CONNECTICUT

The second largest forest in the state, set on 15,652 acres. Areas for fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, hiking and cross-country ski trails, fresh water swimming and picnic areas. Cockaponset State Forest offers youth group camping. There is a seasonal weekend/holiday parking fee at the Pattaconk Recreation Area of $14 for state residents and $20 for non-residents. No fee on weekdays.

Stratton Brook is a completely wheelchair accessible park offering swimming, picnicking and interpretive programs in a beautifully wooded setting. Activities include boating, fishing, swimming, picnicking, hiking, biking, field sports, cross-country skiing, and ice skating. Stratton Brook State Park is a designated trout park.
Facilities include bathrooms, changing houses, picnic shelters, picnic tables, seasonal interpretive displays. There are separate weekend/holiday and weekday fees at Stratton Brook State Park. Weekend and holiday parking is $14 for Connecticut vehicles and $20 for out of state vehicles.

Four-season fun can be found at these adjoining forests. Activities include river canoeing and kayaking, camping, freshwater fishing, field sports, hiking on several blazed trails, picnicking, letterboxing, hunting, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing.
The west branch of the Farmington River, designated as a Wild and Scenic River by the National Park Service, is the center point of river-based recreational activities including trout fishing, canoeing, kayaking and tubing. Seasonal interpretive programs are based at the Stone Museum, a nature museum, open weekends between Memorial Day and Columbus Day. It has displays on forestry, mammals, Native American culture, and local history. Several guided hikes are offered from May through October.
Fees: Weekends and holidays, $14 for Connecticut vehicles and $20 for out of state vehicles. No charge on weekdays.

Black Rock offers excellent swimming, hiking, scenic views, and Indian legend all tucked into the scenic rolling hills of the western highlands of Connecticut. Black Rock Campground has 96 sites in a wooded setting. The camping season is mid-April through September 30. This is a designated trout park. Activities include picnicking, field sports, swimming, and pond fishing. Facilities: bathrooms, food concessions, picnic tables.
There is a daily parking fee in season. Gates are open on weekends only from the third Saturday in April until Memorial Day, 8 a.m. to sunset. From Memorial Day to October 31st, they are open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset. Campsite fees are charged separately.

Mount Tom rises to a height of 1,325. At the top of the mountain, hikers can reach the notable stone tower. While hiking the mountain is a popular activity at the park, visitors can also enjoy swimming, stocked fishing ponds, sail and row-boating, scuba diving and ice skating. Activities include paddling, picnicking, fishing, scuba diving, hiking, Swimming, canoe and kayak rentals. Facilities: bathrooms, concession, change houses. There are separate weekend, holiday. and weekday parking fees at Mount Tom State Park.

The 1,013-acre Barn Island Wildlife Management Area is the State's single largest coastal property managed for wildlife conservation. The property provides a diversity of ecoysystem and habitats including hilly uplands, agricultural/open fields, mixed hardwood forests and salt, brackish and freshwater tidal wetlands. The site is a popular hiking, wildlife observation and hunting area. Deer hunting is allowed in-season at this site. Nearly 4 miles of trails are available at this site.

Bigelow Hollow State Park and the adjoining Nipmuck State Forest offer over 9,000 acres of recreation opportunities including miles of hiking trails and an 18-acre pond in Eastern Connecticut. Activities include boating, picnicking, cross country skiing, pond fishing, hiking, scuba diving, hunting (forest only), and snowmobiling. There are boat launches at Bigelow Pond and Mashapaug Lake. There is a parking fee of $9 to $15 weekends and holidays in season.

Bigelow Hollow State Park and the adjoining Nipmuck State Forest offer over 9,000 acres of recreation opportunities including miles of hiking trails and an 18-acre pond in Eastern Connecticut. Activities include boating, picnicking, pone fishing scuba diving, hiking, hunting (forest only), cross-country skiing, snowmobiling. Facilities include boat launchs at off Route 171, 1.3 miles east of junction with Route 190, picnic tables, and pit toilets.
Marked trails lead from Bigelow Hollow to the Breakneck area, but no trail in this area is a loop trail. Hikers should be prepared to walk at least 6 miles to complete a loop around Breakneck. There are no marked trails to Briggs pond. For hikers desiring trails that start and end in the same place, the trails west of the park road both form loops and cover less of a distance than the trails leading to Breakneck.
There is a seasonal weekend/holiday parking fee at Bigelow Hollow State Park. Parking on weekends and holidays is $14 for Connecticut vehicles and $20 for out of state vehicles.

Bluff Point Coastal Reserve offers the visitor a delightful mixture of wooded hiking and biking trails coupled with spectacular wildlife viewing on Long Island Sound. Activities include hiking, saltwater fishing, mountain biking, shell fishing. A permit is required for shell fishing. Permits are issued by the Town of Groton. Town offices are located at Route 1 and Depot Road. Telephone: 860-441-6600. No fee to park.

Bluff Point Coastal Reserve offers the visitor a delightful mixture of wooded hiking and biking trails coupled with spectacular wildlife viewing on Long Island Sound. Activities include canoeing and kayaking, saltwater fishing, shell fishing, hiking, and mountain biking. Facilities include a boat launch. There are no parking fees at Bluff Point State Park.
Jutting out into waters of Long Island Sound this wooded peninsula measures one and one-half miles long by one mile wide. Because of its Coastal Reserve designation, access to the bluff is by foot or non-motorized vehicle only. The trail to the bluff passes through wooded and open areas until the view broadens as the bluff is approached.
A permit is required for shell fishing. Permits are issued by the Town of Groton. Groton Town Offices are located on the corner of Route 1 and Depot Road. Telephone: 860-441-6600

Popular state park with facilities for camping, swimming, boating and a rest area with a food concession. Hiking trails and fishing areas are also available. There is a weekend/holiday parking fee of $9 to $15 and a campsite fee at Mashamoquet State Park.
Wolf Den Campground, 35 open sites. Bathrooms, showers, dumping station. Fishing, hiking, swimming nearby. No pets.
Mashamoquet Brook Campground, 20 wooded sites. Dumping station nearby. Fishing, hiking, swimming nearby. No pets. Open April through September.

Natchaug State Forest on Natchaug River is popular for its horse trails, outstanding fishing, and riverfront picnic sites. Of historic interest is a large stone fireplace and chimney that are the remains of the birthplace of General Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union general killed in the Civil War. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, hunting, backpack camping, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. The Natchaug River is a designated trout park fishing area. Facilities include picnic tables and pit toilets.

Pachaug State Forest is the largest state forest in Connecticut encompassing 24,000 acres in five towns. There are two areas, the Chapman Area and the Green Falls Area.
Activities in the Chapman area include boating, hunting, backpack camping, motorcycling, camping, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, picnicking, freshwater fishing, scenic vistas, hiking, snowmobiling, horseback riding, youth group camping, horse camping, and letterboxing. Mount Misery Campground offers 22 campsites available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Water, fireplaces and pit toilets are provided. Frog Hollow Horse Camp Area offers 18 campsites on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Green Falls area offers boating, camping, freshwater fishing, hunting, mountain biking, and hiking. The Green Falls Campground has 18 wooded campsites that are available from the third Friday of April until September 30. The campsites are first-come, first serve with no reservations accepted. Green Falls, Narragansett, Nehantic, and Pachaug trail sections pass through this area.

The large stone pavilion, diverse trail systems, and gently sloping beach make this park ideal for families. Try crabbing or fishing. Look for hawks, cranes, and herons. Activities include camping, picnicking, hiking, saltwater fishing, interpretive programs, saltwater swimming. Facilities include bathrooms, food concession, pavilion, and picnic tables. Rocky Neck Campground offers 160 sites in both open and wooded settings. The camping season begins in May and ends September 30.
From Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day there are separate weekend/holiday and weekday parking fees. On weekends from April 17 through May 23 and again from September 11 through September 26, the weekday rate for parking will be in effect. There is also a camping fee at Rocky Neck State Park.

Connecticut's largest shoreline park offers over two miles of beach to enjoy swimming, strolling along the boardwalk, or just relaxing in the sun and surf. Activities include saltwater swimming, fishing, picnicking, hiking, fishing, paddling, bicycling, and camping. The Meigs Point Nature Center offers programs and activities for park visitors on a limited year round basis.
Facilities: Bathrooms, boardwalk, car top boat launch, concessions, nature center, picnic shelters, picnic tables, showers. Park fees: Weekends, $20 for Connecticut residents and $30 for non-residents; weekday fees are $14 and $20. All days, $10 after 4 p.m. Hammonasset offers over 550 grassy campsites. Open for the season from May 21 through October 30 (203-245-1817).