Cockaponset State Forest

18 Ranger Road

Haddam

860-345-8521

Hours:

Forest Recreation Areas: Sunrise - Sunset
Other Forest Areas: one-half hour before sunrise - one-half hour after sunset

Parking Fee

(Pattaconck Recreation Area)
Weekends/ Holidays: in-state $7; out-of-state $10

Directions:

To the Ranger Headquarters:

From the North: Take Exit 8 off Route 9 South. Turn left onto Beaver Meadow Road. Take the second right onto Ranger Road. Headquarters is on the left.

From the South: Take Exit 8 off Route 9 North. Turn right onto Beaver Meadow Road. Take the second right onto Ranger Road. Headquarters is on the left.

To the Pattaconk Recreation Area:

From Middletown area: take Route 9 south, Exit 6. Turn right off the exit ramp and go west on Route 148 for approximately 2 miles. Take a right onto Cedar Lake Road and drive approximately 2 miles. Take a left at the Pattaconk Lake sign.

From Old Saybrook area: take Route 9 north, Exit 6. Turn left off the exit ramp and go west on Route 148 for approximately 2 miles. Take a right onto Cedar Lake Road and drive approximately 2 miles. Take a left at the Pattaconk Lake sign.

Find it on our map!

Cockaponset State Forest

Cockaponset State Forest

Known for being Connecticut's second largest state forest, Cockaponset stretches throughout 10 Connecticut towns and spans over 16,000 acres. The forest offers pure, undeveloped New England property and allows visitors to fully enjoy the attractiveness of the land, woods, and streams within the forest. Cockaponset allows for a variety of activities which differ from season to season. The forest forms the eastern shore of the 75-acre Cedar Lake appealing to the summer visitors. The lake is periodically stocked with trout and home to other fish species such as chain pickerel, yellow perch, bullhead, and largemouth bass, making it an excellent fishing location. Mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding are also popular year-round activities. The state forest is a wonderful destination for recreation in the later months as well. Brisk autumn walks, cross country skiing, snow shoeing and even snowmobiling are done on some sections of the trails. In the winter months the natural flow of water runs over the dramatic layers of rock cliffs, freezing into beautiful ice sculptures in the easternmost stretch of the forest. One of the more impressive features of Cockaponset that visitors shouldn't miss are the ornate carvings, designs, and doodles done by the Italian immigrants who used to work in the quarry on the section of trail close to the Guilford shoreline. The carvings are located off of the White Square Trail, part of the Westwoods Trail System.

Activities

• Car-top Boating
• Cross Country Skiing
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Horseback Riding
• Hunting
• Letterboxing
• Mountain Biking
• Picnicking
• Snowmobiling
• Swimming
• Youth Group Camping

* Photos courtesy of Cub Scout Pack 13 from Yalesville Elementary School, Wallingford CT, www.bsapack13.net.