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At 30,000 acres, Pachaug State Forest is Connecticut's largest. Proportionate to its size is the extent of Pachaug's recreational activities, from equestrian camping to fishing to hunting.
"Pachaug" derives from a Native American term meaning "bend in the river." The Pachaug River, which flows from Beach Pond to the Quinebaug River, rolls through the heart of the park.
At one time virtually all of this area was farm or industrial land, with mills exploiting the water power potential as early as 1711. Old cellar holes and miles of stone walls snaking through the oak-hickory woods are reminders of this busy past.
The trail network is extensive, with 35 miles of marked hiking trails, unpaved roads for mountain biking, and trails for horses. The Connecticut Forest and Park Association maintains the hiking trails.
Unpaved roads are closed to through traffic in winter to accommodate snowmobilers, cross-country skiers and snowshoers.
The park has one of the state's two equestrian camps (the other is in Natchaug State Forest) and offers four Adirondack shelters, available by reservation, for backpackers.
Developed recreational facilities are concentrated in the Chapman and Green Falls areas of the forest. Chapman is accessed from Route 49: Take Headquarters Road to find the park office, a picnic area, trailheads and, slightly more than a mile in, the Mount Misery Campground. The 22 wooded campsites are open from late April through Dec. 31. No reservations are taken.
The Frog Hollow Horse Camp, accommodating up to 18 campers and their mounts from April until Thanksgiving, may also be reached from Headquarters Road via about a mile of unpaved lanes.
The Green Falls Area is located off Route 138 in Voluntown. A day-use fee is charged weekends and holidays in the warmer months. Facilities include a beach on 35-acre Green Falls Pond. Eighteen wooded campsites are open from mid-April through September.
Natural attractions include a sanctuary for native rhododendrons and 441-foot Mount Misery, both in the Chapman Area.
Along with the Pachaug, several streams, nine water impoundments and seven lakes support excellent fishing. Trout are stocked in several water bodies and anglers also catch pickerel, bass and other panfish. There is a wheelchair-accessible fishing station. Boat launches are at Beachdale Pond near the Chapman Area entrance and at Green Falls Pond.
Outdoor Activities |
