Pachaug State Forest

Route 49

Voluntown

860-376-4075

Hours:

Recreation areas 8:00 a.m. – sunset; Other forest areas one half hour before sunrise – one half hour after sunset

Pauchaug State Forest

Pachaug State Forest

Pachaug State Forest is the largest state forest in Connecticut encompassing 24,000 acres in five towns. There are two areas within the forest – the Chapman Area and the Green Falls Area. Both sections provide miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding and motorcycling. In fact, Pachaug is the only state forest to allow motorcycles, which are restricted to summertime use of a 52-mile loop circling the forest. Horses are welcomed along the trails, and a specific area called the Frog Hollow Horse Camp offers 18 wooded sites around an open field for overnight stays. For those without horses, the Mount Misery campground has 22 wooded rustic sites while the Green Falls campground offers 18 wooded sites. Reservations are not accepted and all sites at Pachaug State Forest are on a first come first serve basis. Backpackers can take advantage of four Adirondack-style shelters throughout the forest, and youth group camping is permitted at an open field accommodating up to 350 visitors. Youth groups must apply for a permit by calling 860-295-9523. Ponds, rivers and streams throughout the forest afford excellent fishing, swimming and boating opportunities. In the winter, ice skating and ice fishing are fun activities at these locales. Other cold-weather activities in the forest include snowmobiling, which is permitted on yellow-blazed trails and dog sledding, which is rapidly gaining in popularity. Hunters can enjoy pheasant, duck, goose, deer and small-game hunting. One of the most unique attractions this park offers is a 26-acre rhododendron sanctuary, designated a Natural Area Preserve by the state. Here, wild rhododendrons bloom with the best time to visit usually being late June through early July.

Activities

• Boating
• Camping
• Cross-country skiing
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Horseback riding
• Hunting
• Letterboxing
• Mountain biking
• Picnicking
• Scenic vistas
• Snowmobiling
• Swimming