Nipmuck State Forest
Forest at a Glance
The second oldest state forest in Connecticut the Nipmuck was 9,411.9 acres as of 2016.
It is made up of five main blocks and two small parcels in the towns of Union, Woodstock, Willington, Ashford, and Stafford.
Highlights
Highlights of the forest include the Cat Rocks Cave, the highest elevation in Windham County at Snow Hill (1,210 Feet), and amazing scenery of the Quinebaug Highlands.
Links
- DEEP – Maps
- DEEP – Breakneck Block Management Plan 2016-2025
- CTMQ – Nipmuck State Forest
Section List
- Breakneck Block (surrounding Bigelow Hollow)
- Mountain Laurel Sanctuary — ★★ – Less than a mile
- Bear Den –★★– 5 miles —
- South Block –★★– 7 miles — A rough loop mainly used for snowmobiling in the winter
- Hedgehog Hill — Unexplored (Parking Link?)
- The state also operates three boat launches
- Mashapaug Pond
- Morey Pond
- Black Pond (Woodstock)
The first tract of the Union State Forest was purchased for $3.57 an acre in 1905 making it the second oldest state forest. Then State Forester, Austin Hawes, wanted the second State Forest to be a majority pine because Connecticut had to import most of its softwood lumber at the time and purchasing land for the state was seen as an investment in production at the time.
The majority of the acreage wasn’t acquired until much later when was purchased in 1944 from the Quinebaug Forestry Company. The Wells family had started the Quinebaug Forestry Company to buy up woodlots and abandoned farmland to manage as forestland and use the pine to make shipping boxes for the American Optical Company. The company also operated a sawmill in Sturbridge, Massachusetts and later became known for creating Old Sturbridge Village. The state ended up purchasing a total of 4,586 acres from the company.
Bigelow Hollow State Park was part of Nipmuck State Forest until 1948 when it was split out and designated a State Park.
