The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
LAND OF 3,000 LAKES
Here’s a guide to visiting some of the state’s lakes this summer
There are over 3,000 lakes in Connecticut, according to the Connecticut Office of Tourism, and residents and non-residents alike can head to any one of them for swimming, hiking, biking or camping this summer. While some are reserved for town residents only, many are open to the general public. Here's a guide to visiting some of Connecticut's lakes this summer.
Bantam Lake, Bantam
1 East Shore Drive, Morris, CT 06763 Season: Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend
Entry: Daily admission and activity fees, season passes available
Activities: Swimming, fishing, camping, paddleboarding, canoeing, kayaking, rowing, sailing, jet skiing, tow sports
Restrooms: Yes Concession: Yes Lifeguards: Yes
Bashan Lake, East Haddam
1 Ballahack Road No. 1, East Haddam, CT 06423
Season: Year-round boating Entry: No fee
Activities: Boating, fishing, swimming, kayaking
Restrooms: Yes
Candlewood Lake, Danbury
36 Hayestown Road, Danbury, CT 06810
Memorial Day Weekend through Oct. 31
Entry: Daily admission and season passes available for residents and nonresidents of Danbury and surrounding towns
Activities: Boating, camping, fishing, hiking, swimming, lake diving, paddle sports, water sports Restrooms: Yes Concession: No Lifeguards: Yes
Highland Lake, Winchester
297 West Lake St., Winchester, CT 06098
Activities: Swimming, boating, fishing, water skiing
Lake Kenosia, Danbury
1 Christopher Columbus Ave., Danbury, CT 06810
Activities: Spray park, boating, playground
Lake Lillinonah, Bridgewater
199 Main St. S., Bridgewater, CT 06752
Season: Boating season is April through October Entry: No fees Activities: Boating, fishing, water sports, swimming, bird watching
Lake Mohegan, Fairfield
960 Morehouse Hwy., Fairfield, CT 06825
Season: Memorial Day to Labor Day Entry: Season and day passes available for residents and non-residents Activities: Swimming, sprinkler park Restrooms: Yes Concessions: Yes Lifeguards: Yes
Lake Pocotopaug, East Hampton
68 North Main St., East Hampton, CT 06424
Season: April through September Entry: Passes available for East Hampton residents only
Activities: Boating, swimming, basketball, tennis courts Restrooms: Yes Concessions: Yes Lifeguards: Yes
Lake Waramaug, New Preston
30 Lake Waramaug Road, New Preston, CT 06777
Season: Memorial Day to Labor Day
Entry: Beach entry limited to residents of surrounding towns; state park open to all for camping
Activities: Boating, swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, cycling, camping
Restrooms: Yes Concessions: Yes Lifeguards: Yes
Lake Zoar, Southbury
300 Scout Road, Southbury, CT 06488 Entry: Boat launch open to residents and non-residents
Activities: Boating and fishing Restrooms: Yes
Mamanasco Lake, Ridgefield
48 Mamanasco Road, Ridgefield, CT 06877
Entry: Membership passes to beach club open to all; state boat launch is open to the public
Activities: Swimming, fishing, sailing, boating, rowing, canoeing
Restrooms: Yes
Twin Lakes, Salisbury
1 Between the Lakes Road, Salisbury, CT 06068
Activities: Swimming, paddleboarding, fishing, boating, water skiing
Gardner Lake State Park, Salem
208 Old Colchester Road, Salem, CT 06420
Entry: Day passes available for residents and non-residents Activities: Boating, swimming, fishing Restrooms: Yes
Hop Brook Lake, Middlebury
4 Straits Turnpike, Middlebury, CT 06762
Season: Weekend before Memorial Day Weekend through weekend after Labor Day Weekend
Entry: First come, first served Activities: Swimming, fishing, hiking
Restrooms: Yes
Lake Hayward, East Haddam
360 East Shore Drive, East Haddam, CT 06415
Season: Boat launch open year round
Entry: Open to the public
Activities: Boating
Crystal Lake, Ellington
1 Sandy Beach Road, Ellington, CT 06029
Entry: Daily and seasonal passes available for Ellington residents Activities: Swimming, fishing, sailing Restrooms: Yes Lifeguards: No
Mansfield Hollow State Park, Mansfield
151 Bassetts Bridge Road, Mansfield, CT 06250
Entry: No parking fees Activities: Boating, fishing, car-top boating, hiking, mountain biking
Restrooms: Yes
Bigelow Hollow State Park, Union
1 Bigelow Brook Road, Union, CT 06076
Entry: Parking fee for non-residents Activities: Boating, fishing, hiking, scuba diving, hunting
Restrooms: Yes
West Thompson Lake, Winsted
338 Main St., Winsted, CT 06098
Entry: Campground reservations start at $15/night
Activities: Camping, hiking, paddleboating, canoeing, disc golf, hunting, fishing
Lake Quonnipaug, Guilford
3637 Durham Road, Guilford, CT 06437
Season: May to Labor Day Entry: Seasonal passes available for residents and non-residents
Activities: Swimming, fishing, paddleboating, kayaking
Restrooms: Yes
Lake Wintergreen, Hamden
29 Main St., Hamden, CT 06518 Season: Memorial Day Weekend through last weekend of October Entry: No parking fees Activities: Car-top boating, mountain biking, fishing, hiking, horseback riding
Restrooms: Yes
Quaddick State Park, Thompson
818 Quaddick Town Farm Road, Thompson, CT 06277
Entry: Weekend/holiday parking fee for non-residents
Activities: Boating, field sports, swimming, fishing, hiking
Restrooms: Yes
Cockaponset State Park and Pattaconk Lake, Chester
1 Cedar Lake Road, Chester, CT 06438 Entry: Seasonal weekend/holiday parking fee at the Pattaconk Recreation Area
Activities: Hunting, fishing, mountain biking, hiking, horeseback riding, snowmobiling, boating
Restrooms: Yes
Witch Meadow Lake and Campground, Salem
139 Witch Meadow Road, Salem, CT 06420
Season: May to October Entry: Camping rates start at $55 Activities: Swimming, boating, fishing, hydrobiking, canoeing, swan peddleboating, tennis courts, pet walking trail, recreation hall
Concessions: Yes
Coventry Lake, Coventry
124 Lake St., Coventry, CT 06238 Activities: Swimming, boating, fishing, rowing
Restrooms: Yes
Hitchcock Lake, Wolcott
10 Kenea Ave., Wolcott, CT 06716 Entry: Open to the public only on Mattatuck Beach
Activities: Boating, swimming, camping, fishing
Mt. Tom State Park, Washington Depot
1 Mount Tom Road, Washington Depot, CT 06794
Entry: Day passes available for residents and non-residents
Activities: Boating, fishing, scuba diving, swimming, hiking Restrooms: Yes Lifeguards: Yes Concessions: Yes
Lake Wononscopomuc, Lakeville
36 Ethan Allen St., Lakeville, CT 06039
Season: Third Saturday of April through October
Entry: Daily and seasonal passes available for residents and non-residents
Activities: Fishing, swimming, boating, paddle ball