State Parks in Connecticut: 86 Photo Spots, Light & Night Sky Guide

Top state parks

State Park

Gillette Castle State ParkLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region

State Park

Hammonasset Beach State ParkSouth Central Connecticut Planning Region

State Park

Bigelow Hollow State ParkNortheastern Connecticut Planning Region

State Park

Dinosaur State Park and ArboretumCapitol Planning Region

State Park

Harkness Memorial State ParkSoutheastern Connecticut Planning Region

State Park

Indian Well State ParkNaugatuck Valley Planning Region

State Park

Kent Falls State ParkNorthwest Hills Planning Region

State Park

Kettletown State ParkWestern Connecticut Planning Region

State Park

Macedonia Brook State ParkNorthwest Hills Planning Region

State Park

Bluff Point State ParkSoutheastern Connecticut Planning Region

State Park

Bolton Notch State ParkCapitol Planning Region

State Park

Burr Pond State ParkNorthwest Hills Planning Region

State Parks by county

All state parks (86)

Name	County	Elevation	Nearest town	Sky
Gillette Castle State Park	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	—	Chester Center	5
Hammonasset Beach State Park	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	—	Clinton	6
Bigelow Hollow State Park	Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region	—	Holland	5
Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum	Capitol Planning Region	—	Cromwell	6
Harkness Memorial State Park	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	—	Waterford	6
Indian Well State Park	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	—	Derby	7
Kent Falls State Park	Northwest Hills Planning Region	—	Kent	5
Kettletown State Park	Western Connecticut Planning Region	—	Southbury	6
Macedonia Brook State Park	Northwest Hills Planning Region	—	Kent	5
Bluff Point State Park	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	—	Poquonock Bridge	5
Bolton Notch State Park	Capitol Planning Region	—	Manchester	6
Burr Pond State Park	Northwest Hills Planning Region	—	Winchester Center	6
Chatfield Hollow State Park	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	—	Killingworth	5
Lake Waramaug State Park	Northwest Hills Planning Region	—	New Preston	5
Lovers Leap State Park	Western Connecticut Planning Region	—	New Milford	5
Black Rock State Park	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	—	Thomaston	6
Stratton Brook State Park	Capitol Planning Region	—	West Simsbury	6
Talcott Mountain State Park	Capitol Planning Region	—	Avon	7
Above All State Park	Northwest Hills Planning Region	—	New Preston	5
Mount Bushnell State Park	Northwest Hills Planning Region	—	New Preston	5
Old Furnace State Park	Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region	—	Danielson	5
Osbornedale State Park	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	—	Ansonia	8
Collis P. Huntington State Park	Western Connecticut Planning Region	—	Bethel	6
Penwood State Park	Capitol Planning Region	—	Simsbury Center	6
Platt Hill State Park	Northwest Hills Planning Region	—	Winchester Center	6
Putnam Memorial State Park	Western Connecticut Planning Region	—	Bethel	6
Squantz Pond State Park	Western Connecticut Planning Region	—	New Fairfield	6
Rocky Neck State Park	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	—	Niantic	5
Day Pond State Park	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	—	Moodus	5
Devil's Hopyard State Park	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	—	Salem	5
Farm River State Park	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	—	East Haven	7
Sherwood Island State Park	Western Connecticut Planning Region	—	Westport	7
Silver Sands State Park	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	—	City of Milford (balance)	8
Southford Falls State Park	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	—	Oxford	6
Housatonic Meadows State Park	Northwest Hills Planning Region	—	Kent	5
Haley Farm State Park	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	—	Noank	5
John A. Minetto State Park	Northwest Hills Planning Region	—	Winchester Center	6
Dart Island State Park	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	—	East Hampton	6
Haddam Meadows State Park	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	—	Higganum	5
Higganum Reservoir State Park	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	—	Higganum	5
Mount Tom State Park	Northwest Hills Planning Region	—	New Preston	5
West Rock Ridge State Park	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	—	Woodbridge	7
Wooster Mountain State Park	Western Connecticut Planning Region	—	Danbury	7
Mansfield Hollow State Park	Capitol Planning Region	—	Mansfield City	6
Seth Low Pierrepont State Park Reserve	Western Connecticut Planning Region	—	Ridgefield	6
Beaver Brook State Park	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	—	Windham	6
Beckley Furnace Industrial Monument	Northwest Hills Planning Region	—	Canaan	5
Machimoodus State Park	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	—	Moodus	5
Millers Pond State Park	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	—	Durham	5
Larkin State Park Trail	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	—	Southbury	7
Wharton Brook State Park	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	—	Wallingford Center	7
Whittemore Glen State Park	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	—	Naugatuck	7
Windsor Locks Canal State Park Trail	Capitol Planning Region	—	Thompsonville	7
Windsor Meadows State Park	Capitol Planning Region	—	South Windsor	8
Sunrise Resort State Park	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	—	Moodus	5
Treetops	Western Connecticut Planning Region	—	Stamford	8
Tri-Mountain State Park	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	—	Durham	6
Mount Riga State Park	Northwest Hills Planning Region	—	Canaan	4
Quinnipiac River State Park	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	—	North Haven	7
Salt Rock State Campground	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	—	Baltic	5
Scantic River State Park	Capitol Planning Region	—	Windsor	7
Stoddard Hill State Park	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	—	Gales Ferry	6
Hopeville Pond State Park	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	—	Jewett City	5
Humaston Brook State Park	Northwest Hills Planning Region	—	Thomaston	6
Brainard Homestead State Park	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	—	East Haddam	6
George Dudley Seymour State Park	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	—	Higganum	5
Hop River State Park Trail	Capitol Planning Region	—	Crystal Lake	5
Hurd State Park	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	—	Higganum	5
Lamentation Mountain State Park	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	—	Meriden	6
Moosup Valley State Park Trail	Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region	—	Moosup	6
Quaddick State Park	Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region	—	Thompson	5
Dennis Hill State Park	Northwest Hills Planning Region	—	Winchester Center	5
Mashamoquet Brook State Park	Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region	—	East Brooklyn	5
Killingly Pond State Park	Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region	—	Foster	5
Bennett's Pond State Park	Western Connecticut Planning Region	—	Ridgefield	6
Topsmead	Northwest Hills Planning Region	—	Litchfield	5
Mono Pond State Park Reserve	Capitol Planning Region	—	Hebron	5
Mooween State Park	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	—	Salem	5
Farmington Canal State Park Trail	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	—	Cheshire	7
Stillwater Pond State Park	Northwest Hills Planning Region	—	West Torrington	7
Hopemead State Park	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	—	Salem	5
Horse Guard State Park	Capitol Planning Region	—	Avon	7
Eagle Landing State Park	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	—	East Haddam	6
River Highlands State Park	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	—	Cromwell	7
Gardner Lake State Park	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	—	Salem	5
Israel Putnam Wolf Den	Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region	—	East Brooklyn	5

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph state parks

State parks often protect a signature feature — a gorge, lake or overlook — that is best in early morning before visitors and harsh light arrive.

Check park hours: many state parks close at dusk, which affects sunset and night shooting.
Ask rangers about photography permits for commercial work, models or drones.
Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
Trail maps often mark overlooks — combine them with the sun azimuth to plan.
Day-use fees or passes are common; buy them online before arriving.

Season: Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.