Quinnipiac River State Park is accessible for hikers and walkers. The 320 plus acres of forested floodplain embrace nearly six serpentine miles of the Quinnipiac River’s meandering western shoreline. The park’s combination of habitat, location, water availability, and forest cover come together to form remarkable wildlife habitats. Cleaner waters over the years have provided an increased quality of wildlife habitat, although various river segments still lack diversity of sensitive species. Still, a testament to the greatly improved water quality of the lower river is the first recorded

Paugnut State Forest is part of a 2,410 acre, contiguous park and forest complex that includes Burr Pond State Park and Sunny Brook State Park. The complex is primarily in north-central Torrington but reaches north into Winchester as well. Paugnut’s woodlands are made up of mixed hardwoods with white pine and hemlock found on drier and rocky areas. In the mid-1930s and early 1940s, Paugnut was part of the actively forested landscape during the years of the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) camps in Connecticut. In 1934 the Connecticut Forestry Department commissioned artist Harry Leith-Ross to

Mattatuck State Forest is the reality of Mr. Harley F. Roberts’ vision. Initiated with a land donation from Roberts’ Black Rock Association in 1925, Mattatuck’s many parcels are spread out over many towns and offer a wide variety of forest experiences to the visitor. Various trails lead hikers past interesting topography to excellent overlooks while hunters, in season, make use of the forest for its wide variety of wildlife. Town locations include Harwinton, Litchfield, Plymouth, Thomaston, Waterbury, and Watertown. Mattatuck is managed responsibly and scientifically for forest products and

A network of three ponds is nestled near the park entrance abutting fields mowed for the benefit of the summer wildflowers. This landscaped entry area is scenic in appearance having been deforested many years prior and maintained as an open space today. Picnic tables are sprinkled throughout the area. A little over 10 percent of the parks’ land is maintained in this fashion, generally concentrated near the entry area. The parking area provides two vehicle/trailer spots for horse enthusiasts. Many birders make use of the park throughout the seasons of the year. The couplet of ponds, in

Stretching across four towns, this long and narrow state park trail combines enough remarkable history, geography, and aesthetics to rate its 110 acres as one of the biggest and prettiest parks in Connecticut’s system. Originally designated as a trail for horses, for which it is still popular, Larkin’s ten miles now also serve walkers, joggers, bikers, and hikers. A 10-mile linear trail passes through Middlebury, Southbury, Naugatuck, and Oxford. Although the railway is silent and the tracks are gone, the Larkin Trail, as it was historically, is open to a variety of users. Though summer finds

The Valley Railroad Company leases the linear state park from the State of Connecticut and offers the visitor a 19th-century railroad experience including an 1892 railroad station, steam locomotives, and vintage trains of historic cars. Here you can travel back in time on more than 12 miles of rails departing to the north out of Essex Station and continuing up the historic Connecticut River Valley. Train excursions operated by the Valley Railroad Company Visitors can choose from a variety of train and combination train and riverboat excursions up the river valley. For details, visit the Essex

The 15,300 acres of Centennial Watershed State Forest offer diverse opportunities for hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and birding. Multiple access points in Easton, Newtown, Redding, and Weston. To be on Centennial Watershed State Forest, you must have a valid permit . A hiking permit allows access to 17 miles of scenic trails. A fishing permit provides access to freshwater fishing at Saugatuck, West Pequonnock, and Far Mill reservoirs in Weston, Redding, Monroe, and Shelton. A hunting permit provides access to archery and shotgun deer hunting. Hiking, Snowshoeing, Cross

Change has been the constant throughout the 100-year history of this piece of countryside. Where once a shared landscape of farmland and woodland dominated, a campus of higher education overtook them and ruled the property for nine decades. But it too, like the farms and fields before it, lapsed into disuse allowing the woodland to reassert itself and provide us with the landscape we enjoy today. Activities include hiking.

Bennett's Pond State Park was once the home of Louis D. Conley, a successful manufacturer, and nurseryman, whose estate of more than 1,500 acres was one of the largest in Ridgefield. Today the park’s 460 acres are just a portion of 1,800 contiguous acres of open space in both Ridgefield and Danbury. Activities include bicycling, hiking, hunting (fall archery for deer only), and fishing.

A 40-acre parcel in Bloomfield was donated to the state park system and will forever be linked to the legacy of Beatrice Fox Auerbach (1887-1968), a Hartford philanthropic native who was prominent in the civic, educational, and cultural life of the city. This portion of her Bloomfield farmland was presented as a gift to the people of Connecticut. Activities include hiking and picnicking.