Shenipsit State Forest

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Shenipsit State Forest
View from Soapstone Mountain summit lookout tower in Connecticut's Shenipsit State Forest..JPG
View from Soapstone Mountain summit lookout tower in Connecticut's Shenipsit State Forest.
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Location in Connecticut
Location Tolland, Connecticut, United States
Coordinates 41°58′32″N72°23′12″W / 41.97556°N 72.38667°W / 41.97556; -72.38667 Coordinates: 41°58′32″N72°23′12″W / 41.97556°N 72.38667°W / 41.97556; -72.38667
Area6,962 acres (28.17 km2) [1]
Elevation886 ft (270 m) [2]
Established1927
Governing bodyConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Website Shenipsit State Forest

Shenipsit State Forest is a state forest located in northeastern Connecticut with 11 parcels scattered between the towns of Somers, Ellington, and Stafford. [3] The forest's headquarters is home to the Civilian Conservation Corps Museum, which houses memorabilia from CCC camps throughout the eastern United States. [3] The forest is managed for forestry products and offers various recreational pursuits.

Contents

Geography

The forest is located mainly within the Eastern New England Uplift and contains tracts along the eastern edge of the Connecticut River Valley. The highest point wholly within the state forest is Soapstone Mountain at 1,075 feet (328 m), but the Town of Somers owns adjacent land that includes the 1,121 feet (342 m) summit of Bald Mountain, [4] the highest point along the eastern edge of Connecticut River Valley in Connecticut. The terrain rises up to 800 feet (240 m) from the surrounding Connecticut River Valley, though most mountains and hills rise 300–500 feet (91–152 m) from the surrounding terrain elsewhere in the forest. The forest floor is scattered with boulders and large rocks from the last ice age. Soapstone Mountain used to be the site of a soapstone quarry during the Colonial era.

Recreation opportunities

The Shenipsit Trail, which runs 40 miles (64 km) from East Hampton to Somers, passes through the Shenipsit State Forest and passes over the summit of Soapstone Mountain. The summit has the only lookout tower in northeastern Connecticut. [3] The original fire tower was removed in 1971. [5] Various forest trails can be used for hiking, mountain biking, equestrian travel, and cross-country skiing.

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Nipmuck State Forest

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Natchaug State Forest

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Mount Tom State Park State park in Litchfield County, Connecticut

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Meshomasic State Forest

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Naugatuck State Forest

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Bolton Notch State Park is a public recreation area located in the town of Bolton, Connecticut, on the boundary between the Thames River and Connecticut River watersheds. The state park's 95 acres (38 ha) offer opportunities for hiking, climbing, and cave exploration.

Day Pond State Park State park in New London County, Connecticut

Day Pond State Park is a public recreation area covering 180 acres (73 ha) in the town of Colchester, Connecticut. The state park abuts Salmon River State Forest and is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The park offers opportunities for hiking, swimming, shoreline fishing, picnicking and mountain biking.

Pomeroy State Park is an undeveloped public recreation area covering 200 acres (81 ha) just south of Willimantic in the town of Lebanon, Connecticut. The state park is a forested area used for hiking and hunting with no entrance, markings, or parking that abuts preserved farmland. It is under the management of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

References

  1. Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee (January 23, 2014). "State Parks and Forests: Funding" (PDF). Staff Findings and Recommendations. Connecticut General Assembly. p. A-3. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  2. "Shenipsit State Forest". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey.
  3. 1 2 3 "Shenipsit State Forest". State Parks and Forests. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  4. "Bald Mountain". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey.
  5. "Connecticut State Forests Seedling Letterbox Series - Clues for Shenipsit State Forest". State Parks and Forests. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Retrieved July 23, 2014.