55 acres in Ledyard, CT
Parking: Medium lot near 1917 CT-12, Gales Ferry, CT
Trail Map Trails: Less than a mile Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Stoddard Hill is one of Connecticut’s ‘scenic reserve‘ state parks that primarily serves as a fishing spot along the Thames River with a short trail, an old cemetery, and a mediocre seasonal overlook.
From the parking area the trail starts just up the hill past the picnic area. I was surprised to find the trails well traveled as they follow the high bank above the train tracks and beyond that the river. You soon reach a massive jumble of boulders.
The trail starts to fade away about 0.3 miles out but turns inland and I assumed it would loop back around the far side of the boulder jumble, instead it dead ends at the backside of private property just off Tanager Ln. There is definitely a missed opportunity for a loop trail here, I retraced my steps and took a side path to the old cemetery.
The graves here date from late colonial to civil war era and have been restored in recent years. A faint trail along the cemetery stone wall leads up the hill behind it to a rocky hilltop above the boulder jumble that stands 183 feet above sea level. On my February visit it amounted to a seasonal overlook with views south along the Thames River, the DEEP says it was once an Indian lookout during times of conflict.
Established as a state park in 1954.
Auntie Beak – Stoddard Hill State Park
The Day – Stoddard Hill State Park
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FW6M+CF, Ledyard, CT 06335, USA
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