Nipmuck State Forest

Stafford Springs/Union, CT

Nipmuck is the second oldest Connecticut state forest, with the first tract of 300 acres having been purchased in the Stickney Hill area of Union in 1905 for $3.57 an acre. Today, Nipmuck totals more than 9,400 acres. This rugged, remote forest characteristic of Connecticut’s Last Green Valley lies within one of the largest unbroken stretches of forest in eastern Connecticut.

Here, you’ll find a seemingly endless network of woods roads and trails, including the northern terminus of the Blue-Blazed Nipmuck Trail, old growth forests, a mountain laurel sanctuary, streams, caves, and the highest point in Windham County (Snow Hill, elevation 1210 ft). Much of the area was cleared for farming in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Stonewalls built by the colonists are found throughout Nipmuck, along with old roads and foundations.

Nipmuck state forest is made up of five main blocks and two small parcels in Union, Woodstock, Willington, Ashford, and Stafford. There are numerous spots around the periphery of the forest where a vehicle can appropriately park and walk into the forest for recreational use, with the primary parking area for recreation being within Bigelow Hollow State Park.

Views from the Park

Woman and her dog walking across bridge at Nipmuck (Instagram@thelawlstreetjournal)

Woman hiking in summer at Nipmuck State Forest (Instagram@childinadrainpipe)

Horseback riding within Nipmuck State Forest (Instagram@taylor.fox84)

Visual of Nipmuck Forest hiker looking upwards at sky (Instagram@_dnd3lion)

Group of runners at Nipmuck State Forest (Instagram@godwynpiangnee)

Woman sitting comfortably in kayak (Instagram@hasiuk12)

Location

166 Chestnut Hill Rd.
Stafford Springs/Union, CT 06076

Get Directions

Details

Open Daily
(8:00 a.m. – Sunset)

Park Maps

Contact

Main (860) 684- 3430

Email deep.shenipsit@ct.gov

Activities

Overview

Know before you go:

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 without a permit within Nipmuck State Forest.
Camping is only permitted at one of our three backpack camping sites, reservations required.
During the appropriate seasons, hunting is allowed in Nipmuck State Forest. Consider wearing bright clothing and avoid wearing gray, brown, tan, or white when hiking in hunted areas to increase your visibility.

Boating

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 aboard all vessels.

Boat Launches

There are two boat launches within the forest. Learn more about each below:

Black Pond, Woodstock
Morey Pond, Union
Additional boating information can be found within the Connecticut Boaters Guide

Camping

Camping is only permitted at one of our three backpack camping sites, reservations required. There is no camping or ground fires without a permit within Nipmuck State Forest.

Fishing

Black Pond, Woodstock (74 acres)

Parking: 100 Camp Road, Woodstock CT 06281
Motors limited to 5 horsepower
Fish Species: Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow, Tiger), Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Brown Bullhead, Calico Bass, Yellow Perch, Sunfish (Bluegill, Pumpkinseed)
Fishing Regulations/Rules: Trout Management Lake: From March 1 until 6:00 am second Saturday of April, daily creel limit 1 trout, 14” minimum length. From 6:00 am on the second Saturday of April until the last day of February, daily creel limit 5 trout, not more than 1 of which, may be a Brook Trout that is 14” or greater.

Morey Pond, Union/Ashford (45 acres)

Fish Species: Sunfish (Bluegill, Pumpkinseed), Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Brown Bullhead, Chain Pickerel
Fishing Regulations/Rules: 8 MPH speed limit

Griggs Pond, Woodstock (38 acres)

Walk in access from route 198 only. Please do not block the gate.
Use of internal combustion engines prohibited.
Fish Species: Sunfish (Bluegill, Pumpkinseed), Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Brown Bullhead

Hiking

A variety of woods roads and trails both marked and unmarked will take you through the rocky terrain within Nipmuck State Forest. The marked trails, mostly within the Breakneck Block of the forest adjacent to Bigelow Hollow State Park, have colored blazes on trees to help guide your way. The several unblazed trails will lead you around many of the less explored areas of the forest.

Be sure to have a planned route as it is not always easy way to find your way back to your starting point. The trails within Nipmuck State Forest are non-motorized multi-use trails with some exceptions of being foot travel only along the Blue Blazed Nipmuck Trail.

Hunting

Depending on the season, many areas across the forest are open to public hunting and trapping, with both firearms and archery permitted. Consult DEEP for more information on the latest rules and restrictions by season.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Nature

The Nipmuck Mountain Laurel Sanctuary was begun as a beautification project of the Civilian Conservation Corps from Camp Conner in 1935. Snow hill road, (constructed by the CCC in the 1930s), runs for about a mile, and is bordered by laurels that extend into the surrounding forest.

The Mountain Laurel Sanctuary is beautiful during peak foliage late-June to early July and is worth the drive! Visitors to the sanctuary can drive through the preserve or park anywhere along the road and walk. There is a turnaround at the top of Snow Hill Road or visitors can continue down along the 3-mile loop through the rest of the forest, exiting onto route 190 about 1 mile west of the main entrance.

Other

Horseback Riding

There are some opportunities for horseback riding within Nipmuck State Forest. The Connecticut Equine Advisory Council (EAC) assists the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection with issues related to the preservation of equine trails in Connecticut.