List of Connecticut state parks

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

Connecticut State Parks

Connecticut state parks
Name Town County Area[1] Estab- lished River / lake / other Image Remarks
acres ha
Above All State Park Warren Litchfield 31 13 1927
Undeveloped site with Cold War defense installation remnants
Auerfarm State Park Scenic Reserve Bloomfield Hartford 40 2015 Farmland gifted to state
Beaver Brook State Park Chaplin, Windham Windham 401 162 1955 Bibbins Pond
Fishing; abuts Air Line State Park Trail
Becket Hill State Park Reserve Lyme New London 260 110 1961 Uncas Pond
Adjacent to Nehantic State Forest
Beckley Furnace Industrial Monument North Canaan Litchfield 12 4.9 1946
Historic iron-making furnace dating from 1847
Bennett's Pond State Park Ridgefield, Danbury Fairfield 460 190 2002
Former estate and nursery called Outpost Farm
Bigelow Hollow State Park Union Tolland 516 209 1949 Bigelow Pond,
Mashapaug Lake
Adjoins Nipmuck State Forest and borders Mashapaug Lake; boat launch, swimming
Black Rock State Park Watertown Litchfield 444 180 1926 Black Rock Pond
Camping, pond fishing, Mattatuck Trail
Bluff Point State Park Groton New London 806 326 1963 Long Island Sound
Ocean access, boat launch; near Haley Farm State Park
Bolton Notch State Park Bolton Tolland 95 38 1918 Rock climbing
Brainard Homestead State Park East Haddam Middlesex 25 10 1929
Undeveloped
Burr Pond State Park Torrington Litchfield 438 177 1949 Burr Pond
Boating, fishing, swimming
Camp Columbia State Park/State Forest Morris Litchfield 600 240 2000 Former rural campus of Columbia University Engineering Department
Campbell Falls State Park Reserve Norfolk Litchfield 102 41 1923 Whiting River
On the Massachusetts border
Chatfield Hollow State Park Killingworth Middlesex 412 167 1949
Swimming, fishing
Collis P. Huntington State Park Redding, Newtown, Bethel Fairfield 878 355 1973
Former estate with ponds for fishing and canoeing and multipurpose trails
Connecticut Valley Railroad State Park Essex Middlesex 136 55
Essex Steam Train from Essex to Chester up the Connecticut River valley
Dart Island State Park Middletown Middlesex 19 7.7 1918 Connecticut River
Accessible by water only
Day Pond State Park Colchester New London 180 73 1949 Day Pond
Swimming, pond fishing
Dennis Hill State Park Norfolk Litchfield 240 97 1935
Former estate with hiking, picnicking and scenic views
Devil's Hopyard State Park East Haddam Middlesex 860 350 1919 Eightmile River
Historic millsite with camping, stream fishing, waterfall
Dinosaur State Park Rocky Hill Hartford 60 24 1968
Natural history museum, arboretum
Eagle Landing State Park Haddam Middlesex 16 6.5 2003 Connecticut River
Boat dock, fishing pier, winter eagle viewing
Farm River State Park East Haven New Haven 61 25 1998 Farm River
Boat launch, fishing
Ferry Landing State Park Old Lyme New London 1 0.40 Unknown Connecticut River
Boat launch, fishing, Crabbing
Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park Groton New London 16 6.5 1953 Thames River
Site of the 1781 massacre led by Benedict Arnold; American Revolutionary War museum and artifacts
Fort Trumbull State Park New London New London 16 6.5 2000 Long Island Sound
19th-century fort with museum, fishing pier
Gardner Lake State Park Salem New London 10 4.0 2001 Gardner Lake Boating, fishing, swimming
Gay City State Park Hebron Tolland 1,569 635 1944 Blackledge River
Former mill-town ruins; pond fishing, swimming, youth group camping; bordered by Meshomasic State Forest
George Dudley Seymour State Park Haddam Middlesex 222 90 1960 Connecticut River Abuts Hurd State Park and Higganum Meadows Wildlife Area; fishing, hunting
George Waldo State Park Southbury New Haven 150 61 1960 Lake Lillinonah Undeveloped; multi-use trails
Gillette Castle State Park East Haddam Middlesex 184 74 1943 Connecticut River
Castle house museum; boat camping
Haddam Island State Park Haddam Middlesex 14 5.7 1944 Connecticut River Accessible only by boat
Haddam Meadows State Park Haddam Middlesex 175 71 1944 Connecticut River
Boating, fishing
Haley Farm State Park Groton New London 198 80 1970
Bike trail, near Bluff Point State Park
Hammonasset Beach State Park Madison New Haven 919 372 1920
Beach, swimming, fishing, camping, nature center, carry-in boating
Harkness Memorial State Park Waterford New London 116 47 1952 Long Island Sound
42-room mansion museum, formal gardens, fishing
Haystack Mountain State Park Norfolk Litchfield 292 118 1917
Observation tower
Higganum Reservoir State Park Haddam Middlesex 147 59 1955 Higganum Reservoir Car-top boating, fishing, hunting
Hopemead State Park Bozrah, Montville New London 70 28 1954 Gardner Lake Fishing, hiking
Hopeville Pond State Park Griswold New London 544 220 1938 Pachaug River Camping, boating, swimming, pond fishing, field sports
Horse Guard State Park Avon Hartford 105 42 1964
Undeveloped
Housatonic Meadows State Park Sharon Litchfield 451 183 1927 Housatonic River
Camping, canoeing, fly fishing
Humaston Brook State Park Litchfield Litchfield 141 57 1920 Fishing
Hurd State Park East Hampton Middlesex 991 401 1914 Connecticut River
Boat camping, mountain biking, scenic views
Indian Well State Park Shelton Fairfield 153 62 1928 Lake Housatonic
Boating, swimming, fishing, waterfalls
John A. Minetto State Park Torrington Litchfield 715 289 1965 Pond and stream fishing, cross-country skiing
Kent Falls State Park Kent Litchfield 307 124 1919 Falls Brook
Waterfalls, replica covered bridge
Kettletown State Park Southbury New Haven 599 242 1950 Lake Zoar
Camping, swimming, fishing
Killingly Pond State Park Killingly Windham 162 66 Killingly Pond Boating, fishing
Lake Waramaug State Park Kent Litchfield 95 38 1920 Lake Waramaug
Camping, car-top boating, swimming, fishing
Lamentation Mountain State Park Berlin Hartford 47 19 1936
Hiking, scenic vistas
Lovers Leap State Park New Milford Litchfield 127 51 1971 Housatonic River
Scenic river vistas
Macedonia Brook State Park Kent Litchfield 2,300 930 1918
Camping, stream fishing
Machimoodus State Park East Haddam Middlesex 300 120 1998 Salmon River
Fishing, horseback riding
Mansfield Hollow State Park Mansfield Tolland 251 102 1952 Mansfield Hollow Lake
Boating, fishing, field sports, mountain biking, cross-country skiing
Mashamoquet Brook State Park Pomfret Windham 917 371 1924
Camping, swimming, stream fishing
Mianus River State Park Stamford Fairfield 94 38 2001 Mianus River
Biking, fishing, horseback riding
Millers Pond State Park Durham, Haddam Middlesex 280 110 1955 Millers Pond
Fishing, hunting, mountain biking
Minnie Island State Park Salem, Montville New London 1 0.40 1925 Gardner Lake Boating, fishing, accessible only by boat
Mohawk Forest/Mohawk Mountain State Park Cornwall, Goshen, Litchfield Litchfield 4,016 1,625 1921
Includes Mohawk Mountain Ski Area
Mono Pond State Park Reserve Columbia Tolland 218 88 2008 Mono Pond Boating, fishing, hunting, cross-country skiing
Mooween State Park Lebanon New London 577 234 1989 Red Cedar Lake Boating, fishing
Mount Bushnell State Park Washington Litchfield 214 87 1916
Hiking
Mount Riga State Park Salisbury Litchfield 276 112 1954
Hiking
Mount Tom State Park Litchfield, Washington, Morris Litchfield 231 93 1915 Mount Tom Pond
Historic lookout tower
Nathaniel Lyon Memorial State Park Eastford Windham Located in Natchaug State Forest
Old Furnace State Park Killingly Windham 367 149 1918 Ross Pond
Site of an 18th-century iron furnace; hiking, boating, fishing, hunting
Osbornedale State Park Derby New Haven 350 140 1956
Former Osbornedale Farms; hiking, pond fishing
Penwood State Park Bloomfield Hartford 787 318 1944 Lake Louise
Metacomet Trail, hiking, cross-country skiing
Platt Hill State Park Winchester Litchfield 159 64 1960
Scenic vistas
Pomeroy State Park Lebanon New London 200 81 1953 Undeveloped; hiking, hunting
Putnam Memorial State Park Bethel, Redding Fairfield 183 74 1887 Lake MdDougall
American Revolutionary War museum, interpretive trail, youth group camping
Quaddick State Park Thompson Windham 116 47 1951 Quaddick Reservoir Boat launch, swimming, fishing, field sports
Quinebaug Lake State Park Killingly Windham 181 73 1964 Quinebaug Lake Boating, fishing
Quinnipiac River State Park North Haven New Haven 323 131 1951 Quinnipiac River Car-top boating, fishing, hunting
River Highlands State Park Cromwell Middlesex 177 72 2001 Connecticut River
Boat camping
Rocky Glen State Park Newtown Fairfield 46 19 1943 Pootatuck River Hiking
Rocky Neck State Park East Lyme New London 710 290 1931 Long Island Sound
Beach, swimming, camping, saltwater fishing
Ross Pond State Park Killingly Windham 314 127 1964 Ross Pond Boating, fishing, hunting
Salt Rock State Campground Sprague New London 149 60 2001 Shetucket River Camping, fishing, pool swimming, access to Shetucket River
Satan's Kingdom State Recreation Area New Hartford Litchfield 1 0.40 2012 Farmington River
Canoeing, kayaking, tubing
Scantic River State Park Enfield, East Windsor, Somers Hartford 784 317 1967 Scantic River
Fishing, hunting
Selden Neck State Park Lyme New London 607 246 1917 Connecticut River Accessible only by boat; camping, fishing, hunting
Seth Low Pierrepont State Park Reserve Ridgefield Fairfield 305 123 1956 Lake Naraneka
Car-top boating, fishing
Seaside State Park Waterford New London 36 2014 Long Island Sound Sanatorium remains, fishing
Sherwood Island State Park Westport Fairfield 238 96 1932 Long Island Sound
Beach, swimming, nature center, field sports, saltwater fishing
Silver Sands State Park Milford New Haven 297 120 1960 Long Island Sound
Beach, swimming, saltwater fishing
Sleeping Giant State Park Hamden New Haven 1,439 582 1924
Quinnipiac Trail, lookout tower, stream fishing, youth group camping
Southford Falls State Park Oxford New Haven 126 51 1932 Eightmile Brook Waterfalls, covered bridge, pond and stream fishing, cross-country skiing, field sports
Squantz Pond State Park New Fairfield Fairfield 172 70 1926 Squantz Pond
Boating, swimming, pond fishing, scuba diving
Stillwater Pond State Park Torrington Litchfield 226 91 Stillwater Pond Boating, fishing
Stoddard Hill State Park Ledyard New London 55 22 1954 Thames River Boating, fishing
Stratton Brook State Park Simsbury Hartford 145 59 1949 Stratton Brook
Swimming, fishing, biking, cross-country skiing
Sunnybrook State Park Torrington Litchfield 464 188 1970 Naugatuck River Fishing, hunting
Sunrise State Park East Haddam Middlesex 143 58 2009 Salmon River
Undeveloped
Talcott Mountain State Park Simsbury, Avon,
Bloomfield		 Hartford 574 232 1965
Observation tower, scenic vistas, Metacomet Trail
Tri-Mountain State Park Durham,
Wallingford		 Middlesex,
New Haven		 157 64 1925 Hiking
Trout Brook Valley State Park Reserve Easton Fairfield 300 120 1999
Hiking
Wadsworth Falls State Park Middlefield,
Middletown		 Middlesex 285 115 1942 Coginchaug River
Waterfall, swimming, stream fishing, mountain biking
West Rock Ridge State Park Hamden, New Haven,
Woodbridge, Bethany		 New Haven 1,691 684 1975 Lake Wintergreen
Features the Regicides Trail, scenic vistas, fishing, car-top boating, horseback riding
Wharton Brook State Park Wallingford,
North Haven		 New Haven 96 39 1918 Allen Brook Pond
Allen Brook Pond in Wharton Brook SP at dusk.
 Fishing, swimming
Whittemore Glen State Park Naugatuck, Middlebury New Haven 242 98 1945
Horseback riding, hiking
Windsor Meadows State Park Windsor Hartford 155 63 1968 Connecticut River
Boat launch, fishing, bicycling
Wooster Mountain State Park Danbury Fairfield 444 180 1920
Skeet, trap and target shooting, hunting

Connecticut state park trails
Name Towns Counties Length Estab- lished Image Remarks
mi km
Air Line
State Park Trail		 East Hampton, Colchester, Hebron, Columbia, Lebanon, Windham, Chaplin, Hampton, Pomfret, Putnam, Thompson Middlesex,
New London,
Tolland,
Windham		 50 80 1969
Nearly fifty miles of converted rail-trail
Farmington Canal
State Park Trail		 Cheshire, Hamden New Haven 5.5 8.9
Part of the Farmington Canal Trail
Hop River
State Park Trail		 Andover, Bolton, Columbia, Coventry, Manchester, Vernon Hartford, Tolland 19 31
Nineteen miles of rail-trail from Manchester to Willimantic
Larkin
State Park Trail		 Southbury, Oxford, Middlebury, Naugatuck New Haven 10 16 1943
Ten-mile-long rail-trail
Moosup Valley
State Park Trail		 Plainfield, Sterling Windham 6 9.7 1987
Six miles of rail-trail
Windsor Locks Canal
State Park Trail		 Windsor Locks, Suffield Hartford 4.5 7.2
4.5 mile bike trail, fishing along the canal

Connecticut state forests
Name Town County Area[1] Estab- lished River / lake / other Image Remarks
acres ha
Algonquin State Forest Colebrook, Winchester Litchfield 2,987 1,209 1937 Sandy Brook Hiking, hunting, fishing, bird watching
American Legion State Forest Barkhamsted Litchfield 893 361 1927 Farmington River
Adjacent to Peoples State Forest; hiking, camping, boating, nature center
Camp Columbia State Park/State Forest Morris Litchfield 601 243 2000
Historic college campus; hiking, hunting
Centennial Watershed State Forest Redding, Easton, Newtown, Weston Fairfield 15,370 6,220 2002 Saugatuck Reservoir
Hiking, hunting, fishing
Cockaponset State Forest Haddam Middlesex 17,186 6,955 1926 Pattaconk Lake
Swimming, fishing, trails
Enders State Forest Granby Hartford 2,105 852 1970 Hiking, hunting
Housatonic State Forest Sharon Litchfield 10,894 4,409 1927
Appalachian Trail
James L. Goodwin State Forest Hampton Middlesex 2,003 811 1964 Pine Acres Pond
Air Line State Park Trail, boat launch, Conservation Education Center, youth group camping, Natchaug Trail
Massacoe State Forest Simsbury Hartford 503 204 1908 Great Pond Bike trail
Mattatuck State Forest Waterbury, Plymouth, Thomaston, Watertown, Litchfield, Harwinton Litchfield 4,673 1,891 1925
Twenty different parcels; Hancock Brook Trail, Whitestone Cliffs Trail
Meshomasic State Forest East Hampton Middlesex 9,026 3,653 1903
Fishing, hiking, hunting
Mohawk State Forest Cornwall, Goshen Litchfield 3,743 1,515 1921 Mohawk Pond
Adjoins Mohawk Mountain State Park; lookout tower, pond and stream fishing, youth group camping, skiing
Mohegan State Forest Scotland Middlesex 956 387 1960
Hiking, hunting
Nassahegon State Forest Burlington Hartford 1,227 497 1942
Fish hatchery; hunting, hiking, bird watching
Natchaug State Forest Eastford Windham 13,438 5,438 1917 Natchaug River
Natchaug Trail; hiking, horseback riding, camping
Nathan Hale State Forest Andover Tolland 1,455 589 1946 Hiking, hunting
Naugatuck State Forest Cheshire, Hamden, Naugatuck, Oxford, Beacon Falls New Haven 4,153 1,681 1921 Naugatuck River
Includes the Naugatuck Trail
Nehantic State Forest Lyme New London 5,062 2,049 1925 Norwich Pond, Uncas Lake
Boating, swimming, hiking
Nepaug State Forest New Hartford Litchfield 1,373 556 1927
Hiking, biking, fishing, camping
Nipmuck State Forest Union Tolland 9,209 3,727 1905 Breakneck Pond
Adjoins Bigelow Hollow State Park, features Mountain Laurel Sanctuary, Nipmuck Trail
Nye-Holman State Forest Tolland Tolland 787 318 1931 Willimantic River Fishing, hiking, youth group camping
Pachaug State Forest Voluntown, Griswold, Plainfield, Sterling, North Stonington, Preston New London 28,804 11,657 1928 Pachaug River
Camping, boating, horseback riding, youth group camping, motorcycle trail
Paugnut State Forest Torrington, Winchester Litchfield 1,644 665 1929
Spread out over four locations; abuts Burr Pond and Sunnybrook state parks
Paugussett State Forest Newtown Fairfield 1,947 788 Housatonic River
Boat launch, fishing, hiking, mountain biking
Peoples State Forest Barkhamsted Litchfield 3,059 1,238 1924 Farmington River
Adjacent to American Legion State Forest; Barkhamsted Lighthouse
Pootatuck State Forest New Fairfield Fairfield 1,103 446 Squantz Pond
Access is through Squantz Pond State Park
Quaddick State Forest Thompson Windham 1,109 449 Quaddick Reservoir Youth group camping
Salmon River State Forest Hebron, Marlborough, Colchester, East Haddam, East Hampton Middlesex, New London 6,905 2,794 1934 Salmon River
Features Comstock's Bridge
Shenipsit State Forest Stafford, Somers, Ellington Tolland 6,962 2,817 1927
Features 11 parcels spread over nearly 7,000 acres, Shenipsit Trail, Civilian Conservation Corps Museum
Topsmead State Forest Litchfield Litchfield 615 249 1972
Features historic house museum estate of Edith Morton Chase
Tunxis State Forest East Hartland, Granby Hartford 5,519 2,233 1923 Barkhamsted Reservoir
Meets Granville State Forest in Massachusetts
Wyantenock State Forest Cornwall, Kent, Warren Litchfield 4,083 1,652 1925 Nine different parcels, none developed for recreation

Connecticut Wildlife Management Areas
Name Town County Area[1] Established River / lake / other Image Remarks
acres ha
Aldo Leopold Wildlife Management Area Southbury New Haven 554 acres 224 ha Housatonic River, Lake Lillinonah Forest. Limited off-road parking available on Kuhne, Purchase Brook, Little York and East Flat Hill roads.
Assekonk Swamp Wildlife Management Area North Stonington New London 693 acres 280 ha Assekonk Swamp Swamp. Limited off-road parking available off CT-184.
Babcock Pond Wildlife Management Area East Haddam, Colchester Middlesex, New London 1524 acres 617 ha Babcock Pond Swamp, forest, pond. Parking off Myles Standish Road,
Barber Pond Wildlife Management Area Bloomfield, Windsor Hartford 72 acres 29 ha Barber Pond Wetlands. Access via CT-305 (Old Windsor Road).
Barn Island Wildlife Management Area Stonington New London 1013 acres 410 ha Little Narragansett Bay Marshes. Parking at the Barn Island Boat Launch and South East Parking.
Bartlett Brook Wildlife Management Area Lebanon New London 687 acres 278 ha Bartlett Brook and Exeter Brook. Streams. Stone foundations. Fields. Trails.
Bear Hill Wildlife Management Area
Belding Wildlife Management Area
Bishops Swamp Wildlife Management Area
Black Pond Wildlife Management Area
Candlewood Hill Wildlife Management Area Groton New London 201 acres 81 ha Swamps, streams, forest, glacial erratics, quarries and 44 acre pitch pine grove.
Cedar Swamp Wildlife Management Area
Charles E. Wheeler Wildlife Management Area Milford New Haven 625 acres 253 ha 1955 Housatonic River, Long Island Sound
Charter Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary Tolland Tolland 240 acres 97 ha Skungamaug Marsh (lake) and Skungamaug River. Marsh, River, Pond.
Cromwell Meadows Wildlife Management Area
Durham Meadows Wildlife Management Area
East River Marsh Wildlife Management Area
East Swamp Wildlife Management Area
Eightmile River Wildlife Management Area
Franklin Wildlife Management Area North Franklin New London website
Goshen Wildlife Management Area
Great Harbor Wildlife Management Area
Higganum Meadows Wildlife Management Area
Housatonic River Wildlife Management Area
King's Island Coop Wildlife Management Area
Kollar Wildlife Management Area
Larson Lot Wildlife Management Area
Little River Fish and Wildlife Area
Lord's Cove Wildlife Management Area
Maromas Coop Wildlife Management Area
Meadow Brook Wildlife Management Area
Menunketesuck Wildlife Management Area
Messerschmidt Wildlife Management Area
Newgate Wildlife Management Area
Nod Brook Wildlife Management Area
Nott Island Wildlife Management Area
Pease Brook Wildlife Management Area
Plum Bank Wildlife Management Area
Quinebaug River Wildlife Management Area
Quinnipiac River Marsh Wildlife Management Area
Ragged Rock Wildlife Management Area
Raymond Brook Marsh Wildlife Management Area
Robbins Swamp Wildlife Management Area
Roger Tory Peterson Wildlife Area
Roraback Wildlife Management Area Harwinton Litchfield 1976 acres 800 ha Leadmine Brook Fields, Swamps, Ponds.
Rose Hill Wildlife Management Area
Ross Marsh Wildlife Management Area
Salmon River Cove and Haddam Neck Wildlife Management Area
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
Simsbury Wildlife Management Area
Skiff Mountain Coop Wildlife Management Area
James V. Spignesi Wildlife Management Area
Stanley Works Wildlife Management Area
Suffield Wildlife Management Area
Talbot Wildlife Management Area
Tankerhoosen Wildlife Management Area
Wangunk Meadows Wildlife Management Area
Wopowog Wildlife Management Area
Zemko Pond Wildlife Management Area

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

See also
  • List of U.S. national parks

References
  1. "Appendix A: List of State Parks and Forests" (PDF). State Parks and Forests: Funding. Staff Findings and Recommendations. Connecticut General Assembly. January 23, 2014. pp. A–1 – A–4. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
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