List of Connecticut state parks

Connecticut State Parks

This is a list of state parks and reserves in the Connecticut state park system, shown in three tables. The first table lists state parks, the second lists Connecticut state forests, and the third lists other state-owned, recreation-related areas.

Connecticut state parks

Name Area[1] Town County Estab- lished River / lake / other Image Remarks
Above All State Park 31 acres (13 ha) Warren Litchfield Former SAGE Air Defense Network site; undeveloped
Air Line State Park Trail 40 acres (16 ha) East Hampton, Colchester,
Hebron, Columbia,
Lebanon, Windham,
Chaplin, Hampton,
Pomfret, Putnam,
Thompson
Middlesex,
New London,
Tolland,
Windham
1969
A trail intersection with bare trees and dead leaves.
Nearly fifty miles of converted rail-trail
Beaver Brook State Park 401 acres (162 ha) Chaplin, Windham Windham 1955 Bibbins Pond Fishing; abuts Air Line State Park Trail
Becket Hill State Park Reserve 260 acres (110 ha) Lyme New London Adjacent to Nehantic State Forest
Beckley Furnace Industrial Monument 12 acres (4.9 ha) North Canaan Litchfield 1946
An antique stone furnace tower
Historic iron-making furnace dating from 1847
Bennett's Pond State Park 460 acres (186 ha) Ridgefield, Danbury Fairfield 2002
Creek
Former estate and nursery called Outpost Farm
Bigelow Hollow State Park 516 acres (209 ha) Union Tolland 1949 Bigelow Pond,
Mashapaug Lake
Pond mirroring green trees
Adjoins Nipmuck State Forest and borders Mashapaug Lake; boat launch, swimming
Black Rock State Park 444 acres (180 ha) Watertown Litchfield 1926 Black Rock Pond
Landscape with cloud-flecked sky
Camping, pond fishing, Mattatuck Trail
Bluff Point State Park 806 acres (326 ha) Groton New London 1963 Long Island Sound
Land and sea
Ocean access, boat launch; near Haley Farm State Park
Bolton Notch State Park 95 acres (38 ha) Bolton Tolland Rock climbing
Brainard Homestead State Park 25 acres (10 ha) East Haddam Middlesex Undeveloped
Burr Pond State Park 438 acres (177 ha) Torrington Litchfield 1949 Burr Pond
Picnic table with pond
Boating, fishing, swimming
Camp Columbia State Park/State Forest 600 acres (243 ha) Morris Litchfield 2000 Former rural campus of Columbia University Engineering Department
Campbell Falls State Park Reserve 102 acres (41 ha) Norfolk Litchfield 1923 Whiting River
Waterfall
On the Massachusetts border
Chatfield Hollow State Park 355.6 acres (143.9 ha) Killingworth Middlesex 1949
Boardwalk disappearing into foliage
Swimming, fishing
Collis P. Huntington State Park 878 acres (355 ha) Redding, Newtown, Bethel Fairfield 1973
Standing bear statue
Former estate with ponds for fishing and canoeing and multipurpose trails
Connecticut Valley Railroad State Park 136 acres (55 ha) Essex Middlesex
Steam train with steam
Essex Steam Train from Essex to Chester up the Connecticut River valley
Dart Island State Park 19 acres (8 ha) Middletown Middlesex Connecticut River
Waterway
Accessible by water only
Day Pond State Park 180 acres (73 ha) Colchester New London 1949 Day Pond Swimming, pond fishing
Dennis Hill State Park 240 acres (97 ha) Norfolk Litchfield 1935
Lookout pavilion
Former estate with hiking, picnicking and scenic views
Devil's Hopyard State Park 860 acres (348 ha) East Haddam Middlesex 1919 Eightmile River
Waterfall over brown rocks
Historic millsite with camping, stream fishing, waterfall
Dinosaur State Park 60 acres (24 ha) Rocky Hill Hartford 1968
Geodesic dome through pines
Natural history museum, arboretum
Eagle Landing State Park 16 acres (6 ha) Haddam Middlesex 2003 Connecticut River Boat dock, fishing pier, winter eagle viewing
Farm River State Park 61 acres (25 ha) East Haven New Haven 1998 Farm River
Docks in fog
Boat launch, fishing
Farmington Canal State Park Trail Cheshire, Hamden New Haven
Stone canal lock
Part of the Farmington Canal Trail
Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park 16 acres (6 ha) Groton New London Thames River
Landscape with river
Site of the 1781 massacre led by Benedict Arnold; American Revolutionary War museum and artifacts
Fort Trumbull State Park 16 acres (6 ha) New London New London Long Island Sound
Landscape with stone fort
19th-century fort with museum, fishing pier
Gardner Lake State Park 10 acres (4 ha) Salem New London 2001 Gardner Lake Boating, fishing, swimming
Gay City State Park 1,569 acres (635 ha) Hebron Tolland 1944 Blackledge River
Sun-dappled stone formation
Former mill-town ruins; pond fishing, swimming, youth group camping; bordered by Meshomasic State Forest
George Dudley Seymour State Park 222 acres (90 ha) Haddam Middlesex 1960 Connecticut River Abuts Hurd State Park and Higganum Meadows Wildlife Area; fishing, hunting
George Waldo State Park 150 acres (61 ha) Southbury New Haven 1960 Lake Lillinonah Undeveloped; multi-use trails
Gillette Castle State Park 184 acres (74 ha) East Haddam Middlesex 1943 Connecticut River
Castle-like structure against blue sky
Castle house museum; boat camping
Haddam Island State Park 14 acres (6 ha) Haddam Middlesex Connecticut River Accessible only by boat
Haddam Meadows State Park 175 acres (71 ha) Haddam Middlesex 1944 Connecticut River Boating, fishing
Haley Farm State Park 198 acres (80 ha) Groton New London 1970
Mountain biker on the crushed stone bike near the turn to Groton's X-Town Trail and Gibson Pond in Haley Farm State Park
Bike trail, near Bluff Point State Park
Hammonasset Beach State Park 919 acres (372 ha) Madison New Haven 1920
Sun setting over ocean waters
Beach, swimming, fishing, camping, nature center, carry-in boating
Harkness Memorial State Park 116 acres (47 ha) Waterford New London 1952 Long Island Sound
Estate grounds in aerial view
42-room mansion museum, formal gardens, fishing
Haystack Mountain State Park 292 acres (118 ha) Norfolk Litchfield
Observation tower
Observation tower
Higganum Reservoir State Park 147 acres (59 ha) Haddam Middlesex Higganum Reservoir Car-top boating, fishing, hunting
Hop River State Park Trail 50 acres (20 ha) Andover, Bolton,
Columbia, Coventry,
Manchester, Vernon
Hartford, Tolland
Tunnel opening onto trees and dog-walker
Nineteen miles of rail-trail from Manchester to Willimantic
Hopemead State Park 70 acres (28 ha) Bozrah, Montville New London Gardner Lake Fishing, hiking
Hopeville Pond State Park 544 acres (220 ha) Griswold New London 1938 Pachaug River Camping, boating, swimming, pond fishing, field sports
Horse Guard State Park 105 acres (42 ha) Avon Hartford Undeveloped
Housatonic Meadows State Park 451 acres (183 ha) Sharon Litchfield Housatonic River
Vista with fall foliage
Camping, canoeing, fly fishing
Humaston Brook State Park 141 acres (57 ha) Litchfield Litchfield Fishing
Hurd State Park 991 acres (401 ha) East Hampton Middlesex 1914 Connecticut River
Connecticut River view
Boat camping, mountain biking, scenic views
Indian Well State Park 153 acres (62 ha) Shelton Fairfield 1928 Lake Housatonic
Boat launch at sunset
Boating, swimming, fishing, waterfalls
John A. Minetto State Park 715 acres (289 ha) Torrington Litchfield Pond and stream fishing, cross-country skiing
Kent Falls State Park 307 acres (124 ha) Kent Litchfield 1919 Falls Brook
Waterfalls with people in foreground
Waterfalls, replica covered bridge
Kettletown State Park 599 acres (242 ha) Southbury New Haven 1950 Lake Zoar
BBHTKettletownMillerTrail
Camping, swimming, fishing
Killingly Pond State Park 162 acres (66 ha) Killingly Windham Killingly Pond Boating, fishing
Lake Waramaug State Park 95 acres (38 ha) Kent Litchfield 1920 Lake Waramaug Camping, car-top boating, swimming, fishing
Lamentation Mountain State Park 47 acres (19 ha) Berlin Hartford
Vista with greenery
Hiking, scenic vistas
Larkin State Park Trail 110 acres (45 ha) Southbury, Oxford,
Middlebury, Naugatuck
New Haven 1943
LarkinStateParkTrail-MiddleburyCT
Ten-mile-long rail-trail
Lovers Leap State Park 127 acres (51 ha) New Milford Litchfield 1971 Housatonic River
River vista
Scenic river vistas
Macedonia Brook State Park 2,300 acres (930 ha) Kent Litchfield
Mountain vista
Camping, stream fishing
Machimoodus State Park 300 acres (121 ha) East Haddam Middlesex 1998 Salmon River Fishing, horseback riding
Mansfield Hollow State Park 251 acres (102 ha) Mansfield Tolland 1952 Mansfield Hollow Lake
Lake and dam aerial view
Boating, fishing, field sports, mountain biking, cross-country skiing
Mashamoquet Brook State Park 917 acres (371 ha) Pomfret Windham 1924
Leafy park roadway
Camping, swimming, stream fishing
Mianus River State Park 94 acres (38 ha) Stamford Fairfield Mianus River
River view with rocks and trees
Biking, fishing, horseback riding
Millers Pond State Park 280 acres (113 ha) Durham, Haddam Middlesex 1955 Millers Pond
Tranquil blue pond
Fishing, hunting, mountain biking
Minnie Island State Park 1 acre (0.4 ha) Salem, Montville New London Gardner Lake Boating, fishing, accessible only by boat
Mohawk Forest/Mohawk Mountain State Park 4,016 acres (1,625 ha) Cornwall, Goshen, Litchfield Litchfield 1921
Mountain vista
Includes Mohawk Mountain Ski Area
Mono Pond State Park Reserve 218 acres (88 ha) Columbia Tolland Mono Pond Boating, fishing, hunting, cross-country skiing
Moosup Valley State Park Trail Plainfield, Sterling Windham 1987
River view
Six miles of rail-trail
Mooween State Park 577 acres (234 ha) Lebanon New London Red Cedar Lake Boating, fishing
Mount Bushnell State Park 214 acres (87 ha) Washington Litchfield Hiking
Mount Riga State Park 276 acres (112 ha) Salisbury Litchfield
Connecticut-Massachusetts state line boundary marker in Sages Ravine near Connecticut Route 41 and Mount Riga State Park
Hiking
Mount Tom State Park 231 acres (93 ha) Litchfield, Washington, Morris Litchfield 1915 Mount Tom Pond
Rough-hewn stone tower
Historic lookout tower
Old Furnace State Park 367 acres (149 ha) Killingly Windham 1918 Ross Pond
Brook and wetlands
Site of an 18th-century iron furnace; hiking, boating, fishing, hunting
Osbornedale State Park 350 acres (142 ha) Derby New Haven 1956
Glacial erratic
Former Osbornedale Farms; hiking, pond fishing
Penwood State Park 787 acres (318 ha) Bloomfield Hartford 1944 Lake Louise
Kettle bog waters
Metacomet Trail, hiking, cross-country skiing
Platt Hill State Park 159 acres (64 ha) Winchester Litchfield
Field and sky
Scenic vistas
Pomeroy State Park 200 acres (81 ha) Lebanon New London Undeveloped; hiking, hunting
Putnam Memorial State Park 183 acres (74 ha) Bethel, Redding Fairfield 1887
Equestrian statue
American Revolutionary War museum, interpretive trail, youth group camping
Quaddick State Park 116 acres (47 ha) Thompson Windham 1951 Quaddick Reservoir Boat launch, swimming, fishing, field sports
Quinebaug Lake State Park 181 acres (73 ha) Killingly Windham Quinebaug Lake Boating, fishing
Quinnipiac River State Park 323 acres (131 ha) North Haven New Haven 1951 Quinnipiac River Car-top boating, fishing, hunting
River Highlands State Park 177 acres (72 ha) Cromwell Middlesex 2001 Connecticut River
River view
Boat camping
Rocky Glen State Park 46 acres (19 ha) Newtown Fairfield Pootatuck River Hiking
Rocky Neck State Park 710 acres (287 ha) East Lyme New London 1931 Long Island Sound
Long pavilion
Beach, swimming, camping, saltwater fishing
Ross Pond State Park 314 acres (127 ha) Killingly Windham Ross Pond Boating, fishing, hunting
Salt Rock State Campground 149 acres (60 ha) Sprague New London 2001 Shetucket River Camping, fishing, pool swimming, access to Shetucket River
Satan's Kingdom State Recreation Area 1 acre (0.4 ha) New Hartford Litchfield Farmington River
Park sign
Canoeing, kayaking, tubing
Scantic River State Park 784 acres (317 ha) Enfield, East Windsor, Somers Hartford 1967 Scantic River Fishing, hunting
Selden Neck State Park 607 acres (246 ha) Lyme New London Connecticut River Accessible only by boat; camping, fishing, hunting
Seth Low Pierrepont State Park Reserve 305 acres (123 ha) Ridgefield Fairfield 1956 Lake Naraneka
Park sign
Car-top boating, fishing
Sherwood Island State Park 238 acres (96 ha) Westport Fairfield 1932 Long Island Sound
Beachscape
Beach, swimming, nature center, field sports, saltwater fishing
Silver Sands State Park 297 acres (120 ha) Milford New Haven 1960 Long Island Sound
Beach, tombolo and island
Beach, swimming, saltwater fishing
Sleeping Giant State Park 1,439 acres (582 ha) Hamden New Haven 1924
Stone lookout tower
Quinnipiac Trail, lookout tower, stream fishing, youth group camping
Southford Falls State Park 126 acres (51 ha) Oxford New Haven 1932 Eightmile Brook Covered bridge Waterfalls, covered bridge, pond and stream fishing, cross-country skiing, field sports
Squantz Pond State Park 172 acres (70 ha) New Fairfield Fairfield 1926 Squantz Pond
Pond waters
Boating, swimming, pond fishing, scuba diving
Stillwater Pond State Park 226 acres (91 ha) Torrington Litchfield Stillwater Pond Boating, fishing
Stoddard Hill State Park 55 acres (22 ha) Ledyard New London Thames River Boating, fishing
Stratton Brook State Park 145 acres (59 ha) Simsbury Hartford 1949 Stratton Brook
Covered bridge
Swimming, fishing, biking, cross-country skiing
Sunnybrook State Park 464 acres (188 ha) Torrington Litchfield Naugatuck River Fishing, hunting
Sunrise Resort State Park 143 acres (58 ha) East Haddam Middlesex 2009 Salmon River Undeveloped
Talcott Mountain State Park 574 acres (232 ha) Simsbury, Avon,
Bloomfield
Hartford 1965
Tower
Observation tower, scenic vistas, Metacomet Trail
Tri-Mountain State Park 157 acres (64 ha) Durham,
Wallingford
Middlesex,
New Haven
Hiking
Trout Brook Valley State Park Reserve 300 acres (121 ha) Easton Fairfield 1999
Hiking trail signage
Hiking
Wadsworth Falls State Park 285 acres (115 ha) Middlefield,
Middletown
Middlesex 1942 Coginchaug River
Waterfall
Waterfall, swimming, stream fishing, mountain biking
West Rock Ridge State Park 1,691 acres (684 ha) Hamden, New Haven,
Woodbridge, Bethany
New Haven Lake Wintergreen
Landscape vista
Features the Regicides Trail, scenic vistas, fishing, car-top boating, horseback riding
Wharton Brook State Park 96 acres (39 ha) Wallingford,
North Haven
New Haven 1918 Allen Brook Pond
Fishing, swimming
Whittemore Glen State Park 242 acres (98 ha) Naugatuck, Middlebury New Haven
The Larkin Trail in Whittemore Glen State Park in Naugatuck Connecticut.
Horseback riding, hiking
Windsor Locks Canal State Park Trail Windsor Locks, Suffield Hartford Connecticut River
Windsor Locks Canal Trail Suffield North Trailhead Looking South
4.5 mile bike trail, fishing along the canal
Windsor Meadows State Park 155 acres (63 ha) Windsor Hartford Connecticut River Boat launch, fishing, bicycling
Wooster Mountain State Park 444 acres (180 ha) Danbury Fairfield
Forest trail
Skeet, trap and target shooting, hunting

Connecticut state forests

Name Area[1] Town County Estab- lished River / lake / other Image Remarks
Algonquin State Forest 2,987 acres (1,209 ha) Colebrook, Winchester Litchfield 1937 Sandy Brook Hiking, hunting, fishing, bird watching
American Legion State Forest 893 acres (361 ha) Barkhamsted Litchfield 1927 Farmington River
Forest with foundation stones in winter
Adjacent to Peoples State Forest; hiking, camping, boating, nature center
Camp Columbia State Park/State Forest 601 acres (243 ha) Morris Litchfield 2000 Historic college campus; hiking, hunting
Centennial Watershed State Forest 15,370 acres (6,220 ha) Redding, Easton, Newtown, Weston Fairfield 2002 Saugatuck Reservoir
Saugatuck Reservoir from the Saugatuck Trail in Centennial Watershed State Forest
Hiking, hunting, fishing
Cockaponset State Forest 17,186 acres (6,955 ha) Haddam Middlesex 1926 Pattaconk Lake
Forested trail in winter
Swimming, fishing, trails
Enders State Forest 2,105 acres (852 ha) Granby Hartford Hiking, hunting
Housatonic State Forest 10,894 acres (4,409 ha) Sharon Litchfield 1927
Iron Trail In Housatonic SF to Canaan Mtn Rd
Appalachian Trail
James L. Goodwin State Forest 2,003 acres (811 ha) Hampton Middlesex 1964 Pine Acres Pond
James Goodwin State Forest Pine Acres Lake Observation Deck at Boat Launch
Air Line State Park Trail, boat launch, Conservation Education Center, youth group camping, Natchaug Trail
Massacoe State Forest 503 acres (204 ha) Simsbury Hartford Great Pond Bike trail
Mattatuck State Forest 4,673 acres (1,891 ha) Waterbury, Plymouth, Thomaston, Watertown, Litchfield, Harwinton Litchfield 1925
Forested landscape
Twenty different parcels; Hancock Brook Trail, Whitestone Cliffs Trail
Meshomasic State Forest 9,026 acres (3,653 ha) East Hampton Middlesex 1903
Landscape with river bends
Fishing, hiking, hunting
Mohawk State Forest 3,743 acres (1,515 ha) Cornwall, Goshen Litchfield 1921 Mohawk Pond
Mountain vista
Adjoins Mohawk Mountain State Park; lookout tower, pond and stream fishing, youth group camping, skiing
Mohegan State Forest 956 acres (387 ha) Scotland Middlesex 1960 Hiking, hunting
Nassahegon State Forest 1,227 acres (497 ha) Burlington Hartford 1942
Tunxis "White-Dot" Blue-Blazed hiking trail near Bradley Brook and CT Route 4 in Nassahegon State Forest (Burlington, Connecticut)
Fish hatchery; hunting, hiking, bird watching
Natchaug State Forest 13,438 acres (5,438 ha) Eastford Windham 1917 Natchaug River
Forested brook
Natchaug Trail; hiking, horseback riding, camping
Nathan Hale State Forest 1,455 acres (589 ha) Andover Tolland 1946 Hiking, hunting
Naugatuck State Forest 4,153 acres (1,681 ha) Cheshire, Hamden, Naugatuck, Oxford, Beacon Falls New Haven 1921 Naugatuck River
Mountain vista with highway
Includes the Naugatuck Trail
Nehantic State Forest 5,062 acres (2,049 ha) Lyme New London 1925 Norwich Pond, Uncas Lake Boating, swimming, hiking
Nepaug State Forest 1,373 acres (556 ha) New Hartford Litchfield 1927 Hiking, biking, fishing, camping
Nipmuck State Forest 9,209 acres (3,727 ha) Union Tolland 1905 Breakneck Pond
Frozen pond
Adjoins Bigelow Hollow State Park, features Mountain Laurel Sanctuary, Nipmuck Trail
Nye-Holman State Forest 787 acres (318 ha) Tolland Tolland 1931 Willimantic River Fishing, hiking, youth group camping
Pachaug State Forest 28,804 acres (11,657 ha) Voluntown, Griswold, Plainfield, Sterling, North Stonington, Preston New London 1928 Pachaug River
Forested boardwalk
Camping, boating, horseback riding, youth group camping, motorcycle trail
Paugnut State Forest 1,644 acres (665 ha) Torrington, Winchester Litchfield 1929
Paugnut State Forest's hills in autumn viewed from the north-east shore of Burr Pond
Spread out over four locations; abuts Burr Pond and Sunnybrook state parks
Paugussett State Forest 1,947 acres (788 ha) Newtown Fairfield Housatonic River
LillinonahTrail PondBrookInlet
Boat launch, fishing, hiking, mountain biking
Peoples State Forest 3,059 acres (1,238 ha) Barkhamsted Litchfield 1924 Farmington River Adjacent to American Legion State Forest; Barkhamsted Lighthouse
Pootatuck State Forest 1,103 acres (446 ha) New Fairfield Fairfield Squantz Pond
Squantz Pond and Candlewood Lake from scenic outlook on Pootatuck State Forest Blue Trail
Access is through Squantz Pond State Park
Quaddick State Forest 1,109 acres (449 ha) Thompson Windham Quaddick Reservoir Youth group camping
Salmon River State Forest 6,905 acres (2,794 ha) Hebron, Marlborough, Colchester, East Haddam, East Hampton Middlesex, New London 1934 Salmon River
Winter forest vista with river
Features Comstock's Bridge
Shenipsit State Forest 6,962 acres (2,817 ha) Stafford, Somers, Ellington Tolland 1927
Forest vista with rising mist
Features 11 parcels spread over nearly 7,000 acres, Shenipsit Trail, Civilian Conservation Corps Museum
Topsmead State Forest 615 acres (249 ha) Litchfield Litchfield 1972 Features historic house museum estate of Edith Morton Chase
Tunxis State Forest 5,519 acres (2,233 ha) East Hartland, Granby Hartford 1923 Barkhamsted Reservoir
Massachusetts-Connecticut border marker on northern border of Tunxis State Forest in Hartland (near northern end of Pell Road
Meets Granville State Forest in Massachusetts
Wyantenock State Forest 4,083 acres (1,652 ha) Cornwall, Kent, Warren Litchfield 1925 Nine different parcels, none developed for recreation

Other state areas

Name Town County Established Remarks
Burlington Trout Hatchery Burlington Hartford 1923 website, information, located within Nassahegon State Forest
Quinebaug Valley Trout Hatchery Plainfield Windham website, information
Franklin Wildlife Management Area North Franklin New London website
Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area Burlington Hartford website, includes the Sessions Woods Conservation Education Center with an exhibit area and a meeting room, interpretive trails, habitat management demonstration areas, and a backyard wildlife habitat area, Friends site, Town of Burlington information

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee (January 23, 2014). "State Parks and Forests: Funding" (PDF). Staff Findings and Recommendations. Connecticut General Assembly. pp. A–1 – A–4. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
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