quarry operation, which supplied stone material for the construction of Fort Trumbull during the French and Indian War.

Visitors can hike to the falls via a rugged 0.8-mile trail, fish at the park’s pond, or drive 3.5 miles on Mansfield Grove Road to the park’s parking lot. Bikes are permitted on a portion of the trail. The park features picnicking facilities, a playground, and a cabin colony of 40 primitive campsites. Campsites are available on a first come, first served basis, without reservation.  

West Rock Ridge State Park

Address: 1134 Wintergreen Ave, New Haven, CT 06514
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/West-Rock-Ridge-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-424-3000

West Rock Ridge State Park is a state park in the town of Easton, Connecticut. The park protects an area of rocky outcroppings overlooking Long Island Sound and includes the site of the former Camp Bluefields, where troops led by General Israel Putnam were trained to resist British rule during the American Revolutionary War. It is managed by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection as part of the larger Wethersfield State Forest.

Camp Bluefields State Park was created in 1945, encompassing 357 acres, and has since grown to 707 acres. It features trails and scenic views of the coastline and Long Island Sound.The campground opens mid-April and closes Columbus Day weekend; space is available on a reservation basis or on a first-come, first-served basis. There are 45 tent and trailer sites, 4 yurts, 2 camper cabins, and 6 leantos.

Two areas contain remnants of the Camp Bluefields military installation, including underground fire control bunker systems, gun emplacements, and tunnels connecting various parts of the camp. The park offers boat launch, playground, picnic tables, and pavilions, plus a food concession, gift shop, and car-camping lot. 

Wharton Brook State Park

Address: 675 US-5, North Haven, CT 06473
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Wharton-Brook-State-Park
Phone Number: 203-287-5658

Wharton Brook State Park is a state park in the town of Easton, Connecticut. The park preserves an area of forested wetlands that provides habitat for birds and other wildlife as well as serving as a waterfowl refuge during annual migrations. It was established as part of the massive state budget deficit reduction program enacted by the legislature in 2011. Prior to its designation as a state park, the land had been owned by developer Bruce Ratner’s company, Forest City Enterprises.

There is a campground with tent and trailer sites, picnic pavilions, and playing fields. Parking fees are in effect from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Season passes can also be purchased. The park is located at exit 38 on Interstate 95. To get there from the Connecticut portion of Interstate 95, take the Saugatuck non-reservation exit, then merge onto the New London turnpike, continuing east until you reach Exit 37. Then head north on Route 109, which becomes Mountain Road, and continue west until reaching the entrance to Wharton Brook State Park.

Whittemore Glen State Park

Address: Naugatuck, CT 06770
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/whittemore-glen-state-park
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

Whittemore Glen State Park is a state park in the town of Easton, Connecticut. The park’s 1,000 acres include glacial lakes and rolling hills with scenic views. The park was named after Lieutenant Colonel William Whitmoor, Jr., who purchased land here in 1781 which became part of what would later become Fort Trumbull.

There are more than 30 miles of trails open year-round to hikers, bicyclists, and horseback riders.Facilities include campsites, restrooms, playgrounds, parking lots, and roads. Parking fees are in effect all summer long. The park receives about 640,000 visitors annually. A significant portion of the park’s acreage is set aside as a conservation easement program, which limits development on this land. This article related to a protected area in Connecticut contains content in the public domain published by the State of Connecticut. To the extent possible under law, none of this material may be republished without the express permission of the publisher.

Windsor Meadows State Park

Address: E Barber St, Windsor, CT 06095
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Windsor-Meadows-State-Park
Phone Number: 860-242-1158

Windsor Meadows State Park is a state park in the town of Easton, Connecticut. The park was once the estate of George Dudley Seymour, and later served as the home for disabled children during the Great Depression.

The state had been concerned about placing these children in institutions after the failure of earlier attempts. Following recommendations by physician Herman Talbot, the state legislature established the Committee for the Care of the Feebleminded in June 1934. This group recommended that a site be found near Hartford where feebleminded children could live while receiving treatment. After visiting several locations, including one owned by the Fox sisters near Redding, Connecticut, the committee reported that a 250-acre farm along the Housatonic River would provide the best opportunity for their patients. With support from parents groups, the state assembly authorized funding for the purchase of the property the following March.

On May 9, 1936, the state assembly and governor formally accepted delivery of the property at auction, establishing Windsor Meadows State Park. An additional 100 acres were added to the park in 1944, when the state assembly and governor again acted jointly to accept delivery of another parcel of land. The park offers swimming, picnicking, handicapped sports fields, playing fields, bike trails, sledding hill, pond hockey, and a lodge. It also contains the Friends’ Circle, which provides information and resources for family and friends of those with intellectual disabilities. The park’s visitor center houses exhibits featuring some of the most significant archaeological findings made in the state, including evidence documenting human use over the last two millennia.

Visitor center overview of park grounds Icehouse construction entrance from parking lot Back porch rocker Swing set Picnic table with Adirondack chairs View of park grounds Lodge interior Kitchen/dining area Stable building with coach house & harness room Carriage house & garage Stable interior showing stud rooms Stable exterior showing stud rooms Interior view of park grounds Front porch Rocker on front porch Steps to main road Entry gate Open shed with horses inside Horse stall with half door leading to yard Barnyard with assorted pens, feed bins, stables, etc.

Wooster Mountain State Park

Address: Sugar Hollow Rd, Danbury, CT 06810
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com/listings/wooster-mountain-state-park
Phone Number: 860-424-3200

Wooster Mountain State Park is a state park located in the town of Ansonia, Connecticut. The park includes 1,400 acres that are mostly forested with an additional 700 acres dedicated by the Audubon Society as the John J. Tyler Arboretum. It is named after Wooster Mountain, which lies outside its borders, and was given to the state by conservationists who were inspired by the work of the Sierra Club..

The park’s facilities include campsites, picnic areas, playgrounds, playing fields, athletic fields and shelters, nature center, gift shop and snack bar, and parking lots. Parking fees are in effect during the summer season. The park has three main entrances with varying levels of difficulty. The northernmost entrance, which serves the campground and Echo Lake, is the most difficult to access due to dense foliage, particularly in autumn. The middle entrance, serving the midpoint along the ridge line, provides the best views but can be very crowded. To ensure space for all users, the state implemented an entrance fee for this area effective June 15, 2020.

The southernmost entrance, accessible via Mansfield Grove Road, is the easiest to access, although still fairly rugged. This entrance also leads past the campground to some private property, where there may be no camping allowed. No matter which entrance you choose, each one requires navigating steep, narrow lanes within heavily forested terrain. Because of these factors, snowmobiles are often seen cruising down the lane toward Wooster Mountain, even when the road is closed for safety reasons. According to legend, General Israel Putnam chose the site for Fort Trumbull because he believed that Wooster Mountain would provide a strategic advantage against the British in the coming war.