Explore Ellington, CT
Ellington at a Glance
Part of Tolland County
If you’re looking for the best hiking trails in Ellington this is the complete guide to all the long trails, waterfalls, and history it has to offer.
Ellington has 11 hiking areas for 9.7 miles of trails and 1 boating/fishing area.
My Highlights
- The natural splendor of Diana’s Pool
- The Orchard Hill overlook in Goodwin State Forest
- Watching the forest regrow at Two Sisters Preserve
Hiking
Town Parks
- Batz Property –★★– 1.1 miles – Climbs a ridge at the back of the property through town open space
- Kimball Forest –★★– 0.67 miles – Short but pleasant loop trail
- Metcalf Preserve –★★– 1 mile – Short double loop with an old foundation
Land Trust
- Northern Connecticut Land Trust
- Bird Field Conservation Area – No trails
- Boothroyd & Bellante Preserves –★★– 1.75 miles – Loop options past a balanced boulder
- Sunset Hill –★★– 1.75 miles – Rugged climb to a picnic area atop the hill and a quick loop
- Swann Farm –★– 0.5 miles – Nearly a completely forgotten loop next to an old chestnut plantation
- Wraight Property – No trails
- Northern Connecticut Land Trust
State Parks / Forest
- Shenipsit State Forest –★★– 2.4 miles – Old forest roads, rutted by off-road vehicles that finally switches to narrow trail
Blue Blaze
- Shenipsit Trail
- Shenipsit State Forest South Parcel –★★– 2.4 miles – Old forest roads, rutted by off-road vehicles that finally switches to narrow trail
- Shenipsit Trail
The Rest
- Hockanum River Trail
- Windemere Avenue –★★– 1 mile – Crosses the rebuilt bridge, down an old railbed,
- Hockanum River Trail
Boating/Fishing
- Crystal Lake Boat Launch
- The Hockanum River has 2 boat launches in town but I wouldn’t recommend paddling these stretches
- Gerry’s Donuts – Open 7 days a week 6am-12pm
Originally part of Joshua’s Tract (land deeded by Mohegan Chief Uncas’s son to English colonists),
The town was named in 1809 for Deacon Benjamin Chaplin, an early landowner and surveyor and a deacon of the Mansfield church. Benjamin Chaplin lived along the Natchaug River and before Chaplin died in 1795 bequeathed three hundred pounds ($1,500) to form an ecclesiastical society on the condition that this church be built within a mile and a quarter of his homestead (the church no longer stands).
It became the 124th town in the state when it was incorporated in May of 1822 from parts of Hampton, Mansfield, and Windham.
In July 1974, Chaplin Village the town’s original Main Street (now Chaplin Street) was designated a National Historic District as a good example of 19th century town planning. The town center was not near usable water power and was bypassed by railroads so was not affected by the same industrialization as other areas.
