Parking fees are required for visitors arriving in out-of-state registered vehicles from April 1 - October 31st. When our ticket booth is closed, parking fees must be paid remotely on the day of your visit at Passes - ReserveAmerica. During the peak season from Memorial Day to Labor Day, weekend and holiday parking fees must be paid at the park entrance upon arrival. For more information, please visit Parking and Camping Fees - CT State Parks and Forests.
Bigelow Hollow State Park
Union, CT
Main (860) 684-3430
Email deep.shenipsit@ct.gov
Overview
Bigelow Hollow has grown in popularity. If parking capacity is reached, no vehicles will be allowed in the park for the remainder of the day. Follow @CTstateparks and @CTBoatingInfo for the most up to date closure information.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
- Parking is allowed only in designated areas.
- Buses seating 30 or more passengers are not allowed at this park.
- An alcohol ban is in place at Bigelow Hollow State Park - alcohol is prohibited.
- Please carry out what you carry in. Thank you for not littering.
- All pets must be on a leash that is no longer than 7 feet.
- There is no camping or ground fires permitted at Bigelow Hollow State Park.
- Trail Map
Boating
Boat Launches
Know Before You Go
- Wear your life jacket (PFD)! There must be a wearable coastguard approved life jacket for each person in the proper size and in good condition.
- Do not leave boats unattended.
- Additional boating information can be found within the Connecticut Boaters Guide.
Fishing
Bigelow Pond, Union (25 acres)
- Parking: Bigelow Hollow State Park
- Use of internal combustion engines prohibited.
- Fish Species: Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow, Tiger), Yellow Perch, Largemouth Bass, Sunfish (Bluegill, Pumpkinseed)
Mashapaug Lake, Union (297 acres)
- Parking: Bigelow Hollow State Park
- 10 MPH speed limit & No Waterskiing
- Fish Species: Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow, Tiger), Smallmouth Bass, Sunfish (Bluegill, Pumpkinseed), Chain Pickerel, Yellow Perch
- Fishing Regulations & Rules — Bass Management Lake: Largemouth and smallmouth bass: 12” to 16” protective slot. Daily creel limit 6 bass, only 2 may be 16” or greater).
Breakneck Pond, Union/Massachusetts (97 acres)
- Parking: Bigelow Hollow State Park
- Motor vehicle access prohibited. Walk-in access approximately 1.2 miles from the North end of Bigelow Pond. Use of internal combustion engines prohibited.
- Fish Species: Chain Pickerel, Largemouth Bass, Calico Bass, Yellow Perch, Sunfish (Bluegill, Pumpkinseed)
- Fishing Regulations & Rules — Boundary Water: CT or MA fishing license legal on entire pond.
Hiking
If you’re new to Bigelow Hollow and plan on hiking you should be aware that marked trails in the area of Bigelow Pond heading east to the Breakneck area are not loop trails. Hikers should be prepared to walk a minimum of six (6) miles to complete a loop around Breakneck 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 when compared to the trails leading to Breakneck Pond.
Be aware hunting is available in the park and forest during the regulated hunting seasons. Be sure to wear high visibility clothes and stay on designated trails.
Nature
Picnicking
For your safety, and the safety of others, please:
- Park in designated parking areas only.
- Picnic in designated areas only.
- Do not litter, Carry out what you carry in.
- Obey All NO Swimming and NO Entry to Water signs.
- Keep off islands and rocks.
- Alcohol, amplified music & large speakers, ground fires and generators are NOT allowed in the state park.
Swimming
Scuba Diving
Opportunities for scuba-diving are offered by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection as part of a broadened recreation program for water-oriented sports. Very few inland parks and forests as well as shore facilities have areas where the depth and clarity of the water invite participation in this increasingly popular sport.
Bigelow Hollow State Park permits non-commercial use for scuba diving on Mashapaug lake. The access is a small cove about 0.25 miles from the Mashapaug lake boat ramp. Divers must carry their gear in between the picnic area and the point of land northerly of the picnic area. Entry or exit from the boat launch is not permitted. Please avoid conflict with boat traffic flow in the channel between the boat launch area and the lake. It is recommended that all divers check in with a patrolman or attendant on the site when available as a safety precaution.
Department lands and waters are to be used only by scuba divers who can present proof of current certification by a nationally recognized diver training organization such as NAUDI, PADI, YMCA, YWCA, etc.
Winter
Additional Park Info
FREE In-State Registered Vehicles
$15 – Out-of-State Vehicles (Weekends/Holidays) - collected at the park
$10 – Out-of-State Vehicles (Weekdays)
$112 – Out-of-State Vehicles (Season Pass)
Parking
Picnic Tables
Restrooms
Yes, on leash
