HEADLINES

Connecticut State Parks and Forest OPEN to Plymouth Residents for Solitary Outdoor Enjoyment

Walking and hiking are healthy ways to reduce stress during this difficult time, but make sure to adhere to social distancing as outlined by the CDC - even when outdoors!

Governor Lamont has allowed the trails and grounds of Connecticut State Parks and Forests to remain open for solitary outdoor enjoyment.  If you plan on visiting a park, it should be for solitary recreation, not group activities.

However, please note, to prevent community spread of COVID-19, indoor spaces at State Parks and Forests are closed and public restrooms will be closed at most state parks. 

A list of parks near Plymouth can be found here:

ParkLocation
Above All State ParkWarren/Litchfield
American Legion State ForestBarkhamsted
Black Rock State ParkWatertown
Burr Pond State ParkTorrington
Camp Columbia State ParkMorris
Camp Columbia State ForestMorris
Farmington Canal Greenway State ParkCheshire/Hamden
George Waldo State ParkSouthbury
Horse Guard State ParkAvon
Humaston Brook State ParkLitchfield
J.A. Minetto State ParkTorrington
Kettletown State ParkSouthbury
Lamentation Mountain State ParkBerlin
Larkin State Park TrailSouthbury/Naugatuck/Oxford/Middlebury
Lovers Leap State ParkNew Milford
Massacoe State ForestSimsbury/Canton
Mattatuck State ForestMulti-Town
Mohawk State ForestGoshen/Cornwall
Mount Bushnell State ParkWashington
Mount Tom State ParkLitchfield
Nassahegon State ForestBurlington
Naugatuck State ForestNaugatuck/Oxford/Beacon Falls
Nepaug State ForestNew Hartford
Paugnut State ForestTorrington/Winchester
Penwood State ParkBloomfield
Peoples State ForestBarkhamsted
Platt Hill State ParkWinchester
Satan’s Kingdom State ParkNew Hartford
Southford Falls State ParkSouthbury
Stillwater Pond State ParkTorrington
Stratton Brook State ParkSimsbury
Sunnybrook State ParkTorrington
Talcott Mountain State ParkSimsbury
Topsmead State ForestLitchfield
Wharton Brook State ParkWallingford
Whittemore Glen State ParkNaugatuck/Middlebury
Wyantenock State ForestCornwall

CT DEEP is providing up to the minute information about our parks here

Please plan ahead as many amenities and indoor facilities are closed. Connecticut State Parks and Forests urges you to take the following steps to enhance “social distancing” when enjoying the outdoors:

  • If you’re not feeling well, stay home! 
  • Rather than traveling to some of the most popular spots, for example, Hammonasset Beach State Park, Sleeping Giant State Park, or Bluff Point State Park, try a park you may not have visited before or one close to your home. Because most park and forest facilities do not have open restrooms, visitors are encouraged to plan a trip to a nearby park for a short, local visit.
  • If you arrive at a park and crowds are forming, choose a different park or trail, or return another day or time.
  • Observe the CDC's minimum recommended social distancing of six feet from other people, whether you’re walking, biking, or hiking. Practice it and know what it looks like.
  • Warn other trail users of your presence and as you pass to allow proper distance and step off trails to allow others to pass, keeping minimum recommended distances at all times. Signal your presence with your voice, bell, or horn.
  • Follow the CDC’s guidance on personal hygiene prior to heading to the park. Wash your hands, carry hand sanitizer, cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and avoid surfaces that are touched often, such as doorknobs, handrails, and equipment.

All state parks can be accessed by Connecticut residents free of charge, supported by the Passport to Parks program. 

The DEEP will be monitoring visitor capacity at the state’s most popular parks and may reduce the parking threshold to further limit the number of visitors and help to prevent overcrowding. For up-to-date information on park closures, follow @CTStateParks on Twitter.

Please be aware that the opening of camping season at Connecticut State Parks and Forests will be postponed until Memorial Day weekend in May, unless a further delay is required. All campground reservations that were made for stays prior to Memorial Day weekend will automatically be canceled and refunds will be processed. 

DEEP will be closely monitoring state and federal guidelines for minimizing the spread of COVID-19 and will make further adjustments to state park and forest operations as needed. More tips for safe enjoyment of outdoor spaces are available from the National Recreation and Parks Association at www.nrpa.org. 

To keep informed of the latest updates, please visit: Connecticut State Parks, follow us on Twitter @CTDEEPNEWS and @CTStateParks, and facebook.com/CTState

 

 

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