Hopeville Pond State Park

Off Route 201

Griswold

(860) 376-2920

Park Hours:

8:00 a.m. – Sunset

Parking fee (weekends/holidays):

in-state $7; out-of-state $10

Camping fee:

$13 per night (plus processing fee)

Directions:

Off I-395: Take exit 86. If coming from the north, take a right off the exit. If coming from the south, take a left off the exit. Follow Hopeville Road or the park signs until the (Y) intersection. Proceed to the right. The park entrance is a mile to the right, off Route 201.

Hopeville Pond State Park

A recreational haven in southeastern Connecticut, Hopeville Pond State Park offers something for everyone. Two long beaches are frequented by swimmers in the summer, and ramps are available for boaters. Open fields serve as excellent locales for a variety of sports, with picnic areas dotting the landscape for those who want to relax. Hikers enjoy the terrific trails within the park, and overnight guests can stay at the campground bearing 81 wooded sites. Hopeville Pond is actually a dammed section of the Pachuag River and has long been a hot spot for anglers. Native American encampments dating to over 1,000 years ago have been found at this site, which was a major fishing ground for the Mohegan tribe. They built stone “weirs,” or fences in the river which directed water flow as well as eels, shad, and other fish toward the center of the stream where the Indians placed baskets to trap them. Other civilizations have occupied the land, including a factory village developed by entrepreneur John Slater, who established “Hope Mills” in 1828. The woolen mill was extremely successful, but was lost in a fire in 1881 and little trace of it remains.

Activities

• Bicycling
• Boating
• Camping
• Field Sports
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Picnicking
• Swimming