Nipmuck State Forest is a Connecticut state forest. Union has the highest elevation in the state east of the Connecticut River. Camping near Nipmuck State Forest is easy with Hipcamp, where private landowners offer one-of-a-kind camping experiences. The first parcel was acquired in 1905. The recreation area in Bigelow Hollow was established in 1949 by the State Park and Forest Commission. July 2018. Reaching Connecticut’s second oldest state forest, located within its least populous town, can be a bit of a (gorgeous) trek. Go west onto Route 190. On New Years Eve Day in 2016, I visited this place with my son Calvin. Some of the features on CT.gov will not function properly with out javascript enabled. Connecticut News A SANCTUARY FOR THE SENSES Of course there is also the Laurel Sanctuary located in the Nipmuck State Forest in Union, Connecticut. Leisurely walking trails wind through the mountain laurel, Connecticut's official state flower. The sanctuary entrance is a short distance from the intersection and well marked. Who visits a Mountain Laurel Sanctuary in the dead of winter? I’ll trust that the laurel “extends deep into the forest.” I had Damian in the car with me and the deer flies were swarming as I poked around quickly. Among projects undertaken by the young men from Camp Connor were construction of the road that runs to the top of Soapstone Mountain and creation of the unique Mountain Laurel Sanctuary in Nipmuck State Forest. DEEP is continuing to carry out its mission and provide services while keeping both the public and our workforce safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Follow Route 89 north to the intersection of Route 89 and Route 190. It seems that JavaScript is not working in your browser. Pachaug State Forest, Voluntown. This week, try to get out and check out our beautiful mountain laurel. One-third of the town is set aside as park and forest land and includes: Bigelow Hollow State Park, Mountain Laurel Sanctuary, Nipmuck State Forest, and Yale-Myers Forest (managed by Yale’s School of Forestry). Go west onto Route 190. The mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is Connecticut’s official state flower. State Parks, Forests, Reserves, Preserves, & WMAs, Best, Historic, & Unique Restaurants & Foods, Firsts, Onlies, Oldests, Largests, Longests, Mosts, Smallests, & Bests, Houses, Communities, Libraries, & Businesses, Towers, Bridges, Tunnels, Roads, Canals, Dams, Airports, & Ferries. This area is just off of Rt. Your email address will not be published. Spoons and other small utensils used to be carved out of the wood of mountain laurel so the name spoonwood can be used when referring to this shrub.”. DEEP COVID-19 Response. Filed Under: Biology & Geology, Everything Else, New Post, State Parks & Forests Tagged With: nipmuck state forest, Tolland County, Union, Your email address will not be published. While the sanctuary is in Union, Snow Hill’s summit is mere feet across the border in Ashford. The forest is part of a larger network of forest lands making up some 40,000 acres (16,000 ha) in … Monson road is also quite nice, several houses were built in the mountain laurel forest along that road. I apologize for not having any dazzling “mountain laurel in bloom” pictures for you, but it’s our state flower! Mountain Laurel Sanctuary in Nipmuck State Forest Near intersection of routes 89 and 190 Union, CT Phone: 860-424-3200 Leisurely walking trails wind through the mountain laurel, Connecticut's official state flower. Marty Podskoch, who spoke recently at the Mansfield Historical Society, collects corps alumni stories. Approximately one-third of the town is state park land, including Bigelow Hollow State Park, Nipmuck State Forest and the Mountain Laurel Sanctuary. And though they can be found all over the state, the best place to see the delicate pastel blossoms up close and in great numbers is the Nipmuck State Forest in Union. Eastbound on I-84: take Exit 72. Destroying the myth that there is nothing to do here, Peak Failage Take Exit 73 to visit another area of Nipmuck State Forest. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. With more than 40,000 acres of parkland, and under 1,000 residents, it boasts a playground for the hunting, boating, fishing, and hiking enthusiast in Bigelow Hollow State Park, Nipmuck State Forest, and the Mountain Laurel Sanctuary. The laurels in the area flourished after inmates from Somers prison were paid 25 cents a day in the 1950s to clear grape vines and trees to showcase the bushes. Take Exit 73 to visit another area of Nipmuck State Forest. Mountain laurel that towers alongside 1,000 feet of road in the Nipmuck State Forest in Union -- designated by the state as a mountain laurel sanctuary -- has benefited from the … Bigelow Hollow State Park & Nipmuck State Forest Parks Directory of the United States / State Parks / Connecticut Location:Park is 2 miles east of Union on Route 197. Not to mention the Yale School of Forestry. All combined, there are nearly 34,000 acres of forestland in Union. The laurel was not in bloom then, so I wrote things like how I’d be sure to visit in mid-June someday. It is also the Connecticut state flower. 190 east of Stafford. Go west onto Route 190. Nipmuck State Forest Mountain Laurel Sanctuary. A portion of the Yale-Myers Forest and Hull Foresters are located in Union. I think it’s pretty cool that they “cared” in some small way to retain pretty things back then. I recommend walking through and watching the wind swaying the blossom-laden branches. Union is the least-populated town in Connecticut and contains the point of highest elevation in the eastern-half of the state. After all, it IS Snow Hill on Snow Hill Road. Go west onto Route 190. Mountain Laurel Sanctuary Connecticut’s Official State Flower gets its proper due in the Mountain Laurel Sanctuary within Nipmuck State Forest in Union. Important stuff. The beautiful mountain laurel sanctuary in Nipmuck State Forest in Union was a corps project. Explore camper reviews and photos of the campgrounds in Nipmuck State Forest. Mountain Laurel Sanctuary in Nipmuck State Forest. Nipmuck State Forest Mountain Laurel Sanctuary Eastbound on I-84: take Exit 72. I forgot. The first table lists state parks and reserves, the second lists state park trails, the third list state forests, and the fourth lists other state-owned, recreation-related areas. Dogs are … The forest is part of a larger network of forest lands making up some 40,000 acres (16,000 ha) in all. to attain the all-important highest point in Windham County on Snow Hill. The sanctuary entrance is a short distance from the intersection and well marked. Apr 13, 2016 - 'Olympic Fire' will set your garden ablaze with dark red buds eruptining into beautiful pink flowers making a sensational color contrast against the dark, evergreen foliage. The sanctuary entrance is a short distance from the intersection and well marked. Follow Route 89 north to the intersection of Route 89 and Route 190. The sanctuary road, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, runs for about a mile and is bordered by laurels that extend deep into the surrounding forest. The Laurel Sanctuary, a tiny section of the Nipmuck State Forest and a little-known gem among state recreational lands, is in bloom. From what I gathered, the laurel is pretty much along the road and doesn’t really penetrate the woods to any crazy degree. Required fields are marked *. Well. Mashapaug Lake is a large lake in Union. Today Nipmuck State Forest and Bigelow Hollow total over 9,000 acres. ... Upper Paugussett State Forest, Newtown. And you should go there. The laurels in the area flourished after inmates from Somers prison were paid 25 cents a day in the 1950s to clear grape vines and trees to showcase the bushes. And if there’s anything I know about people, it’s that they love finding single-track dirt roads at the Ashford/Union line. Renowned for its beauty, rolling hills and abundance of trees and water, one secret to Union's tranquility is that one-third of the town's area is set aside as state park and forestland: Bigelow Hollow State Park, the Mountain Laurel Sanctuary and Nipmuck State Forest. Here you can take a mile-long hike amidst the laurel, first planted in 1935 by the federal Civilian Conservation Corps. BUT! Besides, I honestly think this place was prettier in the snow. Take Exit 73 … Last-minute getaway? Additional lands in the towns of Stafford, Ashford, Willington, and Woodstock have been added to the forest over the years. 86: Snipsic Lake Road, Ellington So I revisited in mid-July and… it was as bloomy as it was in late December. So here… here’s what it looks like at peak from the state’s tourism site: Here’s the weird thing: There aren’t really any trails here. Follow Route 89 north to the intersection of Route 89 and Route 190. Content last updated October 2019. Hm. Click here for the latest updates on DEEP's response to COVID-19. For generations these plants have been pruned and … You’ve all seen it a million times. Near intersection of routes 89 and 190 Union, CT Phone: 860-424-3200. Get the facts at ct.gov/coronavirus. Hotels near (BDL) Bradley Intl Airport; Hotels near (ORH) Worcester Airport; All things to do in Stafford; Things to do near Nipmuck State Forest. Its 9,000 acres (3,600 ha) surround Bigelow Hollow State Park in the town of Union and include parcels in Stafford, Ashford, and other towns. Facilities:Picnic tables (é), hiking trails, boat launch ramp, pit toilets. It’s right off of I-84 at the Ashford/Union line. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Viewing is best in June and July, when the laurel are in bloom. A Flower-filled Sanctuary. Bigelow Hollow State Park, the Mountain Laurel Sanctuary and Nipmuck State Forest all call Union home. Nipmuck State Forest Mountain Laurel Sanctuary There’s Snow Hill Road which is the gravel/dirt road that traverses the 3/4 mile or so of the sanctuary. Other Amenities: Boating, Cross Country Skiing, Fishing, Hunting, Scuba Diving, Snowmobiling, Hiking Trails. It could be because it is not supported, or that JavaScript is intentionally disabled. A portion of the Yale-Myers Forest and Hull Foresters are located in Union. I’m sure this place is beautiful in June. Connecticut’s State Forests Officially, These are lands managed on a multiple-use basis for silviculture and harvesting of forest products, protection of watershed quality enhancing fisheries, wildlife habitat including game species harvesting, and natural resource protection. We do… but we merely drove through it then to attain the all-important highest point in Windham County on Snow Hill. Located on Snow Hill Road off Route 190 in Union, the entrance to the park, which is part of Nipmuck Forest, is well marked. © There are better stands of our state flower (mountain laurel, duh) in the northwest hills. Nipmuck Trail: Breakneck Pond to Perry Hill Road is a 16.7 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Stafford Springs, Connecticut that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Bluff Point State Park, Groton. Nipmuck State Forest and the adjoining Bigelow Hollow State Park offer more than 9,000 acres of recreation opportunities including hiking trails, an 18-acre pond for boating and fishing, cross country skiing, hunting, picnicking, scuba diving, and snowmobiling. This is a list of state parks and reserves in the Connecticut state park system, shown in four tables. Take a close look at the bowl-shaped blossoms that grow in bunches resembling white and pink exploding fireworks. If you want to enjoy and explore nature, this is where you go. Nipmuck is the second oldest state forest in Connecticut. Mountain Laurel Sanctuary, Nipmuck State Forest, Union I-84 to Exit 73 or 74, then follow Route 190 north to Route 171 east to the park entrance. I was through here most recently in June 2020 when completing my thru hike of the Nipmuck Trail though I’m fairly certain Steve from CTMQ and I left a note when we hiked this section in 2017. Bigelow Hollow State Park Visitors to the sanctuary can drive through the preserve or park anywhere along the road and walk. Nipmuck State Forest and the adjoining Bigelow Hollow State Park offer over 9,000 acres of recreation opportunities including miles of hiking trails, and an 18-acre pond in Eastern Connecticut. The name … In 2014, The Courant’s Peter Marteka wrote: According to an informational kiosk in the sanctuary, the mountain laurel’s name “came from the settlers who noticed a resemblance to an unrelated laurel plant that is found in Europe. Eastbound on I-84: take Exit 72. Last Visited: Sunday; July 1, 2012 What to do here: Bigelow Hollow State Park is part of Nipmuck State Forest in Northeastern Connecticut. Case Mountain State Park, Manchester. The sanctuary road, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, runs for about a mile and is bordered by laurels that extend deep into the surrounding forest. Apparently there used to be many more laurels here, as only a portion remains today. Connecticut Waterfalls To Photograph This Winter - Whereaboutss. This is mountain laurel time in Southern New England and you’d be hard pressed to find a better spot than along the narrow dirt road that cuts through Connecticut’s Mountain Laurel Sanctuary in Nipmuck State Forest. Viewing is best in June and July, when the laurel are in bloom. COVID-19 Information: Connecticut residents are urged to continue taking precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. All combined, there are nearly 34,000 acres of forestland in Union. 85: Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust, Nature Preserve: 11. We found the blossoms peaking in heavy clusters of white or pink flowers. Nipmuck State Forest is a Connecticut state forest. Approximately one-third of the town is state park land, including Bigelow Hollow State Park, Nipmuck State Forest and the Mountain Laurel Sanctuary. Bradley Park, Wilton. Follow Route 89 north to the intersection of Route 89 and Route 190. 2016 CT.gov | Connecticut's Official State Website, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Nipmuck State Forest & Bigelow Hollow State Park. Hotels near Nipmuck State Forest; Hotels near Stafford Library; Hotels near Stafford Motor Speedway; Near Airports. Eastbound on I-84: take Exit 72. This place was begun as a beautification project of the Civilian Conservation Corps from Camp Conner in 1935. West Hartford Reservoir, Farmington. Its 9,000 acres (3,600 ha) surround Bigelow Hollow State Park in the town of Union and include parcels in Stafford, Ashford, and other towns. The campers also helped local towns with clean-up after the flood of 1936 and the hurricane of 1938. 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