New England: A Guide to the State & National Parks
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New England - Barbara Sinotte
New England: A Guide to the State & National Parks
Barbara Sinotte
A Word About Hiking...
Checklist for a Day of Hiking
Connecticut
State Parks
Algonquin State Forest
Bluff Point Coastal Reserve
Campbell Falls State Park
Chatfield Hollow State Park
Cockaponset State Forest
Connecticut River
Devil’s Hopyard State Park
Durham Meadows Wildlife Management Area
Edward Steichen Memorial Wildlife Preserve
Gay City State Park
Hammonasset Beach State Park
Henipsit State Forest
Hopeville Pond State Park
Housatonic State Forest Housatonic Meadows State Park
Hurd State Park
James L. Goodwin State Forest & Conservation Center
John A. Minnetto State Park
Kettletown State Park/Indian Well State Park
Macedonia Brook State Park
Mansfield Hunting Area/Mansfield Hollow State Park
Mashamoquet Brook State Park
Meshomasic State Forest
Mohawk State Forest
Nassahegon State Forest
Natchaug State Forest
Nehantic State Forest
Nepaug State Forest
Nipmuck State Forest
Pachaug State Forest
Penwood State Park/Talcott Mountain State Park
Peoples State Forest
Quaddick State Forest & State Park
Rocky Neck State Park
Roy & Margot Larsen Sanctuary
Salmon River State Forest
Salt Meadow National Wildlife Refuge
Satan’s Kingdom State Recreation Area
Sleeping Giant State Park
Tunxis State Forest
White Memorial Conservation Center
Historic Sites
Weir Farm National Historic Site
Connecticut Impressionist Art Trail
Bruce Museum
Bush-Holly House
Florence Griswold Museum
Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection & Insurance Co.
Hill-Stead Museum
Lyman Allyn Art Museum
New Britain Museum of American Art
Wadsworth Atheneum
Weir Farm National Historic Site
William Benton Museum of Art
Yale University Art Gallery
Maine
State Parks & Historic Sites
Arnold Trail State Historic Site
Aroostook State Park
Birch Point Beach State Park
Bradbury Mountain State Park
Camden Hills State Park
Special Events & Activities
Cobscook Bay State Park
Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site
Crescent Beach State Park
Damariscotta Lake State Park
Eagle Island State Historic Site
Ferry Beach State Park
Fort Edgecomb State Historic Site
Fort Halifax State Historic Site
Fort Kent State Historic Site
Fort Knox State Historic Site
Fort McClary State Historic Site
Fort O’Brien (Fort Machias) State Historic Site
Fort Point (Fort Pownall) State Park
Fort Popham State Historic Site
Grafton Notch State Park
Holbrook Island Sanctuary
John Paul Jones Memorial State Historic Site
Katahdin Iron Works State Historic Site
Lake St. George State Park
Lamoine State Park
Lily Bay State Park
Montpelier State Historic Site
Moose Point State Park
Mt. Blue State Park
Peacock Beach State Park
Peaks-Kenny State Park
Popham Beach State Park
Quoddy Head State Park
Range Ponds State Park
Rangeley Lake State Park
Reid State Park
Roque Bluffs State Park
Sebago Lake State Park
Songo Lock State Historic Site
Swan Lake State Park
Two Lights State Park
Vaughan Woods State Park
Warren Island State Park
Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park
National Parks
Acadia National Park
Saint Croix Island
Massachusetts
State Parks
Arcadia Nature Center & Wildlife Sanctuary
Beartown State Forest
Birch Hill Wildlife Management Area
Bolton Flats Wildlife Management Area
Borderland State Park
Brimfield State Forest
Campbell Falls State Park
Catamount State Forest
Chester-Blandford State Forest
Clarksburg State Forest
Crane Pond Wildlife Management Area
Crane Wildlife Management Area
D.A.R. State Forest
Erving State Forest
Granville State Forest
H. O. Cook State Forest
Harold Parker State Forest
High Ridge Wildlife Management Area
Hinsdale Flats Wildlife Management Area
Hiram H. Fox Wildlife Management Area
Hockomock Swamp Wildlife Management Area
Hopkinton State Park
Hubbardston Wildlife Management Area
John C. Phillips Wildlife Sanctuary/Boxford State Forest
Kenneth Dubuque Memorial State Forest
Leominster State Forest
Martha’s Vineyard State Forest/Martin Burns Wildlife Management Area
Millers River Wildlife Management Area
Mohawk Trail State Forest
Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge
Monroe State Forest
Mt. Grace, Northfield,Warwick State Forests
Mt. Washington State Forest
Myles Standish State Forest
Nickerson State Park
October Mountain State Forest
Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge
Peru Wildlife Management Area
Phillipston Wildlife Management Area
Pittsfield State Forest
Quaboag Wildlife Management Area
Sandisfield State Forest
Savoy Movntain State Forest
Tolland State Forest
Upton State Forest
Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary
Walden Pond State Reservation
Wendell State Forest
Willard Brook State Forest
Willowdale State Forest
Wompatuck State Park
National Sites
Cape Cod National Seashore
Lowell National Historical Park
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
New Hampshire
State Parks
Androscoggin River
Annett State Forest
Bear Brook State Park
Charles L. Peirce Wildlife & Forest Reservation
Coleman State Park
Connecticut Lakes State Forest
Crawford Notch State Park
Echo Lake State Park
Fox Forest
Franconia Notch State Park
Gap Mountain
Gile Memorial State Forest
Hemenway State Forest
Lake Francis State Park
Miller State Park
Moose Brook State Park
Mt. Kearsarge
Mt. Monadnock
Mt. Sunapee State Park
Mt. Washington
Odiorne Point State Park
Ossipee Lake/Heath Pond Bog
Pawtuckaway State Park
Peabody Forest
Pillsbury State Park
Pine River State Forest
Pisgah State Park
Squam Lakes Region
Wapack National Wildlife Refuge
White Lake State Park
White Mountain National Forest
Rhode Island
State Parks
Beavertail State Park
Blackstone River Valley
Brenton Point State Park
Burlingame State Park
Charlestown Breachway State Park
Colt State Park
East Bay Bike Path
Fisherman’s Memorial State Park
Fort Adams State Park
Fort Wetherill State Park
Goddard Memorial State Park
Haines Memorial State Park
Roger Williams National Memorial
Vermont
State Parks
Ascutney State Park
Atherton Meadow Wildlife Management Area
Bomoseen State Park
Branbury State Park
Burton Island State Park
Button Bay State Park
Calvin Coolidge State Forest
Camel’s Hump Forest Reserve
Cornwall Swamp Wildlife Management Area
Elmore State Park
Emerald Lake State Park
Gifford Woods State Park
Green Mountain National Forest
Groton State Forest
Little Otter Creek Wildlife Management Area
Little River State Park
Maidstone State Park
Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge
Mt. Mansfield State Forest
Pine Mountain Wildlife Management Area
Plymsbury Wildlife Management Area
Putnam State Forest
Quechee Gorge State Park
Townshend State Park
Victory Basin Wildlife Management Area
Wenlock Wildlife Management Area
Willoughby State Forest
Woodford State Park
A Word About Hiking...
Hiking is by far the most popular activity in state and national parks. Most of the trails are clearly marked. Off-trail travel (commonly referred to as bushwhacking) is practiced by the more adventurous hikers – especially in the less-populated areas.
Trails in many state parks have been rated by taking into consideration the length of the hike and the degree of difficulty. If you are not sure which trails are appropriate for you and your family, talk to a park ranger. If you do not exercise regularly, start on beginner trails and increase your distances gradually. Trail maps are usually available either at the trail head or at the ranger station.
While trail signs vary widely, there are a few common markings that everyone should be familiar with. Periodic paint blazes on trees or rocks are clearly the most popular indication of a trail. Plastic markers are often nailed to trees or metal signs or attached to their own wooden posts. Where there are no trees, trails are often marked with piles of rocks.
Watch for trail markers and make a habit of looking for them – for your own safety and the safety of those hiking with you. It does not take away from the enjoyment of hiking and will soon become just another natural
thing to do.
If you want to go bushwhacking, be careful. Make your first attempts in open areas with limited undergrowth – such as a desert area where the terrain is a little easier to tackle. Bushwhacking through areas of dense vegetation is for the more experienced hiker and should only be attempted with map, water, and compass in hand.
Whether you are bushwhacking or following marked trails, set a comfortable pace for yourself. You are not in a race and can better take in the surroundings if you don’t rush your excursion. Attempting to go too fast can ruin all the fun and burn you out before you are half-way through your hike. Stumbling or tripping is a clear sign that you may indeed need to slow down.
Remember to take frequent rest stops. Don’t wait for fatigue to tell you it’s time to slow down. A 10- to 15-minute stop every hour or so is a good idea when you begin. After a while, you will know what is best for you.
Don’t speed over the rough areas of a trail. Watch out for tree roots and old logs that may be damp and slippery. If you are not sure of your footing, it is wise to crouch just a bit, lowering your center of gravity to reduce the likelihood of falling. Steep trails have caused many hikers to loose their balance and take a tumble. Descending tends to be more hazardous than ascending and requires a little more attention. Hold onto small trees or rocks. When in doubt, sitting and easing your way down on your rear might be the way to go.
It is important to choose a trail that is comfortable for everyone. Younger children should be introduced to hiking with short walks. It is more fun and educational if they can be involved in planning the hike.
Checklist for a Day of Hiking
Hiking boots
Day pack
Water bottle
Waterproof poncho
Extra sweater
Snack foods
Toilet paper
Plastic litter bag
2 pairs of hiking socks
Liner socks
Long pants
Long-sleeved shirt
Shell parka or windbreaker
In summer you should include:
T-shirt
Shorts
Extra water
Bug repellant
Sunscreen or lotion
Sun hat
In cool or cold weather add:
Additional layers
Cap or hat
Thermal underwear
When hiking without a group of friends add:
Map
Trail guidebook
Compass
First aid kit
Flashligh
Pocket knife
Matches
Watch
Hiking Safety
Hike with a friend.
Take plenty of drinking water.
Let someone at the camp or at home know where you are going and when you plan to return.
Don’t take shortcuts on a switchback trail.
Connecticut
State Parks
Connecticut measures 90 miles east to west, 75 miles north to south, with the Connecticut River cutting the state in half. It is rolling and hilly and ever changing. It is tiny, to say the least, but this wonderful state offers some of the best kept parks and forests anywhere and will not disappoint you. Some of the parks are only as big as your back yard, but they offer sanctuary for birds and wildlife – and even city-weary urban dwellers.
State Agencies
The Department of Environmental Protection maintains all of the state’s natural resources. For further information contact them at: 165 Capitol Ave., Hartford, CT 06106.
The Office of State Parks and Recreation is responsible for recreation areas in State Parks and State Forests. You can reach them at tel. (203) 566-2304.
Algonquin State Forest
Location: From Winsted, head north on SR 8 for 1½ miles and follow the signs.
You may wonder why anyone would visit this state forest. It is closed to hunting and has few, if any, respectable fishing streams. There are no trails to speak of. Bushwhacking is the only way to go. But the birds! It’s described in Billard’s Places to Look for Birds as a good place to see warblers in spring and fall. It is a sight to behold, and birdwatchers will have trouble finding a more perfect, unspoiled location.
For further information contact: Office of State Parks and Recreation, 165 Capitol Ave., Hartford, CT 06106. tel.(203) 566-2304.
Bluff Point Coastal Reserve
Location: From I-95, Exit 88 to Route 117 S.
The Reserve is a bluff overlooking Mumford Cove, Long Island Sound, and the Poquonock River. The wooded highland descends to tidal wetlands. A long, narrow sandspit curves westward, ending at Bushy Point, a small island.
For further information contact: Office of State Parks and Recreation, 165 Capitol Ave., Hartford, CT 06106.tel.(203) 566-2304.
Campbell Falls State Park
Location: On the Connecticut/Massachusetts border off Route 272 N.
A short trail through a delightful hemlock forest leads right into Massachusetts at Campbell State Park. The 50-ft. falls on Ginger Creek drop into a narrow ravine.
For further information contact: Office of State Parks and Recreation, 165 Capitol Ave., Hartford, CT 06106.tel.(203) 566-2304.
Chatfield Hollow State Park
Location: From I-95 at Clinton, exit 63 N or SR 81 to Killingsworth.
This small park adjoins part of the Cockaponset State Forest and offers 18 miles of hiking trails, including the blue-blazed Chatfield Trail. A seven-acre pond provides fishing and swimming.
For further information contact: Office of State Parks and Recreation, 165 Capitol Ave., Hartford, CT 06106.tel.(203) 566-2304.
Cockaponset State Forest
Location: From Chester, 3 miles west on SR 148.
The state’s second largest State Forest extends for about 10 miles north to south on both sides of SR 9 in the western Connecticut River Valley.
Camping: 25 sites.
Hiking: The blue-blazed Cockaponset Trail runs north to south in the Turkey Hill block.
Hunting: Grouse, cottontail, deer, squirrel, raccoon, and waterfowl.
Fishing: Trout fishing.
Ski touring: Trails and unplowed roads.
For further information contact: Office of State Parks and Recreation, 165 Capitol Ave., Hartford, CT 06106.tel.(203) 566-2304.
Connecticut River
Location: Stretching 70 river miles from the Massachusetts border
to Long Island Sound.
Over 400 miles in length, the Connecticut River is New England’s longest and most popular. Due to efforts to reduce pollution anadromous fish (those that migrate from salt water to spawn in fresh water) have re-appeared in the lower river. Hopes are always high that conditions will improve. The state provides opportunities for canoe camping along the lower river.
Camping: Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance. One night