a person standing in the ferns beneath the tall trees (Instagram@mattrwoodward)

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James L. Goodwin State Forest

Hampton, CT

Covering more than three square miles and 2,000 acres, the James L. Goodwin State Forest offers recreation for every season of the year. Fourteen miles of trails, including an equestrian trail and the Air Line Trail, the 135-acre Pine Acres Lake, three large ponds, native plant wildlife gardens, and the Goodwin Conservation Center combine to make this State Forest an eastern Connecticut treasure.

Educational signs along portions of the Air Line Trail and the Blue/Yellow loop trail provide information on the history, ecology, and management of the forest. The spacious grounds include the 1.5-acre Richard D. Haley Native Plant Wildlife Gardens, where visitors can see and learn about dozens of native trees, shrubs, and perennials that offer food and cover value for wildlife. There is also a small nature museum, the 130-acre Pine Acres Pond, and a campsite for youth groups.

James L. Goodwin was one of the state’s earliest foresters. After graduating from the Yale School of Forestry in the program’s infancy, Goodwin purchased property in Hampton. In his own words, “…it was my ambition to own, develop, and operate my own timber acres according to the best forestry principles.” He continued to expand and improve his forest lands throughout his life, and in 1964, he generously gifted his nearly 2,000-acre personal forest to the state of Connecticut.

Today, the land surrounding the Goodwin Conservation Center and Pine Acres Lake is a living display of forest practices common in Connecticut. The museum adjacent to the center explains the natural sciences of forestry.

Views from the Park

A closeup of a bird in flight (Instagram@eastcoastbirds)

A woman kayaking down the river surrounded by trees (Instagram@mihcaelmaggs)

Water reflecting fall trees and sky (Instagram@t_im)

A man with three dogs sitting on a fallen tree in the woods (Instagram@maximilianbhansen)

A woman rides a horse through the woods (Instagram@vikki_4ta)

A man with bandana plays guitar (Instagram@jaime.omar_.castillo)

A man poses on a log holding leaves in the woods (Instagram@jonathan_antonio16)

A woman rides a horse through the water in winter (Instagram@horseys)

Reeds blow in the wind with fall trees and sky in the background (Instagram@toddstrickett1978)

Location

23 Potter Road
Hampton, CT 06247

Get Directions

Details

Open Daily
(Half hour before sunrise – Half hour after sunset)

Park Maps

Contact

Main (860) 455-9534

Activities

Overview

Know Before You Go

Buses are allowed but must be scheduled in advance - please contact us for reservations and availability.
Video: History and Overview of Goodwin State Forest
Park Trail Map
Horseback Riding Trails Map
Richard D. Haley Nature Plant Wildlife Gardens

Boating

Know Before you Go

Boating and Paddling
Electric motors are permitted, but gasoline motors are prohibited.

Pine Acres Pond is large (135 acres) and shallow, with stumps and logs protruding in many places. The lake is ideal for a challenging canoeing excursion. Bass, bluegill, and bullhead fishing are popular, and the boat launch is across from the Goodwin Conservation Center.

Pine Acres Lake Boat Launch

Camping

Youth Group Camping

One site available, accommodates up to 40 campers
Open to qualified youth groups only
Advance reservations are required
Youth Group Camping

Fishing

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Before heading out, be sure to check the latest water conditions and fishing regulations.

Interactive

The Goodwin Woodland Management Tour is a self-guided, app-based tour that highlights areas within the James L. Goodwin State Forest that are actively managed by the CT DEEP Division of Forestry. Users will learn about woodland management techniques that private landowners can use to support forest health in the face of threats such as invasive species, forest pests, and a changing climate. Participants can tour the sites virtually or visit forest management sites in person by using the map provided on the app.

Hiking

The lake vicinity has become the central hiking area of the forest and a great place to observe wildlife. Those looking for still more can pick up a Goodwin State Forest trails map at the center or at the southern terminus of the blue-blazed Natchaug Trail across Potter Road near the pavilion. Over 10 miles of white, red, and yellow marked trails surround the 135-acre Pine Acres Lake, the smaller Brown Hill Pond, and follow other interesting forest landscapes.

The Natchaug Trail follows the west bank of Pine Acres Lake, then passes Black Spruce Pond and a beautiful overlook on Orchard Hill before winding its way down to the Natchaug River and Route 198.

The Blue-Blazed Natchaug Trail begins at the Conservation Center and stretches north to connect with the blue-blazed Nipmuck Trail. At the beginning of the trail, near the Conservation Center, there is a shed for wildlife viewing that looks out onto Pine Acres Lake.

Finally, the Air Line State Park Trail, a former railroad bed, crosses Potter Road just a few hundred feet from the Center. The graveled, level bed makes it ideal for hiking, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding. Those feeling adventurous can hike the Air Line Trail eight miles north to the Northeast Connecticut Audubon Center in Pomfret, and from there on to Putnam.

Nature Center

James L. Goodwin Conservation Center

The James L. Goodwin State Forest and Conservation Center was a gift to the people of Connecticut from James L. Goodwin, to be used for education about "general, wildlife, and forest conservation."

The James L. Goodwin Conservation Center is an environmental education facility owned and operated by CT DEEP. The center offers programs for the public, schools, educators, and those who use Connecticut's forests, including landowners, foresters, loggers, and municipal land use commissioners.

James L. Goodwin Conservation Center’s Master Naturalist Program

For more information, please visit the Goodwin Master Naturalist webpage.

Subscribe to the Goodwin Listserv to receive periodic announcements of and invitations to interpretive hikes, conservation education programs and other events at the Goodwin Forest Conservation Education Center

To subscribe to the Listserv:

Leave the subject line blank, and in the body of the message type:

Subscribe DEEP_Goodwin YourFirstName YourLastName
(Substitute your first and last name here.)

Note: If you have an email signature, header, and/or footer set up to be automatically included in emails, you will need to delete these before sending the subscribe request. You will receive an email confirmation request. Follow the directions to confirm your email address. You will then receive an email that you have successfully subscribed to the listserv.

To unsubscribe from the Listserv:

Leave the subject line blank, and in the body of the message type:

Signoff DEEP_Goodwin

Note: If you have an email signature, header, and/or footer set up to be automatically included in emails, you will need to delete these before sending the unsubscribe request. Requests to unsubscribe must be sent from the same email account used when subscribing to the email list. You will then receive an email that you have successfully unsubscribed from the listserv.

If you experience difficulty in subscribing to the Goodwin listserv, please email DEEP.Goodwin@ct.gov or call the center at 860-455-9534.