280 acres in Durham and Haddam, CT
Parking: Large lot at 344 Foot Hills Rd, Durham, CT
Trail Map Trails: 13 miles Rating: ★★★☆☆
Millers Pond is one of Connecticut’s “scenic reserve” state parks and contains about five miles of trails within its boundaries and connects to at least another eight miles in the surrounding Cockaponset State Forest. There are a few picnic areas and plenty of scenic rock outcrops along the edge of the pond. There are also options for mountain biking, rock climbing, and swimming through easy access from the park.
The 1.3 mile white trail loops around the pond and connects to all the other blazed and unblazed trails. The path is wide (likely to be able to accommodate rescue vehicles) and gently rolling for an easy walk on the west side of the pond. The return section on the eastern blue/white trail was very muddy though I’m sure it’s much drier in the summer.
A .88 mile section of the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail passes through the park. Heading northeast takes you towards Seven Falls. I hiked the southwest portion towards Bear Rock. From the easy terrain around Millers Pond the trail quickly gains elevation as it climbs a rocky spine. The trail passes through actively managed forest, shallow ravines, and up and over a large rocky knob before reaching Bear Rock. The overlook faces west looking out over Durham. I turned around here and did not continue down to Higganum Rd.
Previous Section: Brainard Hill Rd (unexplored)
Next Section: Higganum Rd (unexplored)
It is a 1.2 mile hike out just before you reach Bear Rock to a small rock face that is bolted for sport climbing. I noted at least four bolted routes and quick search brings up 7 ranging in difficulty from 5.7 to 5.12
Established as a state park in 1955. The park is named for Thomas Miller who operated a gristmill in the area in the early 1700s.
This park was featured in the 2016 Sky’s the Limit Hiking Challenge.
The Geology of Millers Pond State Park Reserve (archive link 2024)
NEMBA – Mountain Bike Millers Pond State Park
Mountain Project – Bear Rock Rock Climbing
Mark Dionne – Drowning latest in string of fatal incidents at Durham state park (2017)
CTMQ – Millers Pond (2016)
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344 Foot Hills Rd, Durham, CT, USA
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