Explore the Garnet Trail
Windham County
Garnet was named the Connecticut state mineral in 1977 by the General Assembly. Our state is one of the finest sources of garnets in the world, found in several formations around the state.
The Garnet Trail was created by the state geologist in 2009 and updated in 2021. While not a literal trail it is a series of notable locations where the state mineral (Almandine garnet) occurs along existing greenways, state parks/forests, and designated open space.
The state maintains a map of locations here:
Unfortunately, the original guide was lost when the state updated their online portal. Thankfully, the official guide was updated by then state geologist, Margaret Thomas, in 2022.
Reminder: Please do not collect the minerals. Collecting minerals is prohibited on state land. These minerals are for all of the citizens of Connecticut to enjoy. Please be considerate of others and take nothing but photos.
Garnet Trail Location List
- Eisenhower Park – Milford — Unexplored
- Hammonasset Beach State Park — Try to spot areas of pink/purple sand that’s likely garnets
- Rocky Glen State Park — I searched the ledges and rocks here but didn’t come across any
- Salmon River State Forest — Garnets can be found in the Comstock bridge section in the sandy bottom of the river
- Lisbon Landing Shopping Center — Unexplored
- Tiboni Property – Glastonbury — Unexplored
- Shenipsit: Garnet Ledge — Easiest spot I’ve found garnets so far, though further past the ledge than I expected
- Bolton Notch State Park — Abundant garnets can be spotted in the exposed rocky outcrops in Littleton Schist
- Gerber Lane Roadcut — Unexplored
- Quartzite Hill – Stafford — Unexplored
