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Woodstock

Hike Woodstock, CT

(Part of Windham County)

If you’re looking for the best hiking trails in Woodstock this is the complete guide to all the long trails, waterfalls, and history it has to offer.

Woodstock is the second largest town in the state (after New Milford), encompassing 61.8 square miles and has just shy of 2,500 acres of preserved land. These lands host 10 hikeable locations with a dozen miles of trails, 4 options for boating/fishing, a disc golf course, and a handful of unique local bakeries, breweries, and stores.

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My Highlights

Hiking

Town Parks

  • Crystal Pond Park –★★★– 2.5 miles – Hiking, disc golf, and water access all in one spot, though hiking trails are a bit rough
  • Fifty Acre Wood –★★– 1.5 miles – Nearly a forgotten town trail, somewhat overgrown loop
  • Muddy Pond – Woodstock Town Beach open to town residents only, no boating

Land Trust

  • New Roxbury Land Trust – None of their properties have marked trails
    • Bishop Preserve
    • Border Woods – Off Rt. 198 about 200ft of trail that dead ends quickly at private property
    • Kenyon Woods
  • Wyndham Land Trust
    • Cabbage Hill –★★– 1.5 miles – Mowed paths to a great field view and an old cemetary
    • Cartier Preserve –★★– 1.2 miles – New unblazed trail through an ocean of ferns and dense mountain laurel
    • Little River Greenway –★– 0.15 miles – Very short boardwalk with no views
    • Rapoport Preserve –★– 1.5 miles – Likely nicer in the winter, these trails are overgrown without much to note
    • Rocky Hill Refuge –★– 0.5 miles – Skip this out and back field-access road

State Parks / Forest

Blue Blaze

  • Wabbaquasset Trail –★★★– 1.3 miles – The state’s newest blue blaze trail is a picturesque loop through Hibbard Forest

The Rest

  • Lem Walker Loop at Hatchet Hill – Private property, great overlook, but not open to the public
  • The Old Connecticut Path – Historical path
  • Roseland Park – ‘Private park’ open to the public since 1876 with easy walking paths, a boat launch, and many amenities 

Boating

Town History

Geologically a glacial drumlin field.  The area was historically home to the Wabbaquasset tribe or band meaning “mat producing country” part of the larger Nipmuck tribe.  The Old Connecticut Path which ran from the Connecticut River to modern day Boston passed through Woodstock above Crystal and Woodstock Ponds.  At the time the settlers came, Wabbaquasset country was held by the Mohegan Uncas as a Pequot conquest.  The land was formally deeded to Captain James Fitch in 1680 and in 1686, residents from Massachusetts settled the area and called it New Roxbury.

The Puritan missionary John Eliot encouraged the Native Americans to form a village of “Praying Indians” in South Woodstock. He called it Wahbuquoshish meaning “near the bend in the outlet from Woodstock Pond.” In 1934, Arthur Basto, an amateur archeologist, confirmed that this village was located near Woodstock Pond, on the site of the William Basto Farm.

While largely agricultural in nature, “by 1820, there were 2 distilleries, 2 wheel wrights, an oil mill, fulling mill, carding machines, grist mills, saw mills, a goldsmith, and twine and cotton batting operations. Woodstock Valley was known for its shoe factories,” according to the history page at the Woodstock town site.  Industry didn’t last long, reverting to a rural town and becoming a summer destination for wealthy city dwellers.

What's Nearby

Now go out and hike Woodstock, CT!

Crystal Pond Park

★★★☆☆

41.913346, -72.095686

Crystal Pond Park Eastford and Woodstock Community Park 120 acres in Eastford and Woodstock, CT Parking: Large lot near 305 Crystal Pond Road, Woodstock, CT Trail Map        Trails:… Read more…

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Hi, I'm Matt. I'm building ExploreCT to be the guide for all your outdoor adventures. All the trails, views, and waterways this great state has to offer. Now get out and explore!

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