Tolland County

Explore Tolland County

Explored: 100%

Tolland County, nestled in north-central Connecticut, is a region defined by rolling hills, pristine forests, and the classic rural New England charm of its small towns. The eastern edge of the county borders The Last Green Valley and the western edge lies at the edge of the Connecticut River Valley.

The county holds 154 explorable areas for over 350 miles of trails across 15 towns.

Most Popular Locations

My Recommendations

Best Overlook: Valley Falls

Best Waterfall: Codfish Falls

  • Others include Moss Tract Falls, Shelter Falls, and Pixie Falls

Other Highlights: Caves at Bolton Notch, the ruins at Gay City, and the

Town List

  • Andover (3 hiking areas for 13.5 miles of trails)
    • Highlight is Doris Chamberlin Nature Preserve
  • Bolton (10 hiking areas for 16.2 miles of trails, 3 boating/fishing areas)
    • Highlight is Bolton State Park
  • Columbia (6 hiking areas for 8 miles of trails, 2 boating/fishing areas)
    • Highlight is Mono Pond State Park
  • Coventry (11 hiking areas for 21.3 miles of trails, 3 boating/fishing areas)
    • Highlight is Nathan Hale State Forest
  • Ellington (11 hiking areas for 9.7 miles of trails, 1 boating/fishing area)
    • Highlight is Boothroyd Preserve
  • Hebron (13 hiking areas for 18.9 miles of trails, 2 boating/fishing areas)
    • Highlight is Gay City State Park
  • Mansfield (36 hiking areas for 87.5 miles of trails, 3 boating/fishing areas)
    • Highlight is Mansfield Hollow
  • Somers (11 hiking areas for 36.9 miles of trails, 2 boating/fishing areas)
    • Highlight is Soapstone Mountain
  • Stafford (5 hiking areas for 9.3 miles of trails, 2 boating/fishing areas)
    • Highlight is Nipmuck Woods
  • Tolland (23 hiking areas for 44.2 miles of trails, 2 boating/fishing areas, 1 disc golf course)
    • Highlight is Crandall Park
  • Union (6 hiking areas for 38 miles of trails and 3 boating areas)
    • Highlight is Bigelow Hollow
  • Vernon (15 hiking areas for 25.5 miles of trails, 5 boating/fishing areas, 1 disc golf course)
    • Highlight is Valley Falls
  • Willington (5 hiking areas for 17 miles of trails, 2 boating/fishing areas)
    • Highlight is Moss Tract

Raymond Brook Preserve

★★☆☆☆

168 Church St, Hebron, CT 06248, USA

Raymond Brook Preserve Hebron Town Park 107 acres in Hebron, CT Parking: Small lot near 168 Church St, Hebron, CT Medium sized lot near 52 Kinney Rd,…

Bald Mountain

★★☆☆☆

232 Scully Road, Somers, CT, USA

Bald Mountain Northern CT Land Trust and Somers Town Park 771 acres in Somers, CT Parking: Small lot near 225 Scully Rd, Somers, CT or near 159…

Culver Pond

★★☆☆☆

42.021249, -72.392792

Culver Pond Nature Preserve Northern Connecticut Land Trust 118 acres in Stafford, CT Parking: Shoulder parking near 252 Gilbert Road, Stafford Springs, CT Trail Map     …

Paulk Hill Conservation Area

★★☆☆☆

610 Tolland Stage Rd, Tolland, CT 06084, USA

Paulk Hill Conservation Area Tolland Town Park 42 acres in Tolland, CT Parking: Small lot near 610 Tolland Stage Rd, Tolland, CT Trail Map       …

Middle Bolton Lake

★★☆☆☆

248 Hatch Hill Road, Vernon, CT, USA

Middle Bolton Lake Connecticut State Boat Launch 121 acres in Vernon, CT Parking: Medium sized parking area near 248 Hatch Hill Road, Vernon, CT Boat Launch Map …

Lower Bolton Lake

★★☆☆☆

17 Keeney Drive, Bolton, CT, USA

Lower Bolton Lake Connecticut State Boat Launch 175 acres in Bolton, CT Parking: Medium sized lot near 17 Keeney Dr, Bolton, CT Map          Trails:…

Madeline Regan Preserve

★★☆☆☆

1154 Tolland Stage Rd, Tolland, CT

Madeline Reagan Preserve Joshua’s Trust 29 acres in Tolland, CT Parking: Small lot near 1154 Tolland Stage Rd, Tolland, CT Trail Map          Trails: 1…

Porter Howard Reservoir

★★★☆☆

41.773911, -72.490444

Porter Howard Reservoirs Manchester Town Park 336 acres in Bolton and Manchester, CT Parking: West Side: Small lot near 360 Ferguson Rd, Manchester, CT East Side: Shoulder…

Boothroyd Preserve

★★☆☆☆

48 Tolland Turnpike, Tolland, CT

Ernie Boothroyd Nature Preserve & Bellante Preserve Northern Connecticut Land Trust 94 acres in Ellington, CT Parking: East Side: Shoulder parking near 50 Tolland Turnpike, Tolland, CT…

Bear Den

★★☆☆☆

198 Skopek Rd, Union, CT, USA

Bear Den / Paine Hill – Nipmuck State Forest Connecticut State Forest Roughly 2600 acres in Union, CT Parking: North End: Shoulder parking near 198 Skopek Rd,…