Bigelow Hollow State Park

Bigelow Hollow State Park
Connecticut State Park
Bigelow Pond, near the park entrance
Country  United States
State  Connecticut
County Tolland
Town Union
Elevation 741 ft (226 m) [1]
Coordinates 42°00′16″N 72°07′47″W / 42.00444°N 72.12972°W / 42.00444; -72.12972Coordinates: 42°00′16″N 72°07′47″W / 42.00444°N 72.12972°W / 42.00444; -72.12972 [1]
Area 516 acres (209 ha)
Established 1949
Management Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Location in Connecticut
Website: Bigelow Hollow State Park

Bigelow Hollow State Park is publicly owned recreation area in the town of Union, Connecticut, in the Quinebaug Highlands.[2] The state park covers 516 acres (209 ha),[3] bordered by Nipmuck State Forest to its east and west and by Mashapaug Lake to the north. The park and forest are located in a large hollow or depression approximately 700' below the surrounding ridgelines.

Surroundings

The state park is a significant feature of the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor[4][5] and is part of one the largest unbroken forest tracts in Connecticut, which includes 9,000 acres (3,600 ha) in the Nipmuck State Forest, 7,800 acres (3,200 ha) in the Yale-Myers Forest, 13,000 acres (5,300 ha) in the Natchaug State Forest, 8,000 acres (3,200 ha) of the Norcross Wildlife Refuge, and the 7,000 acres (2,800 ha) of forest held by Hull Foresters. The state park was carved out of Nipmuck State Forest by the State Park and Forest Commission in 1949.[2]

Activities and amenities

The park has been described as "[r]emote by Connecticut standards," where a map and orienteering skills may be useful as the park is mostly evergreen at lower elevations and trails can be lost in the thick forest density.[6] The park and forest have over 35 miles (56 km) of trails, including several around 92-acre (37 ha) Breakneck Pond,[7] a secluded lake only accessible by foot. A boat launch and picnicking facilities are located on 25-acre (10 ha) Bigelow Pond[8] at the entrance to the park and on 287-acre (116 ha) Mashapaug Lake,[9] which is found near the end of the park's main road.

Fishing is offered in summer and winter (ice fishing). The streams, ponds and lakes feature stocked as well as native trout, small and large mouth bass and pickerel.[10] Backcountry camping is allowed in Nipmuck State Forest.[11] Snowmobiling trails begin in the state park and continue into the state forest.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 "Bigelow Hollow State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. 1 2 "Bigelow State Park and Nipmuck State Forest". State Parks and Forests. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. July 18, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Appendix A: List of State Parks and Forests" (PDF). State Parks and Forests: Funding. Staff Findings and Recommendations. Connecticut General Assembly. January 23, 2014. p. A-1. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor". National Park Service. Archived from the original on February 4, 2005. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Bigelow Hollow State Park". The Last Green Valley, Inc. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Bigelow Hollow State Park". MTBR. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Breakneck Pond" (PDF). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Bigelow Pond" (PDF). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Mashapaug Lake" (PDF). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  10. ↑ "2016 Connecticut Angler's Guide" (PDF). State of Connecticut. pp. 33, 37. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Backpack Camping". Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Snowmobiling in Connecticut". Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
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